Travis Jarome, Assistant Director of Media Relations at Troy University, highlights online coverage of Trojan  Athletics for Troy fans. Updated each weekday morning, Trojan Tidbits is your quick guide to Trojans in the news. The information will be of past and present Trojans in the News.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2008

• The Troy Messenger: "With Leodis McKelvin and Elbert Mack gone to the NFL, the Troy Trojans secondary will rely heavily on two safeties and a nickleback in the 2008 campaign."

• Joshua Parrot of The Daily Advertiser: "Sun Belt Conference football teams, which won 11 non-conference games in 2006, moved another step forward last season outside of league play."

• Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News: "Starting outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware missed practice Thursday, still feeling the effects of a concussion."

• Sal Maiorana of The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: "The look Ashton Youboty gives you when you ask the question is one of incredulity, and given all that the 24-year-old Buffalo Bills cornerback has been through in the last 27 months, it is a look that surprises you."  [Leodis McKelvin]

• Paul Domowitch of The Philadelphia Daily News: "Here's how Osi Umenyiora would handle the Eagles' contract negotiations with Brian Westbrook if the Giants' Pro Bowl defensive end was in charge of the Birds' purse strings: He would give Westbrook a blank check and tell him to include as many zeroes as he thinks is fair." 

THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008

• The Free-Lance Star: "If it hadn't been for a Lawrence Tynes field goal in overtime when the Packers played the New York Giants last January, Green Bay might have gone to the Super Bowl. Even though it was a Favre interception that set up that field goal, it was still one of his best seasons as a professional. There is something to be said for going out on top."

• The Dothan Eagle: "There's a new trend now with Troy University football players."

• Drew Champlin of The Dothan Eagle: "Mykeal Terry still has bad visions when he walks onto Troy University's Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium."

• Matt Nascone of The Troy Messenger writes:: "The Troy Trojans are back in action on the field at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium."

• Matt Nascone of The Troy Messenger writes:: "Last season included a near miss at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs for the Troy Trojans football team."

• Matt Nascone of The Troy Messenger writes:: "With Wednesday evening's practice, the Troy University Trojans officially opened the football season in Pike County."

• From ESPN.com: "On Tuesday, ESPN.com began a series on rivalries and the most-hated teams in the conference."

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008

• The Bleacher Report: "One of the most popular debates among college football fans and pundits is the age-old question, "Which conference is best?" Instead of perpetually arguing this debate, however, we should realize teams are pretty much stuck in their conference."

• Shannon Fagan, of The Cherokee County Herald: "Former Cedar Bluff quarterback Jamie Hampton said he never envisioned himself being a public speaker in high school."

• Tony Barnhardt, Mr. College Football, of the Atlanta Journal Constitution: "Before I made my first stop at Auburn I took a little
side trip to Troy University, located about 40 miles South of Montgomery. You remember Troy as the team that came into Samford Stadium last season and rolled up  488 yards of total offense against a good Georgia defense.

• The Dothan Eagle: "Maurice Greer knew something was wrong after he took a hit to the groin in practice before his second year in junior college."

• William Weathers, of The Advocate: "They’ve evolved from simply guarantee games to rent-a-wins (err rent-a-losses, Nick Saban has two regrettable examples)."

• Bill Shea of CrainsDetroit.com: "Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who played at the University of Michigan, and New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, along with NASCAR driver Steven Wallace and his famous father, Rusty Wallace, will appear in advertisements endorsing the energy drink."

• Tim MacMahon, of the Dallas Morning News: "OLB DeMarcus Ware was watching film in a trailer. He joked that he thought the offensive line walked by, but he fessed up to being a bit shaken by the 'quake."

TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008

• Matt Nascone of The Troy Messenger: "Football season is about here and athletes across the county will hit the gridiron for practice, but for the first few weeks the sun will not be kind to those on the field."

• Griffin Pritchard of The Wetumpka Herald: "After last week’s Sun Belt Conference media days event, it became evident that more than just the league’s champion will have the opportunity to play a bowl game at the end of the 2008 football season."

MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008

• From NJ.com: "A little rain can't stop defending champs. They worked through a short storm this evening and here's the report for the night practice." [Osi Umenyiora and Lawrence Tynes]

• The Dothan Eagle: "Only a couple of areas concern Troy head coach Larry Blakeney heading into fall camp, but they’re big ones."

• Jason Franchuk of the Daily Herald: "What a way to turn 19.  Leadoff hitter Darwin Perez launched a fly ball Sunday with a strong wind at his back for a game-winning double that clinched the first half of the Pioneer League race for the Owlz." [Beau Brooks]

• ESPN.com: "The New York Giants defense had to know the question was coming once training camp opened." [Osi Umenyiora]

SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2008

• The Associated Press: "Mindful of already missing four practices because of contract talks, Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin wasn’t about to lose any more time after waking up for his first day at training camp Sunday."

• From DallasCowboys.com:: "He was drafted to be great. In his first season he was almost there. His second season, he was on the verge of it and by last year, there was no doubt just how great he had become."