BMarkey

Might those students have been members of the FAU equestrian team? They were in Savannah and Charleston for a weekend of horse shows. My daughter was amongst them. BTW, FIU never used Lockhart for a home stadium. It played on campus at what was FIU Community Stadium, where the FIU campus joins a large adjacent park. What is left of that stadium comprises the bleacher side linbe opposite the "home" sideline in the new stadium. FAU stadium photos: http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=485371&pid=6555590#pid6555590

It's a long thread, so I can only assume some of you have not read it all. Well before Troy was in I-A, it was at least partially known for its bands, Long School of Music and teachers college. The music program is renowned. Many, many high schools throughout the South and nation have Troy grads as their band leaders. Former (and I assume current) Troy band directors write music played by high schools and colleges worldwide. I was amazed to hear the ULM band play one of Troy's regular, originally written songs, last week! The Troy pep band has one amp. Period. Can one electric guitar have made all the difference? Almost everywhere the Troy Sound of the South goes, it leaves with great accolades. I witnessed a Sound of the South pep band smaller than the one that visited Denton embarrass the entire University of Miami marching band in the Orange Bowl (and, yes, the UM band is always miked). The Troy band in Denton was less than one-third the size of the full band. Here's the full band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQcXoHBIbZM I wasn't at the game last weekend, but enjoyed my trip there a few years ago (weeknight game). Your fans were friendly and welcoming. Good luck with the program and new stadium. It looks great.

Troy is 4-2, not 4-3 as the press release states. Here's to a great game tomorrow. I was in Denton a few years ago and had a great time meeting many Mean Green fans. Good luck with the stadium effort, and the team rebuilding!

The Miami Fusion owner put millions of dollars into Lockhart.

That was an interesting take on the I-A newcomers. Thanks. Just FYI ... FAU does not have an on-campus stadium - one of the reasons why the Owls are not yet averaging 15,000 butts in the seats per game. The Owls do play at Lockhart Stadium, which is a former major league soccer facility that seats 20,000 in Fort Lauderdale. That's a 30-minute (or so) ride south of Boca Raton, which is in Palm Beach County. The FAU administration is currently in the process of reviewing proposals for a 40,000-seat dome for basketball, football and the like, which might include up to 2,500 dorm/suite spaces, retail, a medical school hospital, up to two hotels and more - right along I-95 between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale (Palm Beach County alone has 1.3 million people, and the Fort Lauderdale area has another 2 million or so people). Lockhart Stadium press box side. The stadium is bigger than it appears here. As for Troy's stadium (Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium), the uppper deck on the opress box side was there when the Mean Green came to visit three years ago. But that deck was expanded, and anentire new 8-story building was added attached to that side which includes meeting rooms, weight training center, medical facilities, press box level with broadcastign area, some of the nicest luxuiry suites in football, fantastic, 9-yard-long Stadium Club level and more. Across th way, the entire east side was removed and a double-deck side was built from scratch. The field was lowered and the track was removed, bringing the seats very close to the field (especially close to the visiting team). A one-level end zone was added, which empties onto a plaza where retail space is located. That plaza connects to Tailgate Terrace. Thenother ends zone is open, but cann eventually accomoodate up to two levels of endzone space. The stadoium now seats more than 30,000, but can be expanded to about 60,000. View from end zone plaza Press box side, with club and press suites Student section in new section opposite press box side View from club level seats.

Thanks for the words and hospitality. Troy has a long way to go and at least ASU, UL and MTSU to deal with before any crowns are passed. Then again, ULM and FAU may not be pushovers either. 'Wild race this year.

The students looked pretty supportive to me.

Troy, FAU, you name it ... have the same tailgating too much problem. There needs to be some way to bulldoze them all into the seats. Come to Troy next year and check out our tailgating. It is an experience. The partying goes on literally all over the campus. You can just pull over on most roads near the stadium and set up the tent/truck or whatever, go into the Tailgate Terrace where vendors and partiers colldie, or into the quads, where the Greeks, live bands, Sound of the South and alumni will be. Many big and small corporations have tents scattered around. Then there's the Stadium Club (picture below) where you can eat, drink (legally) and enjoy the game from your seat or a bar-like atmopshere.

These are my pictures. Enjoy We had a good time in Denton this week (quick 24-hour trip from Florida) and appreciated the hospitality we were shown in and around the Rotary club tent. Even our server (NT student) at Bennigan's in Grapevine was cordial after the game. Much more at: Troy-Mean Green Photo Gallery The campus looked nice and most folks were friendly (despite our Troy garb). It was an exciting game for a low-scorer. Kudos to your band and student section. Tuesday night games are a disaster that should be outlawed (Thursday, too). It would have been a lot more fun with a big crowd. ESPN is doing the 'Belt a disservice by showing weekly games with half-empty stadiums. Win out and show the world NT is still to be reckoned with.