This is the presser that will get our Arena rebuilt. This dude is amazing. I think he cares...

Hey Panama...who needs to be contacted to have the Georgia State board switched over from "CAAbbs" to "Sun Belt BBS?" I'm thinking a couple of the GSU posters who don't like participating on Panthertalk would like a new home.

LOL...I have no idea...

...Mathman Cometh

Ha

(04-11-2012 01:50 PM)panama Wrote:  ...Mathman Cometh

You're reading my mind...I've seen Ridge already on the general board...need to find a home for him too.

Basketball recruiting update

The spring signing period began on Wednesday and Troy coaches were all over the country looking for immediate impact players.

The first known signee is Tevin Calhoun, from Hill College in Texas. Calhoun is a 6-foot-7 wing forward and if the stats I'm looking at are right, scored about 12 ppg as a sophomore.

Calhoun is originally from Linden, New Jersey and made his way to Hillsboro, Texas, for junior college ball. He played as a freshman at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio. Hill College is south of Dallas and north of Waco.

He signed with Creighton in the fall, but got out of that letter of intent. If a school like Creighton thinks that highly of Calhoun to sign him in the first place, then you figure he'll be a key contributor for Troy.
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Chanda Rigby Named Troy University Women's Basketball Head Coach
Adam Prendergast
4/11/2012 3:30:00 PM



TROY, Ala. – Following back-to-back state championships and two trips to the Final Four, Chanda Rigby has been named the new women's basketball head coach at Troy University, Athletic Director Steve Dennis announced Wednesday afternoon.

“We are very excited about the addition of Chanda to our Troy Family,” Dennis said. “I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work in this nationwide search. Chanda is an outstanding fit for Troy University. She is a proven championship winner and someone that will lead our program to another level in the Sun Belt Conference and nationally.”

Rigby just completed her seventh season at Pensacola State College where she led the Pirates to a combined 64-6 record over the last two seasons and two trips to the National Junior College Athletic Association Final Four; the Pirates were victorious in third-place games on both occasions.

“We had a lot of success in my last two years in Pensacola and Troy is a place where I want to transfer that success to,” Rigby said. “Troy is a prime place to make a statement in women's basketball.
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Coach Ron Hunter's son is now a 3 Star on Rivals.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/basketballrecrui...xnlejSO5B4

Spring Practice Position Breakdown: Quarterbacks
Tyler Pigg
4/12/2012 4:43:00 PM



With last year's disappointing 3-9 record leaving a bad taste in their mouths, the Troy Trojans are looking to get back to the top of the Sun Belt. In order to do that, Troy must discover what they'll be working with as they head into battle for the 2012 season. TroyTrojans.com is offering a positional breakdown of the Trojans as spring practice unfolds.

Today's installment will focus on the quarterbacks, where junior Corey Robinson looks to improve while JUCO transfer Deon Anthony will offer a different look to defenses.

When a team goes 3-9, not many things can be said to have gone right for it. The quarterback play was not bad by any stretch, but the expected improvement from Robinson in his second season as starter was nowhere to be seen. Robinson's touchdown total decreased by seven from 28 to 21. He threw for 300 less yards and his completion percentage went down. While the interception total remained the same (15), Robinson tossed at least one pick in all but one game last season.
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Physicality Showing In Last Week of Spring Practice
Brandon Lee
4/10/2012 7:17:00 PM



TROY, Ala. – The Troy football team took to the turf at Veterans Memorial on Tuesday to begin the fourth and final week of spring practice.

Up to this point, the team has taken part in two scrimmages and eight practices. The physicality on the field has increased and more and more players are showing their competitive edge. But, head coach Larry Blakeney said that the competitiveness is good and that it usually happens.

“It's normally a little bit chippy,” Blakeney said. “We got some guys that'll compete and it gets a little heated every now and then.”

Intense practices with the same guys can bring out a bad vibe amongst the team after four weeks of being on field, but Blakeney said that the players all end up in one accord with one another at the end of the day.

“Sometimes it fuels good stuff on the field and doesn't fuel good things off, but I think we are all walking off here the right way,” Blakeney said.
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(04-11-2012 01:51 PM)GaStPanthers Wrote:  

(04-11-2012 01:50 PM)panama Wrote:  ...Mathman Cometh

You're reading my mind...I've seen Ridge already on the general board...need to find a home for him too.

Present. Sooo much negative crap on CAAZone, had to disconnect. Let them stew in their world of anger, unhappiness, and envy.

This home will be much better where I don't have to constantly deflect caustic barbs and insults. But then there are those GA Southern Boys School fans defiling our new home.

6 weeks and this will be over and we can get down to talking football. Imagine that, a board where we talk football and its not relegated to a sub board

http://www.fayettedailynews.com/article...._news=9662

Curry is the man to lead Georgia State to the next level
2012-04-11
By Christopher Dunn
These days it does not seem like there is a much integrity left in the college coaching ranks. Arkansas's football coach is on the ropes with a new scandal involving a motorcycle accident and a young employee. Kentucky's National Championship winning basketball coach will always be shadowed by the vacated wins in his past. Even Penn State's long-honored coach was forced out in disgrace last year. In the changing environment of college sports, Georgia State has a truly special leader.
Bill Curry, head coach for the Panthers football team, is shepherding a program still in its infancy, but preparing for a huge step. Speaking as a graduate of Georgia State, you could not ask for a better head man. Curry is a man synonymous with honesty and integrity in the coaching ranks. He molds kids into men. He harkens back to the old days when a coach could walk into a house and make a promise to a recruit's parents and you could count on him to keep his promise. For that reason, the Panthers boast a number of second-generation players under their fathers' head coach. One story tells of Curry taking time away from his busy coaching schedule to be by a player's side while he was hospitalized with a tumor. That player said of Curry, "I never met a finer human being."
Recently I was lucky enough to sit down for lunch with Coach Curry to discuss the future of Georgia State football, and the outlook is bright. Later that afternoon, the school would officially move up to the highest level of college football.
When he was hired to be the football team's first coach, Curry brought with him an impressive resume in all facets of the game. He played center at Georgia Tech before heading to the NFL where he played in Super Bowls one, three, and five as a member of the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts. During those stints, he would snap the ball to Hall of Fame quarterbacks Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. While with the Packers, Curry played under the legendary Vince Lombardi. Curry said at the time he hated Lombardi for his hard nosed style. As the years passed, he learned to respect and understand what made him such a great leader.
He would go on to be the head coach at Georgia Tech, Alabama, and Kentucky before working as an analyst for ESPN until his hiring at Georgia State in June of 2008.
The Panthers are just now on the verge of their third season competing in football. They will compete on the FCS level, formerly Division 1-AA, this season. It was initially expected that the team would hang around that level for the foreseeable future. Instead, the school announced on Monday afternoon that it had accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference on the FBS level, formerly Division 1, starting in 2013. That means a program in its infancy could compete for bowls as soon as the 2014 football season after a one year transitional period.
It is a daunting move for sure and one quicker than expected, but according to Coach Curry, it's a move the school is ready to make. The school administration is committed to building the program the right way, making sure it doesn't just get bigger, but better. The football offices and practice facilities opened prior to last season were immediately seen as top-quality, on par with FBS level schools. The Georgia Dome is already a great drawing point for games. At 15,000 plus fans a game, the fan base is off to a good start.
Interest in the program has always been high with local recruits. Local players like Blake Wyatt (Landmark Christian), Davis Knowles (Whitewater), Matt Hubbard (Starr's Mill), and McClain Head (Whitewater) have already joined the blue and white. Sandy Creek's two-time state champion quarterback Ronnie Bell is in the process of transferring in. The move up should bring an even greater influx of talent. Coach Curry noted that a high number of players have said that they would sign with State the minute they went division one. While one can't guarantee the players will live by their word, it is certainly encouraging to the Panther faithful to think that they will see even better players in coming years.
Much like with recruits, Athletic Director Cheryl Levick spoke at the press conference about potential donors pledging to come on board as soon as the team raised to the FBS level.
It is the school's hope that the city of Atlanta is ready for another big football program. Just a few short years ago, Georgia State football seemed like a pipe dream. The foundation is now in place for the Panthers to succeed for a long time. While Bill Curry won't be around for ever, the lasting legacy he will leave at Georgia State will be of a program run with class and integrity. With their new home in the Sun Belt Conference, the Panthers' new day looks brighter than ever.

Troy ends spring practice





Obviously I could try to explain how Troy's 2012 spring practice went, but head coach Larry Blakeney could do it better than me. Here's what he said in his opening comments about the offense, defense, offseason, etc.

He did say that the new field turf is on track to be installed after Charles Henderson High does its spring ball, sometime in May. He said it was something he'd been waiting on for two and a half years, at least. Looking forward to seeing how that turns out.
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http://www.wsfa.com/story/17521305/georg...-2-alabama

Posted: Apr 18, 2012 6:40 AM EDT
Updated: Apr 18, 2012 6:40 AM EDT


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The second ranked Alabama softball team dropped its first nonconference game of the season as it fell to Georgia State, 5-1, Tuesday night at Rhoads Stadium. After the day the Crimson Tide moves to 40-3 while the Panthers improve to 32-12.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, Georgia State answered with five runs, three of which were unearned in the fifth inning to secure a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Alabama opened the scoring on an unearned run. Junior Kayla Braud recorded an infield single which enabled Jackey Branham to score on a bobble by the third baseman. Branham started the inning with a walk and after moving over on a sac-bunt by Kendall Dawson, Braud forced the issue with the bunt single.

But the Panthers would record five runs on three hits and an error in the five-run fifth. Callie Alford had the big hit, a two-run single to right to give GSU the lead for good.

Georgia State outhit Alabama, 6-4. Senior Jennifer Fenton paced the Tide with a team-high two hits and a walk.

The nonconference home loss was the first for Alabama since it fell to No. 7 Michigan at the Easton Challenge on March 6, 2010. It was the first nonconference home loss to an unranked opponent since Ohio State downed UA at the Crimson Classic on March 3, 2006.

Alabama will head to Athens for a crucial three game Southeastern Conference series against Georgia. The first game is scheduled for Thursday, April 19, with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. CT.

Spring recap: Running backs



Troy is known for being a passing offense, but this year's group of running backs is battle-tested, experienced and talented. They showed that during spring practice.

"Running the ball, making an emphasis on running the ball with a couple of linemen out, I think we got better at that," Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield said. "Our backs really did a nice job of breaking tackles and protecting the ball early on in spring."
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Troy Football Series links

Published 11:31am Monday, April 16, 2012
By Wes Johnson

Part 1: Defense – Rowell: ‘A lot of things make a team, a team’

Part 2: Defense – Troy looking for leaders on defense

Part 3: Offense – Troy offense concentrating on red zone offense

Part 4: Offense – Trojans aim for improved run game in 2012

Part 5 – Special Teams – Special teams must replace key components

Part 6 – State of the Program – Blakeney: ‘We have to continue developing and evolving the program in all areas’

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Flyin...story.html

Quote:The Lions will be holding free-agent camps Saturday, at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and Sun-day, at Bishop McNamara High School in Washington, D.C. "They're two big camps," Buono said. "We're excited about some of the guys we have coming who we expect to sign." Lions have two remaining FA camps - scheduled for Dallas (May 11) and Seattle (May 12).

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Flyin...z1sUrhtcO9

Troy lineman James Brown could be an intriguing prospect for Saints

04/19/12 5:00AM
Nakia Hogan, The Times-Picayune



Aside from his namesake, the Godfather of Soul, Troy offensive lineman James Brown has little name recognition as he prepares for next week's NFL draft.

But that doesn't mean he lacks the required skill set to be a professional football player.

With little fanfare, Brown has put together a collegiate resume that will likely lead to his name being called some time in the middle rounds, when the Saints, who are without first- and second-round picks, will be on the clock.
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