Sarahbelle
10-24-2004, 11:58 AM
http://www.al.com/sports/mobileregister/thicks.ssf?/base/sports/109860940011800.xml
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Troy State may have lost a football game Saturday night, but it gained a quarterback. Perhaps even a bright future.
Thanks to a 30-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Randall to David Jones with just 2:18 to play, LSU escaped the Trojans' upset bid before more than 89,000 people at Tiger Stadium. Troy State had grabbed a 20-17 lead just 101 seconds earlier, but in the end it did not hold up.
While TSU fans might have left the home field of college football's defending national champions thinking of what might have been, they may also have given some time to considering what might be.
The reason for their optimism is true freshman quarterback D.T. McDowell.
Receiving his first collegiate start, McDowell demonstrated some of the talents and qualities that led Nebraska to offer him a scholarship. And while his stats were modest -- 7-of-14 passing for 60 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass, and 14 carries for minus-10 yards (because of four sacks) -- it was his presence that stood out most of all.
As Troy State coach Larry Blakeney pointed out, last year at this time McDowell was playing for Tucker (Ga.) High School. Saturday night, he started against the home team in one of the toughest stadiums in America.
Troy's offense received the football to open the game. As he stood on the sidelines, just before the opening kickoff, three things went through McDowell's mind: "Stay calm, don't let the crowd get to you and speak loud and remember the plays."
"When I was rolling in the stadium, there were more people outside (the stadium) than there was in it. ... I can tell my kids I played against the defending national champions."
If he makes the progress many foresee for him, he'll be able to tell his children a lot more than that about his college career.
McDowell had verbally committed to Nebraska. But when coach Frank Solich was fired, he changed his mind. With a future in professional baseball also possible, other schools backed off McDowell, who picked Troy State over Mississippi State. Then he signed a pro baseball contract.
Shortly after beginning his baseball career, McDowell decided he wasn't happy with the decision and called Blakeney to find out if he would still be welcomed back.
McDowell played sparingly in the Trojans' first six games, but starter Aaron Leak's disappointing play, especially in last week's loss at Arkansas State, led to the freshman's promotion. Leak will have a difficult time getting his job back now.
"This will help me a lot," McDowell said. "I started out (as a starter) with a tough team. It makes me feel I can go against anybody and do pretty good."
His abilities certainly open up more possibilities for the Trojans' offense. McDowell has good arm strength and he also possesses the ability to run with the football and make big plays. Once he becomes more comfortable with the offense, he should be more effective.
Blakeney said there is room for improvement, but added he also saw what is possible for Troy State's offense with McDowell under center. And while the Trojans may have lost to LSU, the experience gained for McDowell in front of that kind of crowd will be useful as Troy State makes its stretch run.
That run includes four games, three of which are at Movie Gallery Stadium, the Trojans' home field. All four are against Sun Belt Conference foes -- Idaho, Florida Atlantic (which joins the league next season), Louisiana-Lafayette and Middle Tennessee. Those teams are going to be seeing a lot of D.T. McDowell in the future.
:D
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Troy State may have lost a football game Saturday night, but it gained a quarterback. Perhaps even a bright future.
Thanks to a 30-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Randall to David Jones with just 2:18 to play, LSU escaped the Trojans' upset bid before more than 89,000 people at Tiger Stadium. Troy State had grabbed a 20-17 lead just 101 seconds earlier, but in the end it did not hold up.
While TSU fans might have left the home field of college football's defending national champions thinking of what might have been, they may also have given some time to considering what might be.
The reason for their optimism is true freshman quarterback D.T. McDowell.
Receiving his first collegiate start, McDowell demonstrated some of the talents and qualities that led Nebraska to offer him a scholarship. And while his stats were modest -- 7-of-14 passing for 60 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass, and 14 carries for minus-10 yards (because of four sacks) -- it was his presence that stood out most of all.
As Troy State coach Larry Blakeney pointed out, last year at this time McDowell was playing for Tucker (Ga.) High School. Saturday night, he started against the home team in one of the toughest stadiums in America.
Troy's offense received the football to open the game. As he stood on the sidelines, just before the opening kickoff, three things went through McDowell's mind: "Stay calm, don't let the crowd get to you and speak loud and remember the plays."
"When I was rolling in the stadium, there were more people outside (the stadium) than there was in it. ... I can tell my kids I played against the defending national champions."
If he makes the progress many foresee for him, he'll be able to tell his children a lot more than that about his college career.
McDowell had verbally committed to Nebraska. But when coach Frank Solich was fired, he changed his mind. With a future in professional baseball also possible, other schools backed off McDowell, who picked Troy State over Mississippi State. Then he signed a pro baseball contract.
Shortly after beginning his baseball career, McDowell decided he wasn't happy with the decision and called Blakeney to find out if he would still be welcomed back.
McDowell played sparingly in the Trojans' first six games, but starter Aaron Leak's disappointing play, especially in last week's loss at Arkansas State, led to the freshman's promotion. Leak will have a difficult time getting his job back now.
"This will help me a lot," McDowell said. "I started out (as a starter) with a tough team. It makes me feel I can go against anybody and do pretty good."
His abilities certainly open up more possibilities for the Trojans' offense. McDowell has good arm strength and he also possesses the ability to run with the football and make big plays. Once he becomes more comfortable with the offense, he should be more effective.
Blakeney said there is room for improvement, but added he also saw what is possible for Troy State's offense with McDowell under center. And while the Trojans may have lost to LSU, the experience gained for McDowell in front of that kind of crowd will be useful as Troy State makes its stretch run.
That run includes four games, three of which are at Movie Gallery Stadium, the Trojans' home field. All four are against Sun Belt Conference foes -- Idaho, Florida Atlantic (which joins the league next season), Louisiana-Lafayette and Middle Tennessee. Those teams are going to be seeing a lot of D.T. McDowell in the future.
:D