A little tale of a fairly powerful D2 football program that decided to move up to 1AA (FCS) and then to 1A (FBS).
Heart of the article: And as Troy University has evolved from a Division II power to seven-time Sun Belt champion in the past two decades, it has shown a historic knack for its success to belie the modest surroundings.
When football season kicks off in three months, Troy University will enter with the country's second-longest winning streak. The Trojans rattled off 11 straight wins to finish the 2022 season under first-year coach Sumrall, and they trail only defending national champion Georgia, which has won 17 in a row.
How did little Troy, Alabama, become home to one of the college football's longest winning streaks?
"It begins with the belief and with the question, 'Why not Troy?'" chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. told ESPN. "If you are going to do it, be bold about it."
Now, most of us know that the Sunbelt produces some solid football teams every year. But back when Troy was still 1A, and after Troy moved up, the Sunbelt was nearly universally regarded as the weakest, and often much weaker than the 10th, of the then 11 1A conferences. Clearly, little Troy has played the predominant role in elevating its entire conference by winning bigger than most people thought any conference team could manage.
All of that is what UNC football has failed to do for itself and the ACC.
Heart of the article: And as Troy University has evolved from a Division II power to seven-time Sun Belt champion in the past two decades, it has shown a historic knack for its success to belie the modest surroundings.
When football season kicks off in three months, Troy University will enter with the country's second-longest winning streak. The Trojans rattled off 11 straight wins to finish the 2022 season under first-year coach Sumrall, and they trail only defending national champion Georgia, which has won 17 in a row.
How did little Troy, Alabama, become home to one of the college football's longest winning streaks?
"It begins with the belief and with the question, 'Why not Troy?'" chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. told ESPN. "If you are going to do it, be bold about it."
Now, most of us know that the Sunbelt produces some solid football teams every year. But back when Troy was still 1A, and after Troy moved up, the Sunbelt was nearly universally regarded as the weakest, and often much weaker than the 10th, of the then 11 1A conferences. Clearly, little Troy has played the predominant role in elevating its entire conference by winning bigger than most people thought any conference team could manage.
All of that is what UNC football has failed to do for itself and the ACC.
