Troy’s Blakeney on Gundy: ‘He’s a farm boy from Oklahoma’
Published: 9/8/2010 1:12 PM
Last Modified: 9/8/2010 1:12 PM
In terms of Division I-A longevity, these football coaches are the top three nationally:
At Penn State, Joe Paterno is in his 45th season as the head man.
At Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer is in his 24th season.
And at Troy, Larry Blakeney has begun his 20th season.
On Saturday, Blakeney and the Trojans challenge Oklahoma State in Stillwater. It is the final contest of a three-game contract. In 2007 at Troy, Ala., the Trojans smashed OSU 41-23. In 2008 at Boone Pickens Stadium, the Cowboys prevailed 55-24.
While Troy is viewed as a mid-major program, the Trojans are not a cupcake opponent. Troy has captured four consecutive Sun Belt Conference titles.
This is what the 62-year-old Blakeney has to say about his OSU counterpart, Mike Gundy:
“I like Mike. He’s a farm boy from Oklahoma and I can relate to him. He’s had some bad pub because of a quote or two, but he is a good fellow and he coaches them up good. I expect them to be pretty good.”
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
