Troy & South Alabama to “Battle For the Belt” Saturday
TROY, Alabama – For the first time since the rivalry’s inception in 2012, the University of South Alabama and Troy University football programs will have hardware on the line when the two teams meet on Saturday.
The Jaguars and Trojans will “Battle For The Belt” when the two teams face off at Veterans Memorial Stadium Saturday at 6 p.m. A championship-style belt that will record scores in the series moving forward will be presented to the winning program on the field following the contest.
The contest can be seen nationally on ESPN3.
“In the hearts of students, Troy has always been our biggest rival. The ‘Battle for the Belt’ is the culmination of those passions,” South Alabama Student Government Association President Ravi Rajendra said. “The introduction of the trophy to the rivalry will offer a new way for Jag Nation to connect with our football program. The concept behind the Belt stemmed from our student body and was accompanied by insight from our football team; the football team really liked the concept of a wrestling belt, and the Belt also plays off of the Sun Belt Conference of which both Troy and USA are members.”
“The reason behind this upcoming week is not to tear two group’s leaders apart, but to solidify our separate, yet unified, University spirits and drives toward excellence,” Troy SGA President Heath Barton said. “We encourage everyone at these two schools who have launched some of Alabama’s greatest individuals to enjoy coming together, as one, to partake in one of the state’s greatest rivalries.”
Saturday’s game has been dubbed a Blackout by Troy Athletics and the first 10,000 fans in Veterans Memorial Stadium will receive an official Blackout T-shirt courtesy of Troy Athletics and Guardian Credit Union. Trojan Walk is scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m. on the corner of University Avenue and George Wallace Drive and gates to stadium will open at 4:30 p.m.
“I am excited about this Sun Belt rivalry being ‘formalized’ on the football field as we begin the ‘Battle for the Belt,’” Troy Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain said. “The student government bodies on each campus should be commended for their work in making this a reality. I am a firm believer that a strong rivalry makes each institution better, and I look forward to many years of intense, respectful competition between Troy University and the University of South Alabama.”
“We deeply appreciate and support this initiative by the student leadership of these two great universities,” USA Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann said. “Rivalry trophies — or in our case the rivalry belt — seem most effective when created through a legitimate grassroots effort that enhances the emotional connection to the game. We look forward to Saturday as we ‘Battle for the Belt.’”
The Trojans won the first two meetings in the series, earning a 31-10 victory in Mobile in 2012 before scoring in the final seconds to claim a 34-33 decision in Troy the following season. Last year, the Jaguars picked up their first win in the series after claiming a 27-13 victory at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
This will mark the first time in four years that both teams will open Sun Belt Conference play against each other.
