So here we are. For the second time in an eight year coaching career, we completed the season in front of us with a perfect 13-0 record. The only thing that was left to do was sit and wait. What bowl game would we be going to? And for that matter, would we be going back to the national championship game? The Trojans would find out their fate on the Bowl Selection Show on ESPN, but before then it was awards night in New York City.
The Trojan players and I arrived in New York on Saturday and I sat in the crowd and watched with some of the greatest coaches in college football history.
It was time for the for the trophies to be handed out to the best players in college football in 2027.
No successful 13-0 season goes unrecognized, and the Troy Trojans took home plenty of regular season awards.
Our record breaking starting quarterback Alonzo Roberts took home the Maxwell Award for outstanding player of the year.
Roberts also took home the Walter Camp Award as national player of the year.
Roberts made it three for three on the night, taking home the Davey O'Brien Award, recognizing the national quarterback of the year.
Wide Receiver/Tight End Kyle Kidd won the John Mackey Award for outstanding tight end of the year.
Trojan Adam Roberts took home the returner of the year trophy.
And finally, last but certainly not least, for the fourth time in seven years, I was called up on stage to receive the coach of the year trophy. As always, the credit goes to these great Trojan football players, they earned this trophy for me.
The Main Event of the night was up next. It was time to find out if Troy University would take home a second Heisman trophy.
By more than 400 votes the voters decided, Trojan quarterback Alonzo Roberts would become Troy's second Heisman trophy winner! Congratulations to Alonzo Roberts! He joins Josiah Higdon as Troy University's second Heisman Trophy winner. This can only help in the future when it comes to recruiting quarterbacks to come to Troy University.
After sitting on the bench his first two years behind Higdon, and being benched last year due to poor play, there is no better feeling for Roberts than to bounce back in his Senior year and be recognized as the best player in college football in 2027!
Here you can see Roberts & Higdon's Heisman Trophies as well as my four coach of the year awards. Also other awards from present and past players, most of them won by Josiah Higdon.
On this Saturday night, the Trojan football team was on top of the world. All these regular season trophies and Conference USA Championship was nice, but there was one thing left for this football team to get.
Even with a 13-0 record and a #2 ranking, would to voters vote for us to go back to the National Championship game just two years after losing it all to Air Force? Or would they vote in 12-1 Alabama or 12-1 Wisconsin?
ESPN's Bowl Selection show was here. All the football players, Troy staff and Troy students gathered in Trojan Arena to watch to show. ESPN sent a camera crew down to either film our excitement...or disappointment.
After 30 long minutes of waiting....it was official.
The Troy Trojans were going back to the National Championship game. This time it was in the Super Dome in New Orleans. A dome this Troy team plays in every other year and played in this year when we went up against Tulane back in week three. Advantage us!
Big XII Champion, 12-0, #1 TCU vs. Conference USA Champion, 13-0, #2 Troy!
The two top teams in the nation going head to head. We have a month to prepare for this big game. The Trojans are determined not to go home empty handed again! Lets get to work Trojans!
Wooo! Go Troy!
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