HISTORY
1968 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Led by a record-setting aerial attack and a defense that recorded four shutouts, the Red Wave claimed the 1969 NAIA National Championship with a 43-35 victory over Texas A&I at Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.). Under the guidance of third-year head coach Bill Atkins, Troy opened the season with a 49-31 win over Samford. In that game, quarterback Sim Byrd threw five touchdowns, hitting 23-of-33 passes for 443 yards. The Red Wave continued to roll, winning its first seven games. Byrd led Troy past Delta State, 35-23, connecting on 34-of-49 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns; also rushing for two touchdowns. He followed that performance with five touchdown passes, all to Danny Grant, in a 52-0 win over McNeese State. Troy had risen to number three in the national poll before dropping a 12-3 decision to TennesseeMartin. Byrd and Heard threw eight interceptions as the Red Wave could only muster a 34-yard field goal by Randy Hicks in the loss. Troy bounced back the next week, and demolished Concord (W.Va.), 76-0, on Homecoming at Veterans Memorial Stadium, rising back to number four in the NAIA rankings and earning a berth in the playoffs. Byrd was at it again, throwing for six touchdowns and rushing for another, while Ronnie Shelley returned two punts for touchdowns. The Red Wave advanced to the title game with a 63-10 victory over Willamette (Ore.) in the semifinals. Byrd threw for six touchdowns, while his back-up Al Heard threw two. Shelley joined the scoring with a 66-yard interception.
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS Date Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16
Dec. 7
Opponent at Samford Gordon Military # West Alabama Sam Houston State Delta State at Jacksonville State at North Alabama McNeese State at UT-Martin Concord (HC)
Score W, 49-31 W, 47-7 W, 42-23 W, 37-19 W, 35-23 W, 31-0 W, 41-0 W, 52-0 L, 12-3 W, 76-0
Champion Bowl Semifinal # Willamette (Ore.) W, 63-10 Champion Bowl # Texas A&I
Dec. 14 In the national title game, Byrd connected on 25of-44 passes and threw five touchdowns en route # - played at Cramton Bowl to Most Valuable Back honors as the Red Wave cruised past Texas A&I. Cecil Barber scored two touchdowns, one on a 53-yard run and the other on a five-yard pass.
W, 43-35
STATISTICAL LEADERS Rushing Player Cecil Barber Jeff Cotton J.A. Williams Passing Player Sim Byrd Al Head Receiving Player Danny Grant Bobby Enslen Doug Taylor Vince Green Interceptions Player Ronnie Shelley David Cooper
Att 167 114 38 A-C-I Yards 414-260-21 3569 62-28-5 360 Catches 72 61 45 54
Yards 724 451 173 TD 41 7
Yards 1002 970 574 500
TD 14 12 8 7
Int. 15 6
Yards 294 33
Bobby Enslen scored on a 54-yard pass, and Vince Green scored on a 15-yard reception. Doug Taylor was named Most Valuable Lineman after catching two touchdown passes from Byrd, one from five-yards out and the other from three. Byrd and Shelley were named to the NAIA All-American First Team at the conclusion of the season after their outstanding year.
2022 TROY FOOTBALL
138
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