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How Neal Brown's Departure Affects Troy Football's 2019 Season

To say that Neal Brown was a successful head coach for Troy University's football team would be an understatement. During his tenure at the Group of Five Troy University, Brown defeated Power Five schools Nebraska and ranked LSU in Baton Rouge, lost by only 6 to 2016 National Champions Clemson Tigers, won 35 games in four seasons, a Sun Belt Championship, a Sun Belt division, a coach of the year award, became the first top 25 head coach in the Sun belt Conference and at Troy, and recruited Troy to its best recruiting class in Troy's history. Now, after Brown's departure to take the West Virginia head coaching job, many wonder if Troy will have the same success in 2019 without him.

Whether die hard Troy fans want to admit it or not, despite hiring former Auburn Tigers' offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey as their new head coach, Neal Brown leaving does affect the Troy football program in a negative way. For starters, when Neal Brown left so did most of Troy's coaching staff. Neal Brown took with him to West Virginia, defensive coordinator Vic Koenning, offensive coordinator Matt Moore, quarterbacks coach, Sean Reagan, defensive line coach Jordan Lesley, and cornerbacks coach, Al Pogue. That is a lot of experienced coaching for a football team to lose in one year.

Not only did Brown's departure follow up with most of Troy's coaching staff going with him, it also had a domino affect on experienced players as well. 2017 Sun Belt Freshman of the year and All American ESPN Freshman Kickoff Returner of the Year, Marcus Jones transferred to Houston, Troy's leading tackler Tron Folsom, a Sun Belt defensive player of the week in 2018, transferred to Colorado State, and the former ESPN 36th ranked high school dual threat quarterback Sawyer Smith transferred to Kentucky. Overall, between transfers and graduation, Troy lost 12 starters (6 on defense and 6 on offense).

On the positive side, Neal Brown did leave Troy with the best recruiting class in Troy football's history this past year. With that in mind, Troy will have a lot of new players ready for a fresh start with a new coach. In addition, two of Neal Brown's Troy recruits, 1,000 yard rusher, B.J. Smith and Troy's all time top completion percentage holder (73%) and former high school 4A Back of the Year, quarterback Kaleb Barker, decided to return to Troy for their senior year.

It is no question that Neal Brown left a lasting impression on the Troy football program, bringing it up to a level that Troy had never seen before. And even though Chip Lindsey may have big shoes to fill and whatever outcome that Troy has this season because of Brown's departure, it must not be forgotten that Neal Brown was only 4-8 his first year at Troy. So despite the departure affect, Troy Football must recognize that the Neal Brown Era is gone, and it is time to move forward for a new football season.

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