Trick or Treat: Troy’s Halloween Fates
So the story goes, a girl named Sally was enrolled at Troy during World War II. Her fiancé had been drafted and went to fight for his country. Unfortunately, her beau was killed in action while overseas. Sally received the news and was absolutely devastated as she returned to her dormitory, Shackelford Hall.
For most Trojans, they already know how this story goes. Sally was found dead the next morning, having hung herself from the fourth floor staircase, a victim of her inconsolable grief.
The story of Sally Shack is a common tale told about life at Troy University, even extending to her paranormal presence that still resides in Shack to this very day. What follows is a lesser known or realized story about Troy’s Football history.
When the Trojans take the field against Arkansas State on Saturday afternoon, it will mark the 12th time Troy has taken the field on Halloween. Troy is 6-4-1 on Halloween over the last 11 games.
The first game was all the way back in 1924. This was a 0-0 tie against one of Troy’s frequent early foes, Marion Military Institute. The next Halloween game was a 31-7 win over Samford at The Vet in 1953. The Trojans added two more Hallowins, if you will, in 1959 (Austin Peay, 13-7) and 1964 (Presbyterian, 9-7).
The first Halloween loss for Troy came in 1970, a 38-7 drubbing at the hands of McNeese State. Incidentally it was also that year’s Homecoming game. The Trojans got the second L in Halloween against Tennessee Tech, losing 37-28 in 1981.
Troy would go on a three Halloween game win streak starting in 1987 with a 38-3 win over the Lions of North Alabama. The second win of the streak in 1998 would be legendary Troy coach Larry Blakeney’s first Halloween win, a 14-13 nail-biter against Northwestern State. Win number three would come 11 years later in 2009, defeating a solid ULM squad 42-21.
ULM wouldn’t have long to wait for some Halloween revenge, however. They met the Trojans again on the 31st of October in 2013. This time, they would best the Trojans by a 49-37 margin.
This game marked the first alternate uniform in the FBS era. It was just the second time Troy wore black since it dropped the State from its name.
The 11th Halloween game was one for the ages and what should rightly be considered the true start of the Neal Brown era. On that day in 2015, the Trojans went up the mountain to face the App State Mountaineers. Troy took that phenomenal App State team to three overtimes before finally falling to the Mountaineers 44-41.
The good news for Trojans fans though is that historically Troy has been pretty good on Halloween. Along with this, Troy has never lost more than two Halloween games in a row. If the Arkansas State Red Wolves let them in, then the Trojans should be able to trick A-State and earn some treats.
