Nebraska lands QB D.T McDowell from Tucker, GA--- Skydog?

[BillyMadison]

D.T. McDowell from Tucker, Ga. picked the Huskers over scholarship offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Virginia, LSU, among others.

"Yesterday, it may sound silly, but I was playing the new NCAA 2004 game and I played Nebraska against Auburn and then Auburn against Nebraska and then let the computer do it. Nebraska won two out of three. That was a sign to me."

[GoldenEagle]

He should have went to Memphis.

[Balldog]

WTF! How can you pick your school based on a video game?

[GoldenEagle]

I missed that. I wish NCAA 2004 was an influence on all the recruits minds. Memphis always does well in it.

[illinifan999]

So you are still logging in? I coulda sworn that you said, "to hell with this place, i actually have a social life"

On topic:

Hope he can run fast.

[mckerney]

Why do threads started by people on my ignore list still show up on the thread listing?

[The Afoci]

Off Topic: It is probably one of his assistants posting for him.

On Topic: I got nothing.

[SFL Cat]

Man...now watch Auburn sue EA Sports for "gridiron misrepresentation!:

[illinifan999]

COME ON GUYS!!!!!!! WE HAVE TO STOP OBSESSING OVER BM!!!!!! EVERY TOPIC STARTED BY HIM GETS LIKE A MILLION REPLIES!!!!!!!!!!! DO WE HANG ON HIS EVERY WORD AND ACTION?????? WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS!!!!!

[BillyMadison]

I'm glad you take a minute aside and acknowledge me... it's really sad coming from the same people who "don't like me". Thanks, Now get out of my thread if you got nothing constructive.

[illinifan999]

Originally posted by BillyMadison
I'm glad you take a minute aside and acknowledge me... it's really sad coming from the same people who "don't like me". Thanks, Now get out of my thread if you got nothing constructive.

But, see my big rig broke down, and since I have no life I have no wife. And the hookers around here are gross, so I decide to hang out here.

[The Afoci]

Originally posted by BillyMadison
I'm glad you take a minute aside and acknowledge me... it's really sad coming from the same people who "don't like me". Thanks, Now get out of my thread if you got nothing constructive.

This is your thread? My fault. One question though, is his move a good deal?

[GoldenEagle]

I thought we were going to talk about Memphis Tiger football.

I guess Ill just take my ball and go home....

[illinifan999]

Originally posted by GoldenEagle
I thought we were going to talk about Memphis Tiger football.

I guess Ill just take my ball and go home....

It was a very pretty ball.......

[GrantDawg]

Memphis has a football team? I thought they were a basketball only school.

[GoldenEagle]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
Memphis has a football team? I thought they were a basketball only school.

Hey, we beat UT in 96. I still have the game tape.

[GrantDawg]

I remember that day. I was in Nashville watching Florida narrowly escaping Vandy. We got a good giggle out of Tennessee losing to Memphis.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally posted by BillyMadison
D.T. McDowell from Tucker, Ga. picked the Huskers over scholarship offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Virginia, LSU, among others.

"Yesterday, it may sound silly, but I was playing the new NCAA 2004 game and I played Nebraska against Auburn and then Auburn against Nebraska and then let the computer do it. Nebraska won two out of three. That was a sign to me."

I already mentioned this in the Thomas Brown thread. FWIW, I'm predicting that DT goes in the June draft as a pitcher, and never plays a down at Nebraska.

[GoldenEagle]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
I remember that day. I was in Nashville watching Florida narrowly escaping Vandy. We got a good giggle out of Tennessee losing to Memphis.

The best day for Memphis ever. Bar none.

[illinifan999]

Originally posted by GoldenEagle
The best day for Memphis ever. Bar none.

I see you brought your ball back.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

I already mentioned this in the Thomas Brown thread. FWIW, I'm predicting that DT goes in the June draft as a pitcher, and never plays a down at Nebraska.

Easiest. Prediction. Ever.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Easiest. Prediction. Ever.

Did he end up going in the baseball draft? I know he didn't even end up signing with Nebraska.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Did he end up going in the baseball draft? I know he didn't even end up signing with Nebraska.

Yes. He is in Arizona, with an Anaheim rookie league affiliate.

[Ben E Lou]

Dola:

Getting oneself kicked off the team for the majority of one's Senior season is generally harmful to one's draft value. He went in the 20th round.

[Pumpy Tudors]

So let's get more Memphis football talk in here.

[vex]

I started reading this thread and didn't realize it was from 2003

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

So let's get more Memphis football talk in here.

UTEP's gonna kick Memphis' ass starting in '05...

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by vexroid

I started reading this thread and didn't realize it was from 2003

i did the same

[ausonny]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

UTEP's gonna kick Memphis' ass starting in '05...

Not gonna happen.

[Ben E Lou]

The saga continues.

D.T. showed up at Troy State after all.

[Ben E Lou]

Team Hitting, 2004

Player		G		AB		R		H		2B		3B		HR		RBI		BB		SO		SB		CS		AVG
Barry Wesson		4		13		3		5		2		0		0		3		1		2		0		0		.385
Matt Day		11		30		8		10		1		0		0		1		3		9		1		0		.333
D.T. Mcdowell		21		58		8		18		3		2		1		7		6		12		3		5		.310
Anderson Rosario		32		127		18		39		5		3		1		13		8		40		6		3		.307
Brandon Doddo		16		60		5		17		3		0		0		10		3		9		2		0		.283
Josh Davies		31		108		12		30		2		2		1		9		5		27		3		1		.278
Alexi Casilla		33		122		22		33		0		4		0		9		10		7		16		6		.270
Martin Maldonado		19		41		4		11		1		0		0		3		3		8		1		1		.268
Brett Martinez		36		144		13		36		8		1		0		20		11		23		3		1		.250
Howie Kendrick		3		12		1		3		1		0		0		0		1		0		2		0		.250
Robert Shankle		38		138		17		33		8		2		3		23		19		42		3		2		.239
Andrew Newton		3		13		0		3		1		1		0		1		0		4		0		1		.231
David Hernandez		26		89		8		20		2		1		2		10		4		24		1		3		.225
Luis Rivera		33		99		12		22		4		0		0		8		20		34		3		1		.222
Curtis Pride		4		14		1		3		1		0		0		3		1		6		1		0		.214
Josh Cowles		41		139		15		28		10		0		0		9		24		48		9		2		.201
Doug Reinhardt		36		120		7		23		3		0		1		6		8		33		1		1		.192
Jose Arredondo		25		68		6		13		2		0		0		3		1		13		1		2		.191
Stantrel Smith		25		91		7		17		2		3		0		4		4		22		3		2		.187
Totals		--		1486		167		364		59		19		9		142		132		363		59		31		0.245

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://www.troystate.com/news/03-04/fb081504.htm

TROY, Ala. - Concerns over consistent play from the offense for the Troy University football team quickly evaporated Sunday evening at Movie Gallery Stadium in the first scrimmage of fall camp.
Long kickoff returns by juniors Toris Rutledge (49 yards) and Adrian Ghent (60 yards) to go with one from redshirt freshman Darius Williams (44 yards) gave the first and second offensive units great field position on their first three possessions of the session.
Senior quarterback Aaron Leak needed just two plays on the first possession to find the end zone, on a 34-yard screen pass to senior Jason Samples. Freshman quarterback D.T. McDowell, who worked primarily with the second offense, connected for a 15-yard scoring pass to Rutledge on his first pass of the day on the second possession.
“We got things off to a good start early offensively,” Coach Larry Blakeney said. “The kicking game really sparked us there at the start and then we got a couple of good play calls and good catches. After that, we settled in a little bit.”
Leak, who ran four scoring drives with the first team offense, finished the day having completed eight of 15 passes for 101 yards. He was intercepted once. McDowell hit on four of his nine attempts and was also intercepted once. He led three scoring drives.

[Ben E Lou]

Note: Those team hitting stats are from his rookie league team in Arizona. Looks like he was doing pretty well before he left.

[Ben E Lou]

Another link of interest:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/...V516troywj.htm

FYI, I've been sitting on this info since late last week. I hate that "Well, here's the deal, but don't tell anyone" stuff. Now that it is in the media, I guess I'm free to tell.

[Ben E Lou]

They're starting to gush over him down in Troy:
http://p205.ezboard.com/ftroystatesp...cID=5651.topic

[Ben E Lou]

http://www.troymessenger.com/article...s/sports01.txt

From the outfield to the backfield

By Andy Brown, The Messenger In a matter of weeks, Troy University freshman quarterback D.T. McDowell has gone from chasing down fly balls in the outfield for the Anaheim Angels rookie-league Mesa Angels to being chased by Trojan defensive lineman.

The change has not phased the Trojans' young quarterback in the least.

"The biggest transition for me has been the conditioning," McDowell said. "Baseball conditioning and football conditioning are a lot different. Other than that I'm just trying to get used to throwing a football again. I haven't thrown a ball since November, so I'm trying to get back in the rhythm, and getting my mind back on football."

For McDowell, part of getting his mind back on football is learning the Trojans' playbook. A task he has had to cram into just over a week of work.

"I've had a lot of late nights," McDowell said. "A lot of staying to study the plays and make sure I can run them when we get out here in the field."

Troy coaches have been impressed with the quick transition McDowell has made to the college game.

"We knew D.T. was a phenomenal athlete, but I have been surprised at how quick of a learner he is," Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. "He's picked up on everything pretty quickly."

"At times D.T. looks great," offensive coordinator Mark Fleetwood said. "He s progressing, but we just have to see how things go. He's learning, but we're throwing a lot on him, and he's only been in here about a week now, so it's a day-to-day thing. Aaron is still our quarterback, but I think the competition is good for both of them. Hopefully, D.T. will continue to pick things up and the two of them will push each other."

Apart from football, McDowell has picked up on a few other things.

"I think I took the buildings in Atlanta for granted," McDowell said with a laugh. "I asked some of the guys on the team if there are any buildings around here that you can't jump up and touch. There was a little culture shock. I really like it here, though. Everyone I've met has been great, and I know that they will support this team."

The Stone Mountain, Ga., native has also picked up on the fact that his coaches are interested in his future - not just football.

"Coach Blakeney and the rest of the coaches are really players coaches," McDowell said. "That's the main reason I chose Troy. The bigger schools like Nebraska and LSU and some of the other schools that recruited me have their name guys, but here you know the coaches are for you and not just because of football. They are really interested in your future."

Part of McDowell's future could include Major League Baseball, and despite the possibility of losing a potential star, Blakeney is supportive of McDowell pursuing that option.

"We want to give D.T. every opportunity we can to do what he wants to do with his life," Blakeney said. "If that's baseball we want to help him how we can there, and if it's football we certainly want to help him there, but more than anything we want to make sure D.T. gets a good education. I think that's what he wants, and I think that's a huge part of why he is here."

For McDowell, things might be a little simpler.

"Once you get football in your blood you can't get it out," McDowell said. "Even when I was playing baseball this summer in the back of my mind I knew I would be on a football field again. Once you've played your whole life you just have to play."

The Trojans hope that McDowell's obsession with the game will translate into future wins. As a high school standout in Georgia, McDowell led Tucker High School to a 34-4 record in three seasons, while throwing for 3,699 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,001 yards and 25 touchdowns.

"I just want to help us win," McDowell said. "If I only accomplish one thing this season I want it to be helping this team win a Sun Belt Conference Championship."

"There's no doubt that he will see the field this season," Blakeney said. "I think he can help us win, and we're going to put the guys out there that can do that for us."

[Ben E Lou]

Wow...a great article...

McDowell gives up baseball to play quarterback at Troy


Jon Johnson
Eagle Staff
Thursday, August 19, 2004


TROY -- D.T. McDowell still wears a red Angels baseball cap as he walks through the football offices of Troy University , though his mind now zeros in on Xs and Os instead of RBIs.

For the better part of the summer, McDowell spent his days as a professional athlete -- honing his skills as an outfielder in the Anaheim Angels baseball organization for the Mesa club of the Arizona Rookie League.

But as the opening day of summer drills neared at Troy, McDowell longed to be back on the field of another kind.

A preseason football show on ESPN escalated those thoughts.

"I was just getting through talking on the phone to my fiancé about football when that came on ESPN," McDowell said.

"That got me excited."

A two-sport star from Tucker High near Atlanta, McDowell was considered the prize of Troy's football signing class last February.

Once a commitment to Nebraska, McDowell switched gears after Frank Solich was fired as the Cornhuskers head coach, re-opening the door for Troy and a long list of others.

McDowell, a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder, threw for 1,600 years and ran for 642 with 11 touchdowns as a senior. During his three years as the starting quarterback for Tucker, the team was 34-4.

He was also star pitcher/fielder on the baseball team, and pro scouts had an eye on him as a baseball player.

McDowell ultimately chose Troy over Mississippi State and signed a football scholarship. But once opting to ink a pro baseball contract in June when Anaheim picked him in the 20th round of the Major League Baseball draft, it appeared McDowell may never see the athletic fields of Troy.

"Right when he got out there, I just worried if he was OK," said Mark Fleetwood, Troy's offensive coordinator. "I told him if it was a year from now, or two years from now, he's got a home here.

"He stayed in contact with me."

And when Troy opened football drills two Mondays ago, McDowell was in flight from Mesa and arrived toward the end of the first practice to begin work.

What's been a roller coaster journey over the past eight months for McDowell was now taking on another twist as a college quarterback.

Tragic Times

As McDowell was dealing with being a hot-shot recruit, a week in January brought everything into perspective as he dealt with two tragedies close to his heart.

"My grandfather died on a Tuesday," McDowell said. "It was 2 a.m. and my mom called me and said he had died.

"I went to school that Wednesday and that night, at the same time -- 2 a.m. -- my godmother called and said coach Venable had died."

Bill Venable, the offensive line coach at Tucker High, was murdered in his home by an intruder. Also killed was Venable's son, who was a center on the Tucker football team and one of McDowell's friends.

"That was the worst week of my life,'' McDowell said. "He (coach Venable) really helped me as a coach, and his son was a friend.

"He was really smart -- knew a lot of computers and helped me with them."

Football took a backseat in McDowell's life for the time being. But the recruiting wars would intensify in the coming days.

The Decision

When National Signing Day arrived in February, McDowell sat at a table in front of the Tucker High student body along with 11 other teammates who were signing scholarships -- six of them to Division I-A colleges .

McDowell's best friend, Thomas Brown, a running back, was bound for Georgia and sat next to him.

McDowell had a Troy and Mississippi State cap in front of him. He wasn't letting on to his friends that Troy would be the choice.

"I told my best friend I would give him a sign," McDowell said. "I said, 'If you see me touch my ear it's Troy, and if you see me touch my nose, it's Mississippi State.'

"All the cameras were turning my way. My hands were sweaty. I felt like I was in a church about to make a speech.

"I touched my ear and looked over at my friend. He said, 'Are you sure?'

"I then threw the Mississippi State cap on the ground. There were some oohs and aahs, and some yeas."

Early Interest

Fleetwood has had ties to Tucker High for years, being familiar with the school while growing up in the area and attending nearby Lakeside High.

He said he knew McDowell was something special while watching him as a sophomore and the interest began.

When McDowell committed to play for Nebraska last summer, Fleetwood congratulated him over the phone and wished him well.

"I also knew February was a long ways off," Fleetwood said.

When Solich was fired, McDowell renewed his interest with Troy.

"What you have to do is trust what you've done," Fleetwood said. "It was relationships. He knew what coach (Larry) Blakeney stood for. He's such a people person."

McDowell said he felt at home following his visit to Troy.

"Troy was the closest thing to Nebraska with the coaches," McDowell said. "Coach Solich is a great guy and I think he can be a great head coach somewhere.

"Troy was in the picture, then Mississippi State and LSU. You hear what everyone else says about big schools, but Troy has a big heart.

"I felt real comfortable. It's a little town with a lot of support of the team and the university ."

Troy ultimately won the battle, but Fleetwood wouldn't know it until later in the afternoon by way of a phone message from Tucker head coach Bill Ballard.

"The message said, 'This is Bill Ballard. By the way, you got him,'" Fleetwood said.

"I came running up the stairs and into coach Blakeney's office and said, 'We got him.'

"We started giving each other high-fives.''

Playing Baseball

Football was put on hold when McDowell was offered and signed a pro baseball contract after being drafted by Anaheim.

Playing for Mesa, McDowell was among the team leaders, consistently hitting in the .300 range while playing regularly as a centerfielder.

There were times, particularly early on, McDowell became homesick and considered coming home.

His fiancé, Kennethia Favors, urged him to stay on for the time being.

"She said, 'Sweetie, you've got to stay down there and give it a shot,'" McDowell said. "She's always there for me listening. She's not always going to agree with me, but she listens.

"She's my best friend, my preacher, my counselor."

McDowell remained in Mesa, but as the start of football season approached, McDowell knew he had to make a decision.

The Thursday before the Troy players were scheduled to report the next Monday, McDowell sat down with the baseball manager at Mesa and let his feelings be known.

"I told him if I was going to play football, I was going to have to leave by Monday morning," McDowell said. "He told me I would be invited to an extended league in September, which is for top prospects. I told him that's a great honor, but I think I'm going to have to pass.

"I want to get my education and want to put on the pads for awhile. I plan to keep on playing baseball, but for now I'm concerned about football."

McDowell can continue playing professional baseball without it affecting his eligibility for college football.

On The Field

It didn't take long for McDowell to make a positive impression, quickly moving into the rotation with the second unit on offense.

"He's got great accuracy,'' Fleetwood said. "He has the ability to see the field, he knows where his receivers are and he has a great release.

"Not only that, but he listens and watches the guy in front of him. He asks lots of questions."

McDowell said Aaron Leak, the Trojans' No. 1 quarterback going into the preseason, has taken him under his wing.

"He's very unselfish and I'm learning from him," McDowell said of Leak, a fifth-year senior. "He talks to me straight up and said what he wants is a Sun Belt championship no matter who gets the (starting) job."

Fleetwood said he believes the competition between Leak, McDowell and transfer Carl Meadows will make all three better.

When it comes time to determine playing time, Fleetwood said he will look at the big picture.

"You have to make hard decisions and do what's best for the team,'' Fleetwood said.

[digamma]

Ben,

Do you have a link for this last one?

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by digamma

Ben,

Do you have a link for this last one?

http://www.eprisenow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DEA%2FMGArticle%2FDEA_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031777403854&path=!news!sports

[Ben E Lou]

Well guys, no shocker here, unfortunately.

Academics sideline Troy QB for 2005 season


Associated Press


TROY, Ala. - Troy quarterback D.T. McDowell, who started the final six games as a freshman, has been ruled academically ineligible for the 2005 season, coach Larry Blakeney said.

McDowell did not earn enough academic credits through spring semester to become eligible in summer school. He lost the starting job to East Tennessee State transfer Carl Meadows in spring practice.

McDowell also played professional baseball for the Los Angeles Angels organization last year, and Blakeney said Tuesday he wasn't sure if McDowell plans to return to Troy.

"He's got some choices to make," Blakeney said. "He can go back to baseball, or try to get some hours (at another college) on his own and come back here. He could play junior college or transfer somewhere else."

McDowell led the Trojans to a 4-2 record as a starter, losing only to LSU and to Northern Illinois in the Silicon Valley Bowl.

He chose Troy over Mississippi State coming out of Tucker High School in Stone Mountain, Ga.

As a freshman, McDowell completed 42 of 104 passes for 585 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions.

""He's a good player," Blakeney said. "There are all kinds of excuses and a lot of reasons, but he didn't get it done.

"He's a better student than he demonstrated in the classroom. He's smart and plenty able to do college work. But he never adjusted to the demands of being a college player. It's not easy. Not all of them can handle it."

McDowell's absence could force the Trojans to move receiver Gary Banks back to quarterback.