Brewer's Trojan horse

By Staff
Former Patriot Travis Boyd has made his mark at tight end for Troy University
Justin Schuver, Hartselle Enquirer
In more ways than one, Travis Boyd has been a perfect fit for the Troy Trojans.
Troy is a team that has made its name by bucking the odds – the Sun Belt Conference's Trojans have defeated a team from the Big XII in each of the past two seasons. In the same way, Boyd had to buck a few odds in his journey.
Nothing came easy for Boyd when it came to pursuing his goal of playing football at the Division-I (now Football Bowl Subdivision) level. Boyd's Brewer teams won just three games total in his four-year career, and there wasn't a lot of recruiting interest initially.
"I had a few offers from D-3 schools and a few smaller D-2 schools but nothing I was really that interested in," Boyd said in a phone interview following a Monday practice. "I honestly almost had to recruit myself; I sent tapes to everybody. I was watching the Super Bowl my senior year when I got a call from (Troy) coach (Larry) Blakeney and he said he thought I could help the team out and offered me as an invited walk-on.
"It was something I had to take the opportunity to try."
When Boyd walked on to the Troy football team in the fall of 2005, it was initially to play quarterback. But four practices into the fall camp, his coaches suggested the position change to tight end and Boyd agreed to the change.
It was a smart move for Boyd, who redshirted his freshman year and saw limited action in 2006 before becoming the starting tight end this season. In addition to seeing his playing time increase, Boyd also got an additional reward of a scholarship.
"I didn't put myself on a timeline," said Boyd, who is working toward a degree in mathematics. "I just knew what I wanted to accomplish and did everything I could to get myself there. I had some things go my way and was lucky enough to get the job."
Boyd impressed his coaches even as far back as this year's preseason practices. Following an Aug. 4 practice, Troy coach Larry Blakeney told the Montgomery Advertiser: "Travis Boyd has worked very hard over the last two years and he has a chance to help us this year. He has a tight end type of body and he catches the ball well. He has to continue to work on his blocking, but he has a chance to contribute this year."
Boyd has already caught five passes for 29 yards, including two catches in a 59-31 loss to defending national champion Florida. He made a 4-yard touchdown catch in Troy's 48-31 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 22, scoring to give Troy a 21-17 lead – the Trojans would never trail again in the game.
It was Boyd's first career touchdown and was made all the more special because it came the same week as the birthday of his mother Sherri.
"It was really exciting to get my first touchdown," Boyd said. "It wasn't really a summation to all the hard work I'd done, but it was still a relief to get one."
Boyd's high school career was a tough one as he played for three coaches in four seasons, but his senior year the Patriots won two games under coach Billy Coleman with Boyd as the team's quarterback. In addition, the team broke a 21-game losing streak.
"It's hard to decide which was the better feeling, scoring my first college touchdown or when we broke that streak," Boyd said when asked to compare. "I mean, that team in Brewer just worked so hard and it was an amazing feeling when we finally broke through with a win."
Coleman, who is in the middle of his fourth season as the coach of the Patriots, said he knew Boyd was special from the moment he met him.
"Travis was nothing but a winner," he said. "It was obvious to me that he really loved the game and had a great attitude and work ethic. We played him at quarterback, but it was clear that he was physical enough to play other positions and he had great hands.
"I knew he'd have to put on some weight to play tight end in college, but it's obvious that his work ethic has really paid off for him. Brewer High School couldn't be prouder of Travis, both on and off the field."
Although Boyd's been kept busy with practices and games at Troy, he has still managed to keep up with his old high school and its recent success on the football field.
"They're 3-2 this year, which is just awesome because we won three games total the whole time I was at school there," he said. "I couldn't be happier for their success and coach Coleman's success. I can't even begin to tell you what he means to me.
"I honestly wish I could have played for him for four years, and that's not to discredit any of the other coaches who I played for at Brewer. But coach Coleman is just a special person who really helps you grow as a football player and a person."
Boyd admitted it is hard playing for Troy in a state where most fans of college football pull for either Alabama or Auburn. But he added that the Trojans, who are 3-2 so far this season, are starting to gain a bit more of a following. He also said he has seen incredible support from his parents, who have not missed a game, and even some old friends and teammates at Brewer.
"One friend from high school drove nine hours to go see us play Arkansas," Boyd said. "And my parents have been to every game; they're getting ready to fly down (to Miami for Florida International) later this week. Troy's students are starting to show up for the games, and they're staying to the end, and our fans are seeing that we're trying to build something special down here."