Blue Raiders Look To Build on Record-Breaking 2009 Season

So many things can be said about last season for the Blue Raiders and ultimately, the Sun Belt conference as a whole.

Last season was surely one to remember for the Blue Raider football program and the fans alike.

The Blue Raiders used a New Orleans Bowl victory over Southern Miss to claim the program's first ever 10-win season.

Now the Blue Raiders sit just a little over a month away from perhaps their biggest home-opener in school history as Big Ten opponent Minnesota will pay a visit to Floyd Stadium on September 2nd.

The players will report to camp on August 6th, which will give plenty of time to prepare for Minnesota.

This matchup will mark the first time a Big Ten opponent has ever visited Floyd Stadium.

If the Blue Raiders manage to shock the masses and pull off the win, it won't be the first time they will have defeated a BCS conference opponent at home. In 2008, the Blue Raiders defeated Maryland 24-14.

The league office has already selected the Blue Raiders to finish first this season with Troy following close behind. This hasn't happened since 2001, when the Blue Raiders first joined the Sun Belt.

A lot of this hype can be contributed to senior quarterback Dwight Dasher who is getting attention and praise on a national level. However, he's not the only Blue Raider who is creating a lot of buzz going into the 2010 season.

Junior kicker Alan Gendreau proved to be a valuable asset in 2009, and he will be valuable again this season. So many times you see these smaller schools without a reliable kicker, but as long as Gendreau is doing the kicking, then the Blue Raiders won't be one of those teams.

Judging from the schedule, it looks very possible that the Blue Raiders can get another 10-win season. Minnesota will obviously be a tough one, and Georgia Tech also looms in the middle of the schedule.

Of course, Troy is always a battle and they've had the Blue Raiders' number as of late.

As long as the Blue Raiders don't trip up on average teams like Arkansas State and Florida Atlantic, then the Blue Raiders should secure another bowl game.