New Orleans Bowl: Your Rootability Index For Ohio Vs. Troy

The Rootability Index attempts to inform and educate you, the casual college football viewer, who to root for in games as a neutral but still interested party. This edition looks at the New Orleans Bowl featuring the Ohio University Bobcats and the Troy University Trojans.

Boo, Boo. Boo Jackson, Ohio’s starting qb is a fine enough option quarterback to have helped Ohio become consistently competitive in the MAC. He also is named “Boo,” features a massive head full of braids, and can (and does) take a walloping from opposing defenses with aplomb. It would be splendid to watch him in this bowl game. Sadly for Boo and his adoring public, that will not happen. Due to some kind of unspecified academic foibles both Boo Jackson and starting defensive tackle Ernie Hodge are out of the bowl game for the Bobcats.

The Trojans, Despite A Trucking Company Sponsor, Prefer Air Delivery. The Trojans are a pass-first offense, and option one is Jerrel Jernigan, quarterback Shawn Southward’s preferred target and the focus of Troy’s return unit on special teams, as well.They do this very, very well, and that’s great because they can’t stop the run at all and need to score to keep up with their iffy defense. Florida International ran for 471 yards on Troy. When the Golden Panthers can shred your ground defenses, you have a potential shootout on your hands every week (especially after a long layoff.)

I’m still torn. Perhaps I can decide using another factor? Do with this what you will: an Ohio University football player was once charged with punching a police horse. If that kind of zest appeals to you or you’ve ever been bitten by an ornery mare, your decision is made.

Still not doing it. Anything else? Troy University is noted for its excellent rodeo team, and Ohio University has a superb avionics program. For some reason these two things seem like mutually exclusive things for universities to have.

LEAN: With Boo, it’s Ohio all the way, but without him Troy and their longtime coach Larry Blakeney (a.k.a. the “Stephen Hawking of oversigning physics”) gets the nod here due to our fondness for the Sun Belt and their SUPER INTENSE WEBSITE.