Battle for the Palladium

Battle for the Palladium
	Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Troy Trojans
First meeting	October 9, 1936; Middle Tennessee 19, Troy State 0
Latest meeting	November 24, 2012; Middle Tennessee 24, Troy 21
Trophy	The Palladium
Statistics
Meetings total	20
All-time series	Middle Tennessee leads 12–8
Largest victory	Troy, 45–7 (2007)
Longest win streak	Middle Tennessee, 8 (1936–1953)

The Battle for the Palladium was the annual college football rivalry matchup between the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and Troy Trojans. The history between Middle Tennessee and Troy dated back further (1936) than any other two programs in the Sun Belt Conference, but in 1999 the rivalry was renewed after a 46-year hiatus. The lengthy period was a result of the two programs competing in different divisions. That all changed when Troy announced it would make the move from Division I-AA to I-A and join the Sun Belt Conference allowing the two programs to compete annually. With the program's history dating back longer than any other in the conference, the proximity between the schools, and the intense recruitment for the same players, the rivalry quickly re-ignited from 1999 to 2001. The rivalry escalated when both teams unintentionally attended the same movie theater and a few verbal taunts were traded the night before the 2001 contest. In 2003, The Palladium Trophy was introduced in Murfreesboro, Tenn. A year later, Troy officially joined the Sun Belt Conference after completing its final year of transition from Division I-AA to I-A.

In 2008, while Troy and Middle Tennessee were in the Sun Belt Conference together, ESPN named The Battle for the Palladium as one of the Top 5 non-BCS intra-conference rivalries in college football.^[1]

The Palladium

Greek Mythology holds that The Palladium is a wooden statue that fell from the Heavens. It was kept at the Temple of Athena in the city of Troy. According to legend, as long as The Palladium was preserved within the walls of the city, Troy would be safe and could not be taken. However, a “Raider” by the name of Odysseus—also known as the Raider of Cities—stole The Palladium during the Trojan War leading to the fall of Troy. In the spirit of the Blue Raiders and Trojans Greek mythology link, Middle Tennessee and Troy compete in The Battle for The Palladium during their annual Sun Belt Conference game. Legend dictates the winner of The Palladium gains an unknown and unexplainable advantage over the other making it more difficult to regain control during future battles. The history between the two schools dates back to 1936 with the Blue Raiders owning a 12–8 advantage in the series. Now competing in the same conference for the first time, the legend may extend well after the football season is over. Many believe losing possession of The Palladium has an enduring effect, mystically influencing other athletic events throughout the year matching the Trojans and Raiders. It’s just another factor to overcome in this rivalry game between Middle Tennessee and Troy.

History of the trophy

In 2003, alumni from Middle Tennessee undertook a grassroots effort to engage fans, alums, and the Student Government Associations from both schools to capitalize on the escalating rivalry with a trophy. The Palladium became the perfect match due to the schools' Greek Mythology ties. Middle Tennessee's mascot, Lightning, is a Pegasus-like winged horse, and the city of Troy has forever been linked to Greek Mythology. Marcia Berkall, a wood carving artists who owns Whittlins and Wood, was commissioned to replicate the wooden statue of Athena and The Palladium was born. The Palladium is approximately three feet tall and is made of basswood. Gold leaf was applied to Athena's helmet, shield and to the tip of the spear.

History of the series

From 1936 to 1953, Middle Tennessee dominated the series winning eight consecutive matchups. In those early years, the games were generally lopsided as Middle Tennessee shutout Troy in five of the eight wins. Troy earned its first win when the series renewed in 1999. In a stretch from 2006 to 2011, Troy had won six straight and seven of the past eight meetings. The last game was played in 2012, with Middle Tennessee winning 24-21. Middle Tennessee currently leads the all-time series 12–8.

The most memorable game in the rivalry came in 2006. With Middle Tennessee undefeated in conference play on the final day of the regular season and Troy hoping to beat the Blue Raiders to gain a share of the conference championship, the Trojans scored 14 points in the final 2:19 to win 21–20 in what has been called the Miracle in Murfreesboro. Middle Tennessee appeared to have throttled the Trojans high-powered offense for the entire game and led comfortably when Troy took possession with just over two minutes left. However, Troy scored a quick touchdown followed by a successful onside kick. Troy then scored the game clinching touchdown with seconds remaining preventing Middle Tennessee from winning its first outright Sun Belt Championship. Troy and Middle Tennessee shared the conference championship, but it was Troy who went on to the New Orleans Bowl. Middle Tennessee was selected for the Motor City Bowl.

There are currently no future schedules featuring these two schools to play each other in the Battle for the Palladium game.

Game results

Middle Tennessee victories	Troy victories

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	October 9, 1936	Murfreesboro	Middle Tennessee	19–0
2	October 1, 1937	Troy	Middle Tennessee	12–0
3	November 18, 1939	Murfreesboro	Middle Tennessee	14–7
4	October 2, 1942	Murfreesboro	Middle Tennessee	20–0
5	November 15, 1946	Murfreesboro	Middle Tennessee	12–0
6	November 14, 1947	Troy	Middle Tennessee	41–17
7	October 11, 1952	Murfreesboro	Middle Tennessee	33–7
8	October 10, 1953	Troy	Middle Tennessee	6–0
9	October 2, 1999	Murfreesboro	Troy State	48–31
10	September 9, 2001	Murfreesboro	Middle Tennessee	54–17
11	November 8, 2003	Murfreesboro	Middle Tennessee	27–20

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
12	November 20, 2004	Troy	Troy	37–17
13	November 26, 2005	Troy	Middle Tennessee	17–7
14	November 25, 2006	Murfreesboro	Troy	21–20
15	November 20, 2007	Troy	Troy	45–7
16	August 28, 2008	Murfreesboro	Troy	31–17
17	October 6, 2009	Troy	Troy	31–7
18	October 5, 2010	Murfreesboro	Troy	42–13
19	September 24, 2011	Troy	Troy	38–35
20	November 24, 2012	Murfreesboro	Middle Tennessee	24–21
Series: Middle Tennessee leads 12–8

References

↑ Watson, Graham (August 22, 2008). "Top 5 non-BCS in-conference rivalries". ESPN. Retrieved June 20, 2017.

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[1] Watson, Graham (August 22, 2008). "Top 5 non-BCS in-conference rivalries". ESPN. Retrieved June 20, 2017.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football
Venues	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium (1933–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Troy: Battle for the Palladium Western Kentucky: 100 Miles of Hate
Culture & lore	Lightning "MTSU Fight Songs" Band of Blue
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders NFL draftees
Seasons	1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Troy Trojans football
Venues	Veterans Memorial Stadium (1950–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Jacksonville State: Battle for the Ol' School Bell Middle Tennessee: Battle for the Palladium South Alabama
Culture & lore	Trojan "Trojans One & All" Sound of the South Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1909 1910 1911 1912 1913–1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
National championship seasons in bold

Statistics
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Troy Trojans
First meeting	October 9, 1936 Middle Tennessee 19, Troy State 0
Latest meeting	November 24, 2012 Middle Tennessee 24, Troy 21
Trophy	The Palladium
Meetings total	20
All-time series	Middle Tennessee leads 12–8
Largest victory	Troy, 45–7 (2007)
Longest win streak	Middle Tennessee, 8 (1936–1953)