7. Troy 50, North Texas 30, 2017 New Orleans Bowl: Troy capped its first 11-win season on the FBS level with a second-half explosion to down former Sun Belt rival North Texas. The thorough domination was just one of the highlights of the weekend as Troy seniors graduated in a special ceremony at Manning’s the night prior. That scene still gives me goosebumps when I reflect upon it.

6. 2016 women’s basketball NCAA Tournament run: After years in the doldrums, Chanda Rigby completed a rebuild of the Troy women’s basketball program with an incredible run through conference play and the conference tournament during this season. Though Oregon State, an eventual Final Four participant, easily handled the Trojans in the NCAA Tournament, it completed an incredible turnaround for a team that won just two games in the 2011-12 season.

5. Troy 37, Southern Miss 31, 2016 season: If any game indicated the Trojans’ football program had hit its stride under head coach Neal Brown, it was this one. In the previous year, Southern Miss played for in the Conference USA title game and returned Ito Smith and Nick Mullens to its offense – two guys now making plays in the NFL. This win on the road against a high-level opponent, especially one week after a devastatingly close and grueling game against Clemson, proved the Trojans were well on their way to the success they are enjoying now. Also, the game had a flood warning before kickoff and a goal-line stand. What was not to love about this one?