SPRINGDALE — Troy Goss wasn’t expected to be placed in a leadership role entering his junior season at Arkansas-Pine Bluff .
That changed hours before the Lions’ season-opener against Arkansas State, when several players were declared academically ineligible. Goss is now the lone returning starter on a defensive line that had been loaded with experienced players.
“Troy is very important in what we’re trying to do,” said Dwayne Curry, defensive line coach at UAPB. “He’s a good player, but he’s got to get to the point to where he’s more of a leader for us, especially with the situation we’re currently in.”
If history persists, Goss will embrace the leadership role and help direct a turnaround at UAPB, which is 0-3 on the season. He was successful at Shiloh Christian, where he was mostly a two-way starter for teams that went 40-3 and won three consecutive state championships. Goss was a dominating force up front along with Samuel Harvill, who was the Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.
“Troy was a heck of a football player, especially his senior year with he and Harvill there in the middle of our defensive line,” Shiloh Christian coach Josh Floyd said. “When I think of Troy, I remember how much he enjoyed playing the game. He was a big cut-up and a joker, but he knew when to work. We’re super proud of what he’s been doing at Arkansas-Pine Bluff .”
The fun times continued for Goss last season when he became a starter on a UAPB team that won its fi rst conference championship since 1966. There was a picture in one of the newspapers of Goss lifting Tyler Strickland, who kicked a 26-yard field goal in overtime to give the Lions a 24-21 victory over Jackson State in the SWAC championship game.
But this year has been difficult for UAPB, which remained winless after a 40-39 defeat last week to Alabama State. Twelve players have missed games because of academic issues and Lions coach Monte Coleman said on Wednesday that three players — defensive ends Damien Lee and Demarcus Berry, along with running back Aaron Lagrone — have been declared ineligible for the rest of the season.
The bad news comes just days before a pivotal game on Saturday against Alcorn State, which is 2-1 after a 35-28 victory over Mississippi Valley State. Yet, Goss remains upbeat and optimistic while digesting the latest setback for the Lions.
“We’ve got some key players missing and we don’t have a lot of depth,” Goss said. “But our attitude is good and there’s enough games left to where we can run the table like we did last year.
“But it has to start this weekend.”
Goss (6-foot-3, 285 pounds) has had to make an adjustment this year with a new defensive line coach. Curry arrived this summer from West Alabama to replace Dennis “Dirt” Winston, a former Arkansas and NFL player.
“Coach Curry is younger and he’s not as laid back as coach Winston,” said Goss, who has 11 tackles and a forced fumble in three games. “He’s all about speed and tempo, but that’s good. He teaches us a lot.”
Goss is majoring in Marketing with a minor in Business Management at UAPB. He’s on track to graduate in 1½ years and he hopes to eventually return to Northwest Arkansas.
“Living in Pine Bluff is OK, but it’s nothing like Northwest Arkansas,” Goss said. “I had a great time in high school at Shiloh Christian and I made a lot of friends. Northwest Arkansas is my home and I’ll be glad when I get back there.”