This story appears in the Sept. 24–Oct. 1, 2018, issue of Sports Illustrated. For more great storytelling and in-depth analysis, subscribe to the magazine—and get up to 94% off the cover price. Click here for more.
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 9:45 a.m. CDT
TROY STAFF MEETING ROOM
Neal Brown is mad, not only at the player who skipped a class but also at his strength staff. Brown, Troy’s fourth-year coach, has just found out that the truant was punished with a grueling workout—but not in the way Troy football players are supposed to be punished.