Veterans Memorial Stadium

My visit to Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama, was one that had been on my list for a while. Troy University has turned “The Vet” into one of the better small-town college football settings in the Sun Belt, and the opponent made this trip even more special. On September 12, 2026, the Trojans hosted the Alabama State Hornets in a renewal of an in-state series between two schools that sit less than an hour apart. Having already visited the Hornets at home at ASU Stadium in Montgomery, I was curious to see how their fans would travel, and they showed up in force.

The weather tried to put a damper on the afternoon early. A light rain fell through the first quarter, and the visiting section quickly turned into a sea of yellow and clear ponchos. Nobody left, though, and the game gave both sides plenty to cheer about in the opening minutes. Goose Crowder hit TK Keyes for a 73-yard touchdown on Troy’s first drive, and Alabama State answered right back with a 50-yard touchdown run by Jamarie Hostzclaw to tie it 7-7.

From there, it was the Jaheim Merriweather show. The Purdue transfer broke a 69-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter and added two more scores in the second quarter, the last one with 15 seconds left in the half, to put Troy up 31-7 at the break. He finished with 127 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns. Andrew Body found John Austin for a 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give the Hornets some life, but Ethan Head’s 47-yard field goal closed the scoring, and Troy won 34-17 in front of a crowd of 26,634.

Here are my thoughts on Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Pros

The stadium makes a great first impression. The R. Douglas Hawkins Tower on the home side gives the venue a modern look, and the red seats underneath it stand out against the field. The playing surface, Larry Blakeney Field, is named for the coach who led Troy into the FBS, and the “Welcome to the Vet” signage around the stadium sets the tone as soon as you sit down.

Troy also does a nice job of putting its history on display. The national championship years of 1968, 1984 and 1987 are featured around the stadium, along with banners for the program’s bowl and conference title seasons. For a stadium chaser, it is the kind of detail that tells you what a program is proud of before kickoff.

The band battle alone was worth the trip. Troy’s Sound of the South took the field before the game, and Alabama State’s Mighty Marching Hornets brought the energy that HBCU bands are known for. With two strong bands in the same building, there was always something to watch, even during breaks in the action.

The visiting crowd made it feel like a big-game atmosphere. I sat with the Alabama State fans in the seats set aside for the visiting team, right behind the Hornets’ sideline, so I had a close-up view of the players and cheerleaders all game. The Hornet faithful were loud, proud and in good spirits even through the rain. Two in-state schools with fan bases this close together made for a fun and friendly mix in the stands.

Cons

The seating is mostly open to the elements. Outside of the tower on the home side, there is not much cover, so when the rain came in during the first quarter, the only option was to ride it out. If there is any chance of rain, bring a poncho.

The concession options were also on the limited side. You will find the game day basics, but not much in the way of specialty or local food to choose from. For a stadium of this size, though, that is about what I expected, and it did not take anything away from the experience. Just don’t come to The Vet hungry for something fancy.

Overall Game Day Experience

I would give Veterans Memorial Stadium an 8 out of 10. The Vet is a well-kept stadium with a modern tower, plenty of history on display and a great small-town college football atmosphere. Add in a band battle and a strong visiting crowd from Alabama State, and it made for a memorable afternoon even with the rain. The only knocks are the lack of cover from the weather and a short concession menu, and neither one kept me from enjoying the day.

If you are working your way through college football stadiums in Alabama, Troy is a venue worth the drive. Check the forecast, get there early for the bands and enjoy a day at The Vet.