Troy University athletic director Jeremy McClain outlined the school’s plan for athletic success in the future.

McClain spoke Monday at the Selma Quarterback Club on Monday at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center. Several members of the audience had family members currently attend Troy and a smile widened McClain’s face.

“It’s great to see that the area has a connection to Troy,” McClain said.

McClain told the audience that football holds the key to Troy’s success in the present and future. The Trojans travel to play a Power 5 school for payday at least $1.5 million, which helps the school reach their athletic budget annually.

Troy (7-2) has a chance to win the Sun Belt Conference title in football this season.

The Trojans could end up hosting the Sun Belt Conference title game next month and are already bowl eligible.

Under coach Neal Brown, the Trojans have gone 28-7 the last four years. Two of those wins came at LSU in 2017 and Nebraska two months ago.

“It’s been a great run,” McClain said. “Neal has done a great job. If you look at our program, 95 percent of the kids are within three hours from our campus. We recruit a lot of kids from this area.”

The fourth-year AD said the Trojans dream is facing the SEC’s two in-state football programs, defending national champion Alabama and Auburn, but it won’t happen in the near future.

“We’d love to play Alabama and Auburn, but they haven’t decided to play us yet,” McClain said. “We’re looking forward to that day.”

Troy recently opened a $25 million football facility, which McClain said it took 18 months to complete.

“I’ll put that facility up against anyone in our conference and anyone in the country,” McClain said. “It’s already helped with our recruiting.”

McClain is also proud of the school’s other sports. Two years ago, Troy was the only school in the country to win a bowl game and both its respective conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

The Troy golf programs have ascended to the top of the Sun Belt as the men’s program has advanced to the NCAA Regionals in three of the last four seasons. The women’s program has won three of the last five league titles with three NCAA Regional appearances.

“We have a total of 16 different sports programs and 400 student athletes,” McClain said. “We’ve new records for attendance in football, basketball and fundraising. The challenge now is how we continue that momentum.”

McClain said he and his wife, Christie, enjoy living in Troy.  They have three children: Cannon, Kate and Piper.

“It’s been a blessing to work at Troy,” McClain said. “I have a great wife and three great kids. I’m proud of where we’re at.”

The next Selma QB club meeting will be on Nov. 12, Veterans Day,  at 6 p.m. Ladies Night will feature ESPN broadcaster Holly Rowe.

Rowe is a veteran sports reporter who has been entrenched in covering a variety of sports including SEC football and NCAA softball.

The final meeting of the QB Club will be held on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.

It will host reporter and broadcaster Lauren Sisler of ESPN, SEC Nation and AL.com. Sisler joined the SEC Network in 2016, covering football and gymnastics.