Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® WKU Archives Records WKU Archives 8-29-2014 UA12/2/1 Topper Extra - Tops Take Aim at BGSU WKU Student Affairs Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records Part of the African American Studies Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Mass Communication Commons, and the Sports Studies Commons Recommended Citation WKU Student Affairs, "UA12/2/1 Topper Extra - Tops Take Aim at BGSU" (2014). WKU Archives Records. Paper 6371. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records/6371 This Other is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in WKU Archives Records by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. topper offense set to Topper extra break out in 2014 page 2 AUG. 29, 2014 > WKUHERALD.COM > WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY tops take aim at bGSU PAGE 2 AUGUST 29, 2014 • TOPPER EXTRA • WKUHERALD.COM Topper off ense eyeing breakout 2014 season BY KYLE WILLIAMS year of the system. Norris and tight ends Mitchell Henry, Ty- [email protected] “We have to be consistent,” Doughty ler Higbee and Tim Gorski, who together said. “Everyone has to play their role and hauled in a combined 184 receptions for WKU football opens its season under everyone has to understand that it’s going 2,285 yards and 13 touchdowns last sea- the bright lights of Smith Stadium for to take 11 guys. Guards are going to have son. just the second time in nine years tonight to help me out and help the receivers out The Hilltoppers also welcome junior when it welcomes Bowling Green State and things are going to have to roll for us. college transfers Jared Dangerfi eld and for what should be a high-scoring affair. We’re going to stay consistent throughout Antwane Grant, who will add needed size First-year Falcons Head Coach Dino the whole game and just keep pushing.” to the receiving core. Dangerfi eld and Babers led Eastern Illinois to an average Doughty will hand the ball off to junior Grant are 6-foot 3-inch and 6-foot 1-inch, of 48.2 points per game last season and running back Leon Allen in the backfi eld respectively. inherits a BGSU team that returns eight and will look to connect with a plethora “I’ve been here for a long time and, hon- starters on offense. of experienced receiving options down estly, I think this is probably the most ex- However, Head CoachJeff Brohm and the the fi eld this season. plosive offense we’ve had as far as depth- Hilltoppers return nine starters from the Allen enters his fi rst year as a full-time wise, too. I think we have two or three unit that ranked No. 2 in the Sun Belt last starter, having compiled career totals of deep at every position on the fi eld,” Mc- season and averaged 458.5 yards per game. 674 yards and seven touchdowns, fi ve of Neal said. “There’s going to be no letting Most notably, WKU returns redshirt se- which came last season. up at all. If somebody goes down, some- nior quarterback Brandon Doughty, who Backing up Allen will be redshirt sopho- body comes out and there’s still going to broke four program passing records last more running backs Anthony Wales and be that pressure. I think there will be a lot season, including the 23-year-old record Darmontre Warr. Wales totaled 112 yards of pressure on the defensive coordina- for most single-season passing yards with last season for two scores on just 17 at- tors, too, because you’re not just going to MIKE CLARK/HERALD 2,857. tempts. Warr spent last season as a fi xture game plan on two or three guys on the of- The 6-foot 3-inch, 210-pound gun- of the Hilltoppers’ special teams unit. fense, you’re really going to have to worry Redshirt senior quarterback Brandon slinger said that the offense is working on WKU returns receivers Willie McNeal, about everybody at every position.” Doughty takes a snap at practice on Tues- being as sharp as possible in the second Joel German, Taywan Taylor, Nicholas CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 day, Aug. 26. Bowling Green • SEPT 6th Get 50% Off Use the Promo Code www.colorinmotion5k.com HERALD50 AUGUST 29, 2014 • TOPPER EXTRA • WKUHERALD.COM PAGE 3 PAGE 4 AUGUST 29, 2014 • TOPPER EXTRA • WKUHERALD.COM Topper coaches coupling youth with experience BY KYLE WILLIAMS bined coaching experience on a combined 56 touchdowns in [email protected] the collegiate level, which is 51 his time behind center at Trinity years more than any other C- High School. He then recorded When the Hilltoppers step onto USA staff. 5,451 yards passing and 44 total Feix Field tonight for their sea- “I feel great about our coach- touchdowns at the University of son-opening bout with the Bowl- ing staff,” Brohm said. “Not only Louisville from 1989-93. ing Green State Falcons, they’ll do they have a ton of experience, The fi rst-year head coach be representing WKU football as but they’re very proven coaches. spent seven years in the National a member of Conference USA for They love being here. They love Football League and played with the fi rst time. For some, it’ll mark working with our guys.” the likes of Steve Young, Jerry the fi rst time they’ve ever fully In addition, Brohm and his Rice, Warren Sapp and Derrick geared up in preparation for a staff have familiarized them- Brooks among others. Brohm’s regular-season game. selves with the area over their lone touchdown pass was to Ter- With 67 underclassmen com- lengthy careers. The Hilltopper rell Owens. prising the 105-man roster, coaching staff has allotted 64 “Getting coached from a coach WKU is the youngest team in C- years of college football coach- that actually did it with a helmet, USA and the 25th youngest team ing experience in Kentucky, and you know, it’s a big difference,” in the country. for each of the past 19 years, at redshirt senior receiver Willie Conversely, the Hilltopper least one member of the staff McNeal said at the team’s Mon- coaching staff is already more ex- has been coaching in the blue- day press conference. “He could MIKE CLARK/HERALD perienced than any other coach- grass state. tell you about his past experi- Associate Head Coach Nick Holt instructs players during the WKU ing staff in its new conference. Brohm was born and raised ences at times like this and how football practice on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at Smith Stadium. Holt or- Head Coach Jeff Brohm’s staff roughly 116 miles up Interstate he prepared.” chestrated the 10th ranked pass defense and the 14th ranked total has totaled 238 years of com- 65 in Louisville, where he scored CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 defense in the nation last season. SIDELINES He’s waited, and Jeff Brohm’s time is now BY ELLIOTT PRATT needs work?" and “How anxious the results, but not until you real- mentum left over big win for us as a university, as a [email protected] are you to fi nally coach your fi rst ly get out there and get your feet from last year. program,” senior defensive back game?” wet do you know exactly where Instead, Cam Thomas said. “Defi nitely a I’ve been wait- Well, now here we are. you stand. The fact that we’re they’re getting big win for our team to start off ing for this mo- So-and-so is replaced, the work playing a very good opponent is the defending the season right in Conference ment about as is done and as you can imagine, great for us. We get to see exactly Mid-American USA even though it’s an out-of- long as Head Brohm is ready and anxious to where we stand right off the bat.” Conference conference game, it’d just be big Coach Jeff Brohm coach his fi rst game as the boss. It won't be a cupcake opener champions to make a statement against a has, but not in I’m ready to evaluate how this for Brohm’s debut either. Heck, Bowling Green. Jeff Brohm high-caliber opponent that won the sense you’re team matches up against other there are no cupcakes on the The Falcons have the MAC championship last year. probably think- opponents. Brohm has his team schedule at all in their fi rst year in a new coach in Dino Babers, We’re ready to make a statement Elliott Pratt ing. as ready as they can be for Bowl- Conference USA. who proved at Eastern Illinois he this season.” Brohm has ing Green State tonight. Brohm’s not going to have a knows a thing or two about put- This team is ready to show they been waiting for this night his en- But that doesn’t mean he’s not get-your-feet wet game to feel ting a high-scoring offense on the won’t miss a beat in the system tire life. I’ve been waiting for to- nervous heading into his fi rst out his team and his head coach- fi eld. Petrino established last year, and night since January when he took game as a head coach. ing styles. He prepared for all of So Brohm gets to start the sea- Brohm is ready to show that 11 the job.