Trucks! “Topper Tuff”
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DAILY NSixthEWS SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 Sense WKU quarterback Doughty back for sixth season as Tops eye C-USA title Index 2 WKU’s explosive offense hopes experience leads to big numbers, wins 3 Much-criticized Hilltopper defense motivated by offense’s success. 4 Doughty’s maturation through ups, downs helps him become elite QB 7 WKU, Louisiana Tech lead C-USA pack 9 UK feels it’s headed in the right direction 10 Louisville returns only 10 starters but still has ACC title hopes Photo by Austin Anthony and Miranda Pederson/Daily News WKUW KKUU KU WKUW W “T “T OPPER OPPER TT UFF UFF ” ” TT RUCKS RUCKS ! ! Football 2 Wednesday, September 2, 2015 Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky HILLTOPPER FOOTBALL 2015 LEAVING LAST YEAR BEHIND WKU’S EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE HOPES EXPERIENCE LEADS TO BIG NUMBERS, WINS By ZACH GREENWELL [email protected] WKU FOOTBALL What can you do for an encore? SCHEDULE That’s the question asked of the Western Kentucky offense as it heads Sept. 3 into its second year under head coach Jeff Brohm. at Vanderbilt The Hilltoppers return most of the 7 p.m. n SEC Network pieces from a group that ranked sec- ond in the nation in passing offense Sept. 10 and fourth in total offense in 2014. That experience comes with the vs. Louisiana Tech weight of lofty expectations. The best 7 p.m. n FS1 way to handle them? Erase last year. “After the season, we were obvi- Sept. 19 ously excited about what we did at Indiana last year,” redshirt junior left tackle 3 p.m. n ESPNews Forrest Lamp said. “It was enjoy- able, and we had fun in the Bahamas Sept. 26 and winning those last five games. But once we got back, coach Brohm vs. Miami (Ohio) basically talked about being humble, 2:30 p.m. n CBS Sports Network and that’s over with. It’s all gone and done with now, so we’re on to the Oct. 3 next season.” at Rice Quarterback Brandon Doughty is 2:30 p.m. n FSN back for a sixth season after receiv- ing a medical hardship waiver, and that’s a game changer. Oct. 10 Doughty led the nation last year vs. Middle Tenn. ABOVE: with 4,830 yards and 49 touchdowns. WESTERN KENTUCKY wide TBA n Fox TBA He’ll have nearly all his favorite tar- receiver Taywan Taylor (center) runs toward the end zone last season gets back – plus a few new ones. Oct. 15 “We obviously want to set the bar during the Hilltoppers’ 59-31 victory high,” junior receiver Taywan Taylor over Bowling Green at Houchens- at North Texas said. “We know we’ve got a lot of Smith Stadium. 6:30 p.m. n CBS Sports Network expectations, and we’ve got a lot to LEFT: RUNNING BACK Leon Allen live up to this season. As an offense, carries the ball during practice last Oct. 24 we’ve got a lot of goals. We’ve got a month at Houchens-Smith Stadium. at LSU lot of tools and a lot of playmakers TBA n TBA that can put us in the best position to PHOTOS BY AUSTIN ANTHONY succeed.” [email protected] It’s unlikely WKU’s video game Oct. 31 numbers will increase or even stay at Old Dominion on par this year, and if they do, it’s TBA n Fox TBA probably not a great sign for the play Fant will be key targets in the slot. of the defense or the team as a whole. Nov. 7 Brohm and Doughty said during True freshmen and former three-star fall camp the Toppers were forced to prospects Lucky Jackson and Quin vs. Florida Atlantic throw the ball last year in shootouts, wise, but we were not a good sec- by ground.” Jernighan may earn playing time. TBA n Fox TBA and that’s not necessarily the style ond-half football team,” Brohm said. The Tops’ weapons include a sta- Redshirt senior tight end Tyler they want to play. “We have to be much better in the ble of talented receivers, including Higbee takes the reins at what Brohm Nov. 21 second half. We have to score points. Taylor (767 yards and seven TDs in said may be the team’s “slimmest” If things are going properly, Brohm at FIU said, Doughty’s numbers will like- We have to be efficient. We have to 2014) and seniors Jared Dangerfield position for depth. Former WKU TBA n Fox TBA ly take a hit because he’s managing be better running the ball in obvious (school-record 69 catches for 825 hoops star George Fant is among a group of players competing behind wins and helping lead a unit that running situations – third-and-short, yards, 11 TDs) and Antwane Grant Nov. 27 stays aggressive and explosive after fourth-and-short. I think we have to (509 yards, six TDs). Higbee. halftime – but in different ways. be explosive and productive in the Junior Nicholas Norris and sopho- vs. Marshall 11 a.m. n FS1 “We had a good year numbers- second half, whether that’s by air or mores Kylen Towner and Nacarius See BALANCE, PAGE 8 – All times Central CDS # 10 Pharmacy Provides Fast, Easy Refills So You Can TACKLE Your Day! Choosing the right pharmacy Refill straight • Fastpitch Softball • Soccer • Baseball • Basketball • Volleyball • Fastpitch Softball • Soccer is an important decision. from your • Baseball We’ve been family owned Baseball phone with • and operated since 1974. our App! GGOODOOD Soccer • Come in and see what a family • Basketball business looks like. Rx2Go LLUCKUCK • Volleyball Have a Great Season Fastpitch Softball ttoo tthehe • • Fastpitch Softball Volleyball HILLTOPPERS! 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We were probably asking our guys to do too much early. We’ve got to remember that this year. “It’s that fine line when you want to have enough bullets in your hol- ster to stop people, but by the same token, you have to execute this stuff.” Holt and WKU coach Jeff Brohm are adamant WKU’s defense improved over the Hilltoppers’ five-game winning streak to end last season. Both are quick to point out that WKU was stout on defense for three quarters of the Bahamas Bowl victory over Central Michigan – allowing just 14 points – before the wheels came off in infamous fash- ion in the fourth quarter. “Our kids kind of are starting off where they left off at the end of last year – with a little confidence,” Holt said. “Down the stretch, we played some really good football. Obviously in the bowl game, that wasn’t really indicative of quite honestly we had improved. The last eight minutes was just unbe- lievable. But the improvement that we’ve made in winter condition- ing, summer and early part of fall AUSTIN ANTHONY/[email protected] camp, I really noticed it. WESTERN KENTUCKY linebacker Nick Holt tackles UTEP quarterback Jameill Showers on Nov. 8 during the Hilltoppers’ 35-27 victory over UTEP at “We’re bigger, faster, stronger, Houchens-Smith Stadium. smarter at our assignments, and we’ve got a little bit of a chip on the country statistically, and we Redshirt senior Gavin Rocker Reeves, juniors Sidney Hammond could start at the other outside line- our shoulder. And we should. We were one of the worst defenses in and sophomore Derik Overstreet and Kalvin Robinson and senior backer position. need to play better.” the country statistically,” senior return at defensive end, while red- Ge’Monee Brown are among oth- Redshirt freshmen Joel WKU ranked 120th nationally linebacker Nick Holt said. “We shirt senior Bryan Shorter is back ers who will provide depth on the Iyiegbuniwe and Masai Whyte, last year in total defense, as well hear about it in the locker room. at defensive tackle. Shorter and defensive front. redshirt senior Nick Newton, junior as 121st in passing yards allowed, To be honest, we don’t really lis- Rocker added significant weight in “I think we’ve added a few key Drew Davis and redshirt sopho- 111th in rushing yards allowed and ten to what the media says about the offseason. components to the puzzle,” Brohm more Daeshawn Bertram could 120th in third-down conversion us, but we listen to our offensive The Tops add UAB senior trans- said. “The players we played last also help out at linebacker. defense. guys say how bad we were, and fer Jontavius Morris, a 305-pound- year have gotten bigger and stron- The secondary is experienced These are numbers the how great they were in the locker er who will likely start beside ger and are more prepared.” with three returning starters.