WKU MG covers 7/17/09 1:05 PM Page 1 WKU MG covers 7/17/09 1:08 PM Page 2 The recent renovation and expan- sion of Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium has resulted in new and refurbished locker rooms, meeting rooms, weight rooms and training rooms along with an expanded academic advising center. The stadium also features club seats, a $1.5 million video replay scoreboard and a state- of-the-art playing surface, installed in the spring of 2009. Pages 1 7/17/09 11:05 AM Page 1 WKU’s 511-337-30 all-time record in 90 sea- CHAMPIONSHIP EFFORT sons of football equates to a .600 winning per- 2002 National Champions (I-AA) centage, ranking 26th among all 120 Division 64 All-Americans I Football Bowl Subdivision schools and tops 12 Conference Championships in the Sun Belt Conference. The 94 major pro- 10 Playoff Appearances grams ranking below WKU include promi- 7 Academic All-Americans nent teams from the SEC (Arkansas/.592), 2 Bowl Appearances ACC (Clemson/.590), Pac-10 (UCLA/.596), Big Ten (Michigan State/.590), Big 12 (Texas Tech/.561) and Big East (Syracuse/.585). During the six seasons spanning 2005-10, the Hilltoppers will have played 8 of college foot- ball’s top 25 all-time winningest programs: 6- Alabama (2008), 9-Nebraska (2010), 10- Tennessee (2009), 13-Georgia (2006), 16- Auburn (2005), 17-Florida (2007), 19-South Florida (2009), 24-Virginia Tech (2008). 1 Pages 2.qxd 7/17/09 11:06 AM Page 1 Kurt Barber David Elson WKU’s 10 coaches all played college football and have a total of 161 years of coaching experience, including 140 years at the collegiate Scott Booker level. Eight of the 10 have been on the WKU staff since 2005. Mike Dietzel Eric Mathies Walt Wells 2 Pages 3 7/17/09 11:09 AM Page 1 Norm Johnson is in his fifth season leading WKU’s Life Skills Team, which also includes Team Chaplain Gregg Farrell and Character Coach Sean Pugh. The trio focuses on the personal, academic and career develop- ment of student-athletes to prepare them for life after football. Norm Johnson T.J. Weist Bob Cole Gregg Farrell Sean Pugh Stu Holt Mike Chism 3 Pages 4-5 7/17/09 11:12 AM Page 1 WKU players and coaches make fre- quent visits each year to local elemen- tary schools and hospitals, while also participating in mentoring, peer coun- seling and school reading programs. 4 Pages 4-5 7/17/09 11:12 AM Page 2 5 Pages 6-7 7/17/09 11:15 AM Page 1 Each of WKU’s 19 athletic teams has exceeded the NCAA’s mandated 925 Academic Progress Rate (APR) score, and WKU’s 948 APR in football is better than all other Sun Belt Conference programs. WKU’s Academic Support team is totally dedicated to the academic progress of student-athletes. WKU ath- letes now are able to utilize the newly built Student-Athlete Success Center, completed in the spring of 2009. 6 Pages 6-7 7/17/09 11:15 AM Page 2 WKU has had more individuals hon- ored for their academic achievements by the Sun Belt Conference than any other league institution in each of the last five years, and 85 percent of WKU student- athletes who have exhausted their eligi- bility this decade have graduated. WKU student-athletes in the universi- ty’s 19 sports are majoring in 76 differ- JaShard Justice Alvin Futrell ent programs, and 10 of the university’s Academic Advisor Academic Advisor athletic teams currently maintain a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or better. 7 Pages 8-9 7/17/09 11:18 AM Page 1 College football game days on the Hill are a truly unique experience, featuring campus activ- ities for all ages, tailgating and the team's Topper Walk to the stadium. Head Coach David Elson is in his 7th season as WKU head coach, his 14th overall season with the program. Beginning in 2008, WKU students now occupy the entire lower level of Houchens Industries - L.T. Smith Stadium and provide the Hilltoppers a 12th man every Saturday. WKU posted its second-highest attendance numbers in school history in 2008, and student attendance has increased by more than 80 percent since 2006. 8 Pages 8-9 7/17/09 11:18 AM Page 2 Future WKU non-conference home games include: South Florida (2009-Big East) Indiana (2010-Big Ten) Navy (2011 and 2013) Army (2014 and 2016) Hilltopper players and coaches make their way to the stadium each game day during the Topper Walk, enabling fans to get an up close glimpse as the team marches down the Avenue of Champions and into Houchens Industries - L.T. Smith Stadium. 9 Pages 10-11 7/17/09 11:21 AM Page 1 The WKU locker room, newly constructed in 2008 and used on both practice and game days, is first-class in every respect. It includes an expansive player lounge where players can spend quality time together while also study- ing and watching film. 10 Pages 10-11 7/17/09 11:21 AM Page 2 11 Pages 12-13 7/17/09 11:25 AM Page 1 Encompassing more than 10,000 square feet and built in 2008, the WKU weight room is fully equipped wall-to-wall with new state- of-the-art strength and fitness equipment. Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Jim Nowell is in his 10th year working with a major college football program. Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Jim Nowell 12 Pages 12-13 7/17/09 11:25 AM Page 2 Joey Carnes Duane Hall John Stephanski 13 Pages 14 7/17/09 11:35 AM Page 1 WKU players have access to all the latest technolo- gy and equipment used in the prevention and treat- ment of injuries. WKU’s training room is under the direction of Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine/Head Trainer Bill Edwards, who was named Head Trainer in 1983 and is in his 33rd year with the university. Edwards holds both bachelor’s (’74) and master’s (’76) degrees from WKU and also teaches in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport. 14 Pages 15 7/17/09 11:38 AM Page 1 Russell Athletic formed an exclusive $2 million partnership with WKU in 2007 that provides first-class apparel and uniforms for WKU players, coaches and staff. WKU wears both red and white jerseys along with three different colored pants: red, white and gray. Each Topper football player receives a traveling warm-up suit and multi- ple pairs of sweat shirts/sweat pants, shorts, shirts, and pro game socks. 15 Pages 16 7/17/09 11:39 AM Page 1 Harbaugh Hall WKU players, coaches and staff work and meet in plush offices and team areas within the Houchens Industries - L.T. Smith Stadium complex. The pro- gram’s video technology is second to none, enabling players and coaches to watch game and practice film on plasma screens, desktop and laptop computers. Players receive a weekly DVD to view of the Hilltoppers’ upcoming opponent. Video Room Team Meeting Room Coaches Meeting Room 16 Pages 17 7/17/09 11:40 AM Page 1 Since the move to I-A, at least half of the Toppers’ games are televised either regionally or nationally. The Big Red Radio Network broadcasts all WKU football games on a 14-station basis throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky with all broadcasts also avail- able nationwide on wkusports.com. WKU’s football program was the topic of a USA Today cover story by nationally acclaimed writer Steve Wieberg on October 6, 2008, enabling mil- lions of readers nationwide to learn about the Toppers transition to I-A football. Weekly during the season, The David Elson Television Show airs nationally on Fox College Sports and locally on WKYU-PBS, while The David Elson Radio Show airs each Monday night at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1450 AM in Bowling Green. 17 Pages 18 7/17/09 11:42 AM Page 1 WKU’s annual Honors Banquet at the conclu- sion of each season is a first-class affair recogniz- ing the major accomplishments of the past foot- ball season and honoring the team’s senior class. Senior offensive lineman Greg Ryan was named Team MVP in 2008, while senior defensive lineman Dan Cline, who graduated with a degree in corporate/organizational communica- tions, earned the program’s Academic Award. The Night of Champions, in which mem- bers of the football team compete in various weight lifting and strength competitions, precedes the beginning of spring practice and is open to the public. 18 Pages 19 7/17/09 11:43 AM Page 1 WKU has more than 100 former players or coach- es who joined the professional football ranks after leaving the Hill, including three who served as NFL head coaches for five teams: Joe Bugel (Phoenix Cardinals 1990-93, Oakland Raiders 1997), Romeo Crennel (Cleveland Browns 2005-08) and Jerry Glanville (Houston Oilers 1986-89, Atlanta Falcons 1990-93). WKU’s annual pro day this past March 25 attract- ed scouts from 10 National Football League teams. Offensive lineman Greg Ryan signed a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Within the Houchens Industries – L.T. Smith Stadium com- plex, a room is devoted entirely for NFL Scouts to work and view film when they visit WKU. 19 Pages 20-21 7/17/09 11:45 AM Page 1 WKU – A Leading American University with International Reach – was founded in 1906 and offers 88 academic majors and 57 academic minors.