Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® WKU Archives Records WKU Archives 9-21-2013 UA12/2/1 Topper Extra 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" (2013). WKU Archives Records. Paper 6368. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records/6368 This Article 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]. TTOPPEROPPER EEXTRAXTRA SStartingtarting QQBB jjobob iiss oopen,pen, PetrinoPetrino sayssays PPageage 3 FFreshmenreshmen rreceiverseceivers ssteptep uupp forfor TToppersoppers PPageage 6 CCheerheer ccardard PPagesages 88-9-9 WKUHERALD.com September 21, 2013 PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 • TOPPER EXTRA • WKUHERALD.COM SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 • TOPPER EXTRA • WKUHERALD.COM PAGE 3 Starting quarterback job open heading into Saturday BY LUCAS AULBACH AND decision either tonight or prob- Through three games, Doughty O’Fallon High School. He holds this season. Smith, a former four- ELLIOTT PRATT ably tomorrow.” had completed 71-of-115 passes school records at the school for star recruit who transferred to [email protected] Petrino said the decision to for 775 yards, with fi ve touch- career touchdown passes (45), WKU from Central Florida, was look at other potential start- downs and eight interceptions. touchdown passes in a single widely considered the second- WKU may see a new starting ers came in part due to WKU’s Petrino said Doughty was dis- season (22) and passing yards in string quarterback until this quarterback on the fi eld Saturday turnover troubles. The Toppers appointed but has responded a single game (405). week. He went 0-of-2 against night, coach Bobby Petrino an- have given the ball up 12 times well to his starting job being Petrino said Porter is a very tal- Tennessee in his only action so nounced after Thursday’s practice. through three games this year. threatened. ented passer. far this year. Petrino said all four quarterbacks “We’re turning the ball over too “We had really good meetings “He can really throw it, make Petrino said each of the WKU on WKU’s roster have a chance to much and like I said before, any today and he’s got a real positive all the different throws that you quarterbacks have been nervous in start against Morgan State. time you turn it over it is the en- attitude,” the coach said. “He’s a need to make and he’s very ath- practice this week but all have per- The decision to open the start- tire offense’s responsibility,” he great teammate, his teammates letic,” he said about the fresh- formed well, and the offense is pre- ing quarterback job up for com- said. “But a week ago we made voted him captain, and he’s been man. “He’s still learning — he’s paring packages for all four of them. petition came on the heels of sev- every position really available for very positive. He’ll get his oppor- still learning the pace of the “Some of them have executed eral starting lineup changes that competition except for the quar- tunity back, there’s no question game, the tempo of the game, the real well — they’ve been incon- were made before last Saturday’s terback position so we decided about it in my mind.” different looks that defenses can sistent, but there have been game against South Alabama. to include them all.” Freshman Todd Porter has taken give you, but he’s improved a lot. some really good things, too,” he “What we’ve done is opened Junior Brandon Doughty start- reps with the fi rst team in practice He’s gotten a lot of reps in the last said. “I think it’s helped our en- it up like all the other positions ed the fi rst three games of the this week and could see the fi eld month and he’s improved a lot.” thusiasm at practice and our re- that we go through the week, season for WKU. After complet- for the fi rst time Saturday night. Along with Porter and Dough- ceiving core is getting better and evaluate effort and how we do,” ing 27-of-34 passes in a win over The freshman from O’Fallon, ty, WKU has two other quarter- they’re going to continue to im- Petrino said Thursday. “We had a Kentucky in the season-opener, Ill., threw for 6,200 yards, includ- backs on the roster in sopho- prove and that will help all of us.” decent practice tonight and we’ll the quarterback threw an FBS- ing 3,009 in his senior season, mores Nelson Fishback and The Toppers will kick off evaluate it just like we do every leading eight interceptions over and completed 61 percent of his Damarcus Smith. against Morgan State at 6 p.m. other position and then make a the next two games, both losses. passes in his three-year career at Fishback has yet to see the fi eld Saturday at Smith Stadium. 1020 3040 50 40 30 20 10 Before the game, or after the game... 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Bowling Green: 270-904-4599 • 1689 Campbell Lane (across from Walmart) Nashville: 615-320-3678 • 2018 West End Ave. (directly across from Vanderbilt) 615-463-0022 • 4017 Hillsboro Pike (across from Whole Foods) 615-309-5004 • 330 Franklin Road (Brentwood Place across from Kroger) PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 • TOPPER EXTRA • WKUHERALD.COM WKU players to watch ANTONIO ANDREWS XAVIUS BOYD NICHOLAS NORRIS TYLER HIGBEE Senior running back Senior linebacker Freshman wide receiver Sophomore tight end • Leads WKU in rushing • WKU’s leading tackler this • Leads WKU in receiving • Averaging 13.5 yards per yards this season with 343 season with 35, including 15 yards with 129 and receiving reception, which leads WKU yards on 48 attempts, with one solo tackles. touchdowns three this sea- through three games this sea- touchdown. • Has a team-leading 6.5 son. son. • Has split carries at times tackles for a loss through three • Ranks No. 2 on the team • Has recorded eight catches with sophomore Leon Allen games this year. behind junior wide receiver for 108 yards and a touchdown but currently leads the team • Leads WKU with 3.5 tack- Willie McNeal in total recep- this year. averaging 6.9 yards per carry. les this season. tions with 10 so far. • Had his best game of the • Has caught nine passes for • Had a breakout game at season against South Alabama, an additional 118 yards so far South Alabama last Saturday, where he had fi ve catches for this year. recording seven catches for 95 67 yards and a touchdown. yards and two touchdowns. SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 • TOPPER EXTRA • WKUHERALD.COM PAGE 5 Looking to DOMINATE Higbee reasserts himself into WKU lineup BY LUCAS AULBACH fense as a whole to improve as the season [email protected] goes on. “We’re 1-2 — we’re not where we Before he graduated after last sea- want to be,” Higbee said. “Everybody’s son, Jack Doyle became WKU’s all- out there working though, and we’re time leader in catches and receiving coming from a new offense, so we’re yards for a tight end while wearing still trying to learn some of the offense. No. 82 on his jersey. This year, redshirt Some people still don’t have it all to- sophomore tight end Tyler Higbee has gether, and unless you have all 11 play- Sophomore tight end Tyler Higbee celebrates after scoring a touchdown on the fi rst taken his number and is looking to ers doing their job, an offense isn’t an drive of the game against South Alabama on Sept. 14. JEFF BROWN/HERALD make a similar impact on the WKU of- offense where you need it to be.” fense. Offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm Higbee redshirted last season, but said he was impressed with Higbee’s was a big part of WKU during its turn- fi ve-catch game over the weekend, but around season two years ago. He played he hopes to see the tight end improve in 11 games as a freshman, record- going forward. ing a pair of catches for 92 yards and a A tight end has a lot of responsibilities, touchdown as a wide receiver — the 6-5 he said, and it’s important that Higbee Clearwater, Fla. native has since transi- is capable of fulfi lling all of those duties tioned to tight end. when he’s on the fi eld. With eight catches for 108 yards and “He’s got to fi nd ways to build his a touchdown so far this season, he said stamina and be able to go full speed he wants to be one of junior quarterback at all times,” Brohm said. “At tight end, Brandon Doughty’s favorite targets for the you’ve got to be able to block, you’ve rest of the season. got to be able to catch passes, so those “Every time I take the fi eld I expect guys have got to stay fresh as well.” to be one of the top targets — I hope The coach said Higbee and junior to be and I strive to be,” Higbee said tight end Mitchell Henry, who has after practice Tuesday.