Aug. 2, 2001
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Preparations for the 2001 football season begin in earnest Monday when the Western Kentucky University football team opens fall camp. Incoming freshmen and newcomers who didn't transfer in January will report to campus Sunday before camp opens.
"This is an exciting and rewarding time for us that we always look forward to," said Hilltopper head coach Jack Harbaugh, who enters his 13th season on the Hill. "There are two times when you get this feeling as a coach -- in the spring, when you start spring drills with a group of new players, and now, when the freshmen come in and meet the varsity as we put our 2001 squad together."
The newcomers will have drills in both the morning and afternoon on Monday and Tuesday. The varsity returns to campus Tuesday afternoon, with WKU holding two-a-day practices the rest of the week in helmets and shoulder pads only. It will be the first of two weeks with multiple workouts, as classes do not begin until Monday, Aug. 20.
Western enters camp already having two upperclassmen -- senior guard Chris Price and junior cornerback Bobby Sippio -- named preseason All-America by The Sports Network and seven players selected preseason all-Gateway Football Conference. The Toppers were also selected the preseason favorites in the league race, edging out Youngstown State and defending champion Western Illinois, a pair of playoff participants in 2000.
"This is a time in which we look forward to seeing a large group of players come back," Harbaugh said. "It's a sign that everyone managed to do what they needed to academically and that they had safe, productive summers. Plus, we as a staff can evaluate their physical condition as we enter camp -- we had a group of 40-45 players workout together this summer on campus, with a large number of last season's contributors included, so we're confident the team will be ready for the work ahead."
The Hilltoppers -- who begin their inaugural season in the Gateway with a 6:30 p.m. (CDT) kickoff Thursday, Aug. 30, at Western Illinois -- finished 11-2 in 2000 and were undefeated OVC champions in their final year in the league. WKU reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs for the second time in the last four years and was fifth in the final Sports Network poll after finishing with its fifth consecutive winning season.
-- WKU --
