March 27, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Coming off back-to-back NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances, the Western Kentucky University football teams takes its first step towards extending the streak to three consecutive seasons with the beginning of spring practice Thursday.
The Hilltoppers will take the field Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon at approximately 2:45 p.m. (CST). Beginning next week, WKU is slated to practice Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with a scrimmage scheduled on Saturdays. The spring culminates with the Red-White Game April 20.
"It's an exciting time, I don't think there is anything I enjoy as much as spring football," head coach Jack Harbaugh said. "Young players have a chance to earn playing time, so it is fun to coach and to watch them compete for the opportunity to contribute next season.
"Graduation is healthy, it gives our older players the chance to move on and fulfill their life's work."
Early on, the competition for several positions will draw attention. With the loss of both Jason Johnson and Donte Pimpleton, senior-to-be Jason Michael will handle most of the snaps in the spring at quarterback, with redshirt freshman Antone Towns given an opportunity to earn playing time as well - the Louisville, Ky., native will be splitting duties over the next month, as he leads the 15-8 Topper baseball team with a .409 average, collecting two triples, a pair of home runs and six RBI in 18 contests.
The Hilltoppers also lost running backs DeWayne Gallishaw and Keith Brooks to graduation, so senior-to-be Jon Frazier and rising sophomore Ronnie Lilly will compete for playing time as Western shifts to a two-back system. Junior-to-be Chris Miller, who has played at fullback the last two years, will also see time at tailback. "Of all the positions, running back is the easiest to work into," said Harbaugh. "If you have the God-given instincts to perform, you will have an opportunity to be successful."
On defense, the Toppers will focus on the defensive secondary, where all four starters from the last two years are gone. Cornerbacks Carl Birts and Jeremy Chandler both saw action on special teams as well as defense in that time, as did rising sophomore strong safety Brian Lowder. Antonio Veals will experiment in the defensive backfield over the next three-and-a-half weeks after playing wide receiver his first two years.
"The downside is that we had four players move on, but the positive is that we have decent players behind them who just couldn't get the time," Harbaugh said. "It's not their first taste of our system, though, which we hope serves as a bridge to taking over a more involved role."
Other players looking to switch positions are Chad Kincaid and Rufus Sanders, who are both moving from the defensive to offensive line.
"Our first goal in the spring is to evaluate our personnel so that we can put the best 22 players on the field," said Harbaugh. "A lot of work must be done in the next few weeks to offset key losses at quarterback, running back and defensive back.
"We're going to spend some time retooling the offense, working more out of a two-back set, so that will take some time. And, our defensive goal in the spring is to be better technically as a team.
"I'd like to address the way we finished last season, particularly the ends of the Northern Iowa and Furman games - it's something I've been trying to put my finger on. I think that if we practice now with the right attitude, we can overcome the shortcomings in the latter half of last year."
- WKU -
