Bowling Green, Ky. - Prior to taking the field for their second practice of the fall on Tuesday, six members of the Western Kentucky University football team - head coach Willie Taggart, defensive coordinator Clint Bowen, quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford, senior linebacker Thomas Majors, junior defensive lineman Jared Clendenin and sophomore tight end Jack Doyle - met with members of the press during the program's annual media day.
As he has done since being hired as head coach back on Nov. 23, Taggart continued to preach the importance of instilling a winning attitude and culture back within the program.
"I told our guys in our first meeting on Sunday that this is going to be the most fun camp and the toughest camp they've ever been through," said Taggart. "You can't play this game without having fun. It's important to me that they have fun and are competitive. I want to put these guys in winning situations in practice so they get back that feeling."
After an 0-12 season in 2009, changing that culture may be seen as one of the toughest tasks for Taggart and his staff. However, with a full spring and summer under the new system, it seems some of that attitude has rubbed off on the players.
"We believe we can be successful, but we also have coaches that believe in us," said Clendenin. "I can't even explain how hungry we are. We're out there working hard every day, and getting better with each practice."
That sentiment appears to resonate across the locker room.
"We were close a lot last year, and I think guys forget that they are good and can compete at this level," added Doyle. "Once we can get back that attitude, we're going to be successful."
Along with a change in culture has come a change in schemes as the Toppers move to the west coast offense and a 4-3 defense. Defensively, Bowen has seen progress overall on that side of the ball since the end of spring practice.
"We want to continue to build what we started in the spring, and that's get a defensive mentality where we have that feeling that nobody will move the ball on us," said Bowen. "Our kids did a nice job in the summer time and really bought in. So when they showed up yesterday their knowledge level increased from when we finished spring practice."
Offensively, most of the questions continue to surround the battle for the starting quarterback spot. Junior college transfer Matt Pelesasa moved to the top of the depth chart at the end of spring practice, but with sophomore Kawaun Jakes - who started eight games in 2009 - and true freshman Brandon Doughty in the mix, that position will continue to be a battle throughout fall camp.
"I feel really good about the quality of the three guys we have at quarterback," said Sanford. "All three are very capable to be a starting quarterback at this level. In the five or six years I've been around it, I've never had a group of three guys I felt that way about. The guy that gets us in the position to score points in scrimmage situations during camp will be the one that emerges at the end of camp."
And while much of the focus will fall on the battle under center, Taggart is quick to point out that he continues to want to see competition at every position throughout camp.
"We told every one of these incoming guys when we recruited them that we wanted them to come in and take someone's spot," Taggart said. "Everyone out there has a chance to start. If they take advantage of that opportunity, and are competitors, they'll show up and get the job done."
Once that competition and attitude takes over the program, Taggart is ready for great things ahead.
"The foundation is here. We just have to close the gap between that foundation and our winning culture," added Taggart. "Once we bring those two things together, everyone will have smiles on their faces like they should around here, and we'll give the WKU and Bowling Green community something to be very, very proud of."
The Hilltoppers were back out on the field this afternoon, and will also go through afternoon workouts Wednesday and Thursday. Friday and Saturday practices are slated for the morning before the first two-a-day practice on Sunday.
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