Bowling Green, Ky. - For the first time during the 2010 preseason camp, the WKU football team practiced in helmets and shoulder pads, marking the first opportunity for actual contact this fall. Players on both sides of the ball took advantage of the opportunity.
"We had a really good practice today," said Hilltopper head coach Willie Taggart. "The guys were excited to put the shoulder pads on and get out and hit each other. We had some good plays on both sides of the ball. Defensively we forced some turnovers and offensively we scored some touchdowns."
Despite the high temperatures for the mid-afternoon practice, Taggart said he was impressed with the energy that his team brought on the third day of camp.
"It's good starting to see some guys have some excitement," said Taggart. "I was really impressed with our practice today, especially with the energy and seeing guys flying around and making plays."
The Hilltoppers will return to the practice field again on Thursday for an afternoon practice, before practicing in full pads Friday morning.
The 2010 season marks the first for WKU under the direction of Taggart, who was named head coach on November 23. Taggart previously served as running backs coach at Stanford from 2007-09 and helped Toby Gerhart finish second in balloting for the Heisman Trophy and win the Doak Walker award given to the nation's top running back. Taggart worked as an assistant coach at WKU from 1999-2006 and served as co-offensive coordinator for WKU's 2002 I-AA National Championship team. A standout player at quarterback who set 11 school records for the Hilltoppers from 1995-98, Taggart is one of only four players in WKU's 91-year football history to have his jersey retired.
Fall camp will encompass the entire month of August, and will come to a close on Saturday, Aug. 28 with the second annual Family Fun Day from Noon-3 p.m. (CDT) at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. The 2010 season opens Sept. 4 at #9 Nebraska.
Hilltopper Spotlight: Thomas Majors
Senior linebacker Thomas Majors wasted little time making an impact on the Hilltopper defense during his first season in 2009. A Nashville,Tenn., native and transfer from Northwest Mississippi Community College, Majors led the Hilltoppers with 101 tackles last season. He had a pair of double-digit tackle efforts, finishing with a season-high 14 at Navy and 12 against Florida International. Majors was a member of Phil Steele's preseason all-Sun Belt first team defense when the publication was released earlier this summer.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Pizza.
Q: What is your favorite spring break destination?
A: Panama City, Fla.
Q: What was your favorite cartoon character when you were a child?
A: Bart Simpson from the Simpsons.
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: Simpsons.
Q: If you could have dinner with any person no longer living, who would
it be?
A: My father.
Q: What are your plans after your playing days are over here at WKU?
A: I want to try to get a shot at the NFL.
Q: What is your proudest moment in sports?
A: I broke the single-season record for tackles when I was in high school with around 140 tackles.
Q: Who is your all-time favorite sports personality?
A: Ray Lewis, because I'm a Ravens fan.
Q: Other than WKU, who is your favorite team?
A: The Baltimore Ravens.
Q: Who is your favorite singer or music group?
A: Drake.
Q: What is the best movie you have ever seen?
A: Menace to Society.
Q: Who is the most influential person in your life and why?
A: My mother, because she has pushed me to this point in my life.
