BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University football team returned to the practice field at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium on Friday afternoon. Wrapping up the second of three weeks of fall practice, WKU coach Willie Taggart ended the day by putting his team through a situational scrimmage.
"It was a really good scrimmage, especially the defense," Taggart said. "Our defense came out here and really got after it. They took it as if it was a game. I challenged our defensive line last night to come out here and take control the line of scrimmage early
and they did that. They came out and really took it to our offense. The offense was really out of sync and we didn't look like we knew what we were doing a lot of the time out there."
Even with the success of the defense, Taggart would like to see a decrease in the number of penalties his team commits on both sides of the football.
"It all goes back to discipline. We are not going to deal with that. We are going to be a disciplined football team. We can't go out and beat ourselves. And that is the type of stuff that will get us beat. It is all mental."
The Hilltoppers will conduct their third two-a-day practice session Saturday before taking a break from camp on Sunday.
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.
Season and single-game tickets for the upcoming 2010 WKU football season are on sale now. Prices are $15 for reserved bleacher seats, and general admission adult seats are $12 while general admission youth tickets (anyone 12 and under) are $6. Groups of 10 or more may purchase reserved or general admission tickets for $6 each.
2010 Season Tickets Location and Prices:
Red Towel-$108
Topper-$108
Spirit-$60
Reserved Season-$30
General Admission-$30
For more information, to order season or single-game tickets, or to order tickets for available away games please call 1-800-5-BIG RED or visit wkusports.com.
Hilltopper Spotlight - Quanterus Smith
Sophomore Quanterus Smith will be one of the Hilltoppers to benefit most from the move to the 4-3 defense in 2010. A sophomore from Loganville, Ga., Smith made 12 tackles as a linebacker last season, but has been moved to the defensive line. He will join Jared Clendenin as the two starting defensive ends, giving WKU a much stronger pass rush from the guys up front. A two-year letterwinner at Grayson High School, Smith earned first team all-county honors as a senior. At 6-foot-5, he also lettered on the basketball court for the Rams.
Q: What is your favorite activity outside your current sport?
A: Listening to music.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Hot wings.
Q: What books have you read lately?
A: Harry Potter.
Q: What is your favorite spring break destination?
A: Miami.
Q: What was your favorite cartoon character when you were a child?
A: Scooby Doo.
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: CSI: Miami.
Q: If you could have dinner with any person in history, who would it be and why?
A: DeMarcus Ware.
Q: What are your plans after your playing days are over here at WKU?
A: Keep playing professionally.
Q: What is your proudest moment in sports?
A: Playing against an arch-rival during my senior year.
Q: Other than WKU, who is your favorite team?
A: Atlanta Falcons.
Q: Who is your favorite singer or music group?
A: Young Jeezy.
Q: Who is the most influential person in your life and why?
A: My grandmother and my mother, because they have done so much for me.
