BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- The WKU Hilltopper football team continued practice during the final week of fall camp Tuesday afternoon, working out at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium for approximately three hours.
The team wrapped up the practice session with a full situational scrimmage, with referees, to work on game situations.
"Our number-one offense and number-one defense played like I expected them to play," WKU head coach Willie Taggart said. "Offensively we moved the ball like we should have, and defensively we created a lot of turnovers."
Taggart said that the success of the defense in forcing turnovers can do wonders for their confidence as a group.
"When they start getting turnovers, they start to believe in themselves and say 'hey, we really can do this.' That has to be the expectation for our defense. We have to make plays and get off the field."
Taggart also said he is starting to see the work the defense puts in the film room between practices paying off.
"It's good for our defense to have some awareness," he said. "Those guys are studying film, reacting to what they see on the film and learning from it. Guys are starting to trust what they see."
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 – Ryan Beard
Looking to fight back from an injury-plagued 2009 season, Bowling Green native Ryan Beard adds experience to a young Hilltopper secondary. The junior safety registered 41 tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2008, and also intercepted three passes. However, injury limited him to just two games of action last year where he was able to pick up seven total tackles.
Q: What is your favorite activity outside your current sport?
A: I like to go the lake and wakeboard. I also like to fish and hunt.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: My mom’s chicken and rice.
Q: What books have you read lately?
A: I just read Drew Brees’ book "Coming Back Stronger."
Q: What is your favorite spring break destination?
A: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Q: What was your favorite cartoon character when you were a child?
A: The Tasmanian Devil.
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: George Washington. He was a man with a vision.
Q: What are your plans after your playing days are over here at WKU?
A: I’d like to keep playing, but if not I want to do something in the business world.
Q: What is your proudest moment in sports?
A: Before my grandfather passed away, he got to see us win the Toy Bowl championship in Pop Warner.
Q: Who is your all-time favorite sports personality?
A: Ed Reed.
Q: Other than WKU, who is your favorite team?
A: The St. Louis Cardinals.
Q: What is the best movie you have ever seen?
A: I’m a big movie guy, so I like a lot, but I’d have to say Remember the Titans.
Q: Who is the most influential person in your life and why?
A: My entire family. We’re a very tight family. No matter what happens, we always have each other’s back.
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