Football on the Fringe Season Previews were ranked, then delivered in random order.
This blog was openly rooting for Western Kentucky by the end of last year, hoping they’d find their first win as a full fledged 1-A member. Sadly, they did not, although they came painfully close in each of their last three games, losing by three, six, and four in their final game, giving away a ten point fourth quarter lead. Despite the odds being stacked against him from the beginning, coach Dave Elson was fired at the end of the season.
The Hilltoppers will have the opportunity to build on the foundation laid in the tough 2009 season, with 9 starters on each side of the ball returning for 2010. New coach Willie Taggart will have to install a new quarterback, along with getting his new system in place. And he’ll have to do it without the benefit of a 1-AA team on the schedule to get things warmed up.
Schedule
WKU gets to play a part in Nebraska’s annual embarrassingly bad non-conference schedule this year (joining Idaho and South Dakota State on this year’s list, last year it was three other Sun Belt schools). After that they get three more mid-level BCS conference teams before launching into the Belt schedule. There certainly should be the opportunity to win some conference games this year, but the Hilltoppers may not be favored in any until they grab that first win.
Coaching
Willie Taggart coached on the WKU staff from 1999-2006, having played for the team from 1994-98. In the interim, he was running backs coach at Stanford, working with Heisman Trophy finalist Toby Gerhart.
Rankings
The Sun Belt media and coaches both picked WKU to finish last, but can you really blame them?
Outlook
I wish WKU could squeeze a cupcake into the schedule somewhere, but that won’t happen until maybe 2011, where they have Indiana State penciled in for a game. The fact of the matter is that they’re probably going to get drilled in their first four games, and are going to have to set those aside and be ready for the Sun Belt. I think this team could win a game or two, but it’s hard to guess who it might be against.
Western Kentucky Connections
InsideHilltopperSports.com – Rivals message board- it’s pretty quiet, but more active than any other I found.
Bowling Green Daily News – local coverage of the Hilltoppers