Drew White: A Coach Mode Dynasty

[Jeremy7679]

Western Kentucky Ready for Sun Belt Play

Bowling Green (KY) - Western Kentucky is using the bye week to recharge and get ready for Sun Belt Conference play, which opens next week at Florida International. The Hilltoppers have been testing themselves against BCS conference opponents the last four weeks, they're anxious to square off against their Sun Belt brethren.

Coach White has indicated that while the offense will always be pass-heavy, he hopes to be able to get more production out of the running game as the matchups against defensive lines become more favorable. Star running back Bobby Rainey also figures to get more touches on the ball going forward, in both the running and passing phases of the game.

Anthony White's defense will welcome the prospect of playing against Sun Belt opponents after being largely outmanned in their first four games. The Hilltoppers averaged giving up 498.8 yards per game. Anthony says the focus going forward has to be on stopping the running game, with WKU giving up 218 yards per game on the ground.

[Jeremy7679]

Week 5 Scores
#1 Alabama 28, #10 Florida 7
#11 Miami 29, Clemson 20
Michigan State 27, #5 Wisconsin 17
#4 Iowa 34, #18 Penn State 27
Washington 21, #23 USC 14
#17 Oklahoma 31, #2 Texas 7
#3 Virginia Tech 35, NC State 25
#13 LSU 20, #14 Tennessee 15

Around the Sun Belt Conference
North Texas 27, UL-Lafayette 14
#21 Auburn 31, UL-Monroe 3
South Florida 38, Florida Atlantic 34
#8 Pittsburgh 38, Florida International 17
Louisville 25, Arkansas State 11

[Jeremy7679]

Western Kentucky Picks Up Third Commitment

Drew White's wide-open attack got a boost from 6-6 wide receiver Nathan Jackson, who announced his intention to play at Western Kentucky this week. At three stars, Jackson is the highest profile commitment in the 2011 class.

In other news, the list of visitors for the UL-Monroe game continues to grow. CB Michael Justice and DE Maurice Johnson both decided to visit Bowling Green next weekend.

2011 RECRUITING CLASS COMMITMENTS

NAME            POS    HOMETOWN        RATING    HEIGHT    WEIGHT
Ayo Crenshaw        QB    Brentwood,TN        *    6-1    166
Grant Cutler        T    Williamsburg, KY    **    6-3    323
Nathan Jackson        WR    Glasgow, KY        ***    6-6    185

Preview: Florida International


Record: 0-4 (0-0 SBC) LAST GAME: L at Pittsburgh 17-38
Key Players Offense: WR Ty Hilton (WR), C Brad Serini (SR)
Key Players Defense: CB Anthony Gaitor (SR), DE Aaron Davis (JR)

Overall Rating: WKU D+, FIU C-
Offense Rating: WKU C-, FIU C-
Defense Rating: WKU C-, FIU C-

Corso Pick: Western Kentucky
Herbstreit Pick: Western Kentucky

[Jeremy7679]

WEEK 6 COACHES POLL TOP 25

RANK    LW    TEAM            RECORD

1    1    Alabama (34)        5-0
2    3    Virginia Tech (21)    5-0
3    4    Iowa (3)        5-0
4    6    Georgia Tech (2)    5-0
5    7    Ohio State        4-1

6    8    Pittsburgh (1)        4-0
7    9    Oregon State        4-0
8    2    Texas            4-1
9    11    Miami            3-1
10    12    Oregon            4-1

11    13    LSU            5-0
12    5    Wisconsin        3-1
13    17    Oklahoma        4-1
14    15    Florida State        5-0
15    16    Boise State        2-2

16    10    Florida            3-2
17    19    TCU            3-2
18    14    Tennessee        4-1
19    20    Arkansas        3-1
20    21    Auburn            5-0

21    22    Baylor            5-0
22    NR    Michigan State        5-0
23    18    Penn State        3-2
24    24    Oklahoma State        4-0
25    NR    Washington        4-0

HESIMAN WATCH
1. Mark Ingram, HB Alabama (vs Florida 35 Car, 154 Yds, TD, 57 Rec Yds)
2. Christian Ponder, QB Florida State (vs Virginia 31-43, 368 Yds, 3 TD)
3. Ricky Stanzi, QB Iowa (vs Penn State 19-35, 288 Yds, 3 TD, 76 Rush Yds)
4. Brandon Saine, HB Ohio State (vs Illinois 37 car, 136 Yds, TD, 69 Rec Yds)
5. Robert Griffin, QB Baylor (18-28, 266 Yds, 3 TD)

[Jeremy7679]

Western Kentucky Throttles FIU in Sun Belt Opener
Jakes continues to put up big numbers in 55-26 win

Miami (FL) - Western Kentucky's high-flying offense has been the story, but against Florida International it was the defense that got the scoring started when Derrius Brooks intercepted a Wesley Carroll house to draw first blood in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.

From there, the offense did take over, amassing 518 yards of total offense and 55 points in a game that Florida International never threatened to make interesting. Kawaun Jakes posted nother 400+ yard passing game, completing 25 of 39 for 466 yards and 4 TD passes. Bobby Rainey had 47 yards rushing and a score to go with his 71 yard TD reception. Braxston Miller also added a pair of rushing scores.

Defensively, the Hilltoppers are still struggling to stop the run. FIU gained 218 yards on the ground, including two touchdown runs of 50 yards or more. All in all, the Panthers picked up 464 yards of offense against the WKU defense.

[Jeremy7679]

WEEK 6 SCORES
#5 Ohio State 33, Indiana 0
#6 Pittsburgh 23, Notre Dame 10
#22 Michigan State 13, Michigan 10
#18 Tennessee 20, Georgia 13
#16 Florida 34, #11 LSU 10
#9 Miami 27, #14 Florida State 17
#7 Oregon State 17, Arizona 16
#1 Alabama 41, South Carolina 7

SUN BELT SCORES
Troy 17, Middle Tennessee 9
#24 Oklahoma State 35, UL-Lafayette 21
Arkansas State 27, North Texas 24
Florida Atlantic 17, UL-Monroe 0

[Jeremy7679]

RECRUITING NEWS
White gets fourth and fifth commitments for 2011 class

Junior College middle linebacker Shane Johnson from Cynthiana, KY and wide receiver Brandon Hicks from Lake Ridge, VA announced their intentions to play for the Hilltoppers this week. That brings the total number of recruits for 2011 to 5 so far. Johnson, who will enroll as a sophomore, is only a 1 star prospect, but he does fill a need at middle linebacker. Hicks is a two-star prospect with good hands.

In other recruiting news, four-star QB Ryan Andrews has moved Western Kentucky to top of his list of favorites. The QB has said he really likes what the Hilltoppers are doing in the passing game, and the announcement last week by receiver Nathan Jackson has Andrews believing the future is bright for the offense at Western Kentucky.

2011 RECRUITING CLASS COMMITMENTS

NAME                    POS     HOMETOWN                RATING  HEIGHT  WEIGHT
Ayo Crenshaw            QB      Brentwood,TN            *       6-1     166
Grant Cutler            T       Williamsburg, KY        **      6-3     323
Nathan Jackson          WR      Glasgow, KY             ***     6-6     185
Shane Johnson-JUCO SO   MLB     Cynthiana, KY           *       6-4     248
Brandon Hicks           WR      Lake Ridge, VA          **      6-1     166

Preview: Louisiana-Monroe


Record: 2-3 (1-1 SBC) LAST GAME: L Florida Atlantic 0-17
Key Players Offense: HB Frank Goodin (SR), WR Luther Ambrose (JR)
Key Players Defense: DT Bryan Glenn (SR), LOLB Theo Smith (SR)

Overall Rating: ULM D+, WKU D+
Offense Rating: ULM C, WKU C-
Defense Rating: ULM D+, WKU C-

Corso Pick: Western Kentucky
Herbstreit Pick: Western Kentucky

[Jeremy7679]

WEEK 7 COACHES POLL TOP 25

RANK    LW      TEAM                    RECORD

1       1       Alabama (36)            6-0
2       3       Iowa (24)               5-0
3       2       Virginia Tech (1)       6-0
4       4       Georgia Tech            6-0
5       7       Oregon State            5-0

6       6       Pittsburgh              5-0
7       5       Ohio State              5-1
8       8       Texas                   4-1
9       9       Miami                   4-1
10      10      Oregon                  5-1

11      12      Wisconsin               4-1
12      13      Oklahoma                4-1
13      16      Florida                 4-2
14      20      Auburn                  6-0
15      15      Boise State             3-2

16      22      Michigan State          6-0
17      17      TCU                     4-2
18      18      Tennessee               5-1
19      11      LSU                     5-1
20      19      Arkansas                4-1

21      14      Florida State           5-1
22      25      Washington              5-0
23      24      Oklahoma State          5-0
24      NR      Ole Miss                5-0
25      23      Penn State              4-2

HEISMAN WATCH

1. Mark Ingram, HB Alabama (v South Carolina 35 Car, 180 Yds, 2 TD)
2. Brandon Saine, HB Ohio State (v Indiana 36 Car, 129 Yds, TD, 1 Rec TD)
3. Christian Ponder, QB Florida State (v Miami 26-40, 285 Yds)
4. LaMichael James, HB Oregon (v Washington State 35 Car, 157 Yds, TD, 1 Rec TD)
5. Ricky Stanzi, QB Iowa (BYE)


SUN BELT CONFERENCE STANDINGS

TEAM                  CONF W-L     OVR W-L
Troy                    2-0          4-1
Western Kentucky        1-0          2-3
North Texas             2-1          2-4
Arkansas State          2-2          2-4
Florida Atlantic        1-1          1-4
UL-Monroe               1-1          2-3
Middle Tennessee        1-1          4-1
Florida International   0-1          0-5
UL-Lafayette            0-3          0-5