Jeff Brohm, who has led Western Kentucky to back-to-back Conference USA titles, accepted the Purdue head-coaching position earlier this month.
WKU hired former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford to replace Brohm next season, but it'll be Nick Holt coaching the Hilltoppers in an interim role in Tuesday's Boca Raton Bowl against Memphis.
Holt served as defensive coordinator this season at Western Kentucky. During the past three seasons under Brohm, the Hilltoppers averaged an FBS-best 44.6 points per game. Can we expect the Hilltoppers' high-powered offense to slow down with a defensive coach in charge?
On Saturday, Houston was in a similar situation in its first game under new head coach Major Applewhite. The Cougars averaged 35.8 points per game this season under Tom Herman, who left to become the head coach at Texas. In the Las Vegas Bowl without Herman, the Cougars offense struggled in a 34-10 loss to San Diego State.
Even in this time of transition on the sideline, Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White won't be short of options on the field. WKU receiver Taywan Taylor ranks second in the FBS this season with 1,586 receiving yards and fellow receiver Nicholas Norris has 1,253 receiving yards. Taylor and Norris are one of just two pairs of 1,200-yard receivers on the same team this season.
The Hilltoppers can also hand it off to Anthony Wales, who has a school-record 24 rushing touchdowns this season. No FBS running back has more rushing scores than Wales this year.
Western Kentucky is making its fourth bowl appearance since joining the FBS in 2009, and the Hilltoppers seek their third straight bowl win. ESPN's Football Power Index gives them a 59 percent chance to beat Memphis.
http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/...ntuckys-offense-fare-under-interim-head-coach
WKU hired former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford to replace Brohm next season, but it'll be Nick Holt coaching the Hilltoppers in an interim role in Tuesday's Boca Raton Bowl against Memphis.
Holt served as defensive coordinator this season at Western Kentucky. During the past three seasons under Brohm, the Hilltoppers averaged an FBS-best 44.6 points per game. Can we expect the Hilltoppers' high-powered offense to slow down with a defensive coach in charge?
On Saturday, Houston was in a similar situation in its first game under new head coach Major Applewhite. The Cougars averaged 35.8 points per game this season under Tom Herman, who left to become the head coach at Texas. In the Las Vegas Bowl without Herman, the Cougars offense struggled in a 34-10 loss to San Diego State.
Even in this time of transition on the sideline, Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White won't be short of options on the field. WKU receiver Taywan Taylor ranks second in the FBS this season with 1,586 receiving yards and fellow receiver Nicholas Norris has 1,253 receiving yards. Taylor and Norris are one of just two pairs of 1,200-yard receivers on the same team this season.
The Hilltoppers can also hand it off to Anthony Wales, who has a school-record 24 rushing touchdowns this season. No FBS running back has more rushing scores than Wales this year.
Western Kentucky is making its fourth bowl appearance since joining the FBS in 2009, and the Hilltoppers seek their third straight bowl win. ESPN's Football Power Index gives them a 59 percent chance to beat Memphis.
http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/...ntuckys-offense-fare-under-interim-head-coach
