Western Kentucky sixth-year senior quarterback Brandon Doughty returned to school for one reason, and one reason only – to win a conference championship.
"That's our goal," Doughty said. "That's why I came back – to do something that this program never had. We've never had a conference championship at the (FBS) level. That was the reason why I came back, and to see that it's right there in front of you, you've just got to take it."
The Hilltoppers (9-2 overall, 7-0 Conference USA) now face a major step on their way to a C-USA title.
Before they can play for the league crown, they must defeat Marshall at home at 11 a.m. Friday for the C-USA East Division title.
As WKU coach Jeff Brohm put it on his postgame radio show Saturday, "Now we move on to the big one."
"It's going to be a great game," Brohm said. "I know we're excited about, and I'm sure Marshall is as well. This is one of those games where both teams are really good. There's a lot obviously riding on this game. It all comes down to the last game of the year.
"It's great to be back home and play in front of our fans, but this is why our kids play the game. You work hard all year long to play in a championship game like this."
Winning Conference USA has been on WKU's mind since the Hilltoppers knocked off No. 19 Marshall in overtime last year to end the regular season.
After winning the Bahamas Bowl, the Tops entered 2015 as the C-USA favorite. They didn't shy away from those expectations, instead announcing publicly several times that a championship was the goal.
"We're ready," redshirt freshman running back D'Andre Ferby said. "We put in a lot of work in the offseason, during the season. This is what we worked to be. This is the position we wanted to be in."
Doughty said before the season that 2014 was a failure, in some ways, in his eyes because WKU didn't win the title.
He repeated Saturday that the 2015 campaign's other accomplishments will mean "absolutely nothing" if it doesn't include hoisting a C-USA trophy.
"That's a big motivation," senior linebacker Dejon Brown said. "That's one of the team goals we've had for the whole season. We had the same goal last season, but it didn't turn out like that. This year, getting so close, it's something that drives us every day to get better."
The Hilltoppers have rolled roughshod over the conference this season.
WKU had to fight to edge Louisiana Tech, and Florida Atlantic put up a fight. But other than that, the Tops have been dominant in every outing.
Now they face defending C-USA champion Marshall (9-2, 6-1), which rebounded from last year's 67-66 loss to WKU to beat Louisiana Tech in the conference championship game.
The winner of Friday's matchup in Bowling Green earns a spot in the Dec. 5 championship game.
"We know they're coming to give us their best, and we're going to give them our best," redshirt senior cornerback Wonderful Terry said. "They're coming in to try to win a conference championship, just like we're trying to go play for a championship."
It remains to be seen if WKU fans will show up on Black Friday.
The Hilltopper faithful haven't historically been very faithful in late November, and the holiday weekend means most students won't be on campus.
But the game – one of the biggest in program history – will be an interesting experiment in attendance capabilities.
WKU athletic director Todd Stewart pointed out on Twitter on Saturday night that Marshall had more than 20,000 fans attend last year's WKU game in Huntington, W.Va., at 11 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving.
"Hopefully everyone comes out and supports us," Doughty said. "I know it's the next day after Thanksgiving. We understand, but we really would like as much support as we possibly can."
http://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/w...cle_628203ed-0b5f-599f-8ef5-48e978b7f233.html
"That's our goal," Doughty said. "That's why I came back – to do something that this program never had. We've never had a conference championship at the (FBS) level. That was the reason why I came back, and to see that it's right there in front of you, you've just got to take it."
The Hilltoppers (9-2 overall, 7-0 Conference USA) now face a major step on their way to a C-USA title.
Before they can play for the league crown, they must defeat Marshall at home at 11 a.m. Friday for the C-USA East Division title.
As WKU coach Jeff Brohm put it on his postgame radio show Saturday, "Now we move on to the big one."
"It's going to be a great game," Brohm said. "I know we're excited about, and I'm sure Marshall is as well. This is one of those games where both teams are really good. There's a lot obviously riding on this game. It all comes down to the last game of the year.
"It's great to be back home and play in front of our fans, but this is why our kids play the game. You work hard all year long to play in a championship game like this."
Winning Conference USA has been on WKU's mind since the Hilltoppers knocked off No. 19 Marshall in overtime last year to end the regular season.
After winning the Bahamas Bowl, the Tops entered 2015 as the C-USA favorite. They didn't shy away from those expectations, instead announcing publicly several times that a championship was the goal.
"We're ready," redshirt freshman running back D'Andre Ferby said. "We put in a lot of work in the offseason, during the season. This is what we worked to be. This is the position we wanted to be in."
Doughty said before the season that 2014 was a failure, in some ways, in his eyes because WKU didn't win the title.
He repeated Saturday that the 2015 campaign's other accomplishments will mean "absolutely nothing" if it doesn't include hoisting a C-USA trophy.
"That's a big motivation," senior linebacker Dejon Brown said. "That's one of the team goals we've had for the whole season. We had the same goal last season, but it didn't turn out like that. This year, getting so close, it's something that drives us every day to get better."
The Hilltoppers have rolled roughshod over the conference this season.
WKU had to fight to edge Louisiana Tech, and Florida Atlantic put up a fight. But other than that, the Tops have been dominant in every outing.
Now they face defending C-USA champion Marshall (9-2, 6-1), which rebounded from last year's 67-66 loss to WKU to beat Louisiana Tech in the conference championship game.
The winner of Friday's matchup in Bowling Green earns a spot in the Dec. 5 championship game.
"We know they're coming to give us their best, and we're going to give them our best," redshirt senior cornerback Wonderful Terry said. "They're coming in to try to win a conference championship, just like we're trying to go play for a championship."
It remains to be seen if WKU fans will show up on Black Friday.
The Hilltopper faithful haven't historically been very faithful in late November, and the holiday weekend means most students won't be on campus.
But the game – one of the biggest in program history – will be an interesting experiment in attendance capabilities.
WKU athletic director Todd Stewart pointed out on Twitter on Saturday night that Marshall had more than 20,000 fans attend last year's WKU game in Huntington, W.Va., at 11 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving.
"Hopefully everyone comes out and supports us," Doughty said. "I know it's the next day after Thanksgiving. We understand, but we really would like as much support as we possibly can."
http://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/w...cle_628203ed-0b5f-599f-8ef5-48e978b7f233.html
