From Media Interview with Head Coach Mike Sanford:
- Felt the first day of practice went well. He felt there was a lot of depth and experience with his team and they had the "juice". Started a little slow offensively but it got going as the practice went on
-Number 1 thing Sanford wants to see this season is a unified team (coaches, players, etc.) no matter what. He also needs to identify the starters on the offensive line
-Sanford noted that Offensive Line Coach TJ Woods is valuable coming into the program, there is a need for revamping schemes for the team as the team need to reinvent itself on the line and create new schemes. Says he has also been “huge” in creating a sense of a toughness
-Says his trust level in seniors Julien Lewis and Lucky Jackson is high. Julian is a great player and does everything you ask a Hilltopper can do. Lucky has shown growth and consistency. He’s the offensive spark that they will need this season, especially since they are breaking in a quarterback (Drew Eckels) this year.
-He mentioned that UK transfer Eli Brown has fit right in with the culture on the team. He runs well and compared him to former WKU linebacker Joel "Iggy" Iyiebuniwe.
-Coach let new quarterback Drew Eckels be in charge of the 13 player run practices and all of the quarterback meetings over the summer.
-He admitted the run game “has to” get better. Says its up to him and the coaches to find creative ways to get runs going. They need to find out who on the running back corps can churn out explosive runs and it doesn’t matter what year they are.
-When asked if this was his first time with a team with 10 or less seniors, he said he has been with a team with 10 or less seniors before at Stanford. However he says in this case at WKU, the 10 seniors here are the ones you want leading a team. They are bought in and want to win a conference championship.
-For him what will make his second year coaching easier is knowing the roster and the culture going forward has been helpful going forward. Also, he said learning from his mistakes. Things like setting practice plans so that the players are fresh and healthy are big deals for him and will be better addressed this season.
-He described the theme for this year is its about “We”. Everyone gets to share in the successes and failures, so it's a "we" mentality.
-Sanford's thoughts on C-USA: He referenced the record number of bowl games the conference was represented in last year. He says the conference is very competitive and there is lots of parity. He references how close WKU came last year to knocking off Florida Atlantic before the tide turned on them. He says its not a conference of the "haves and have nots".
-Sanford says he is comfortable and plans on playing multiple quarterbacks, noting that he will have 4 or 5 guys ready to go at the position.
-Says linebacker Ben Holt is problem for an offensive coach since he has a great feel for the game and its quickness.
Julien Lewis:
-He says having a second year coaching staff will help with continuity and their experience level.
-So far he has liked the level of physicality from this team in practice
Lucky Jackson:
-He is confident with Drew Eckels as his quarterback this season.
-He is enjoying the competitiveness of his teammates so far and is embracing his role as the senior leader of the WR corps
-He says Mik'quan Deane will be big for the team and will capably fill the shoes of last year's Tight End Deon Yelder
- Felt the first day of practice went well. He felt there was a lot of depth and experience with his team and they had the "juice". Started a little slow offensively but it got going as the practice went on
-Number 1 thing Sanford wants to see this season is a unified team (coaches, players, etc.) no matter what. He also needs to identify the starters on the offensive line
-Sanford noted that Offensive Line Coach TJ Woods is valuable coming into the program, there is a need for revamping schemes for the team as the team need to reinvent itself on the line and create new schemes. Says he has also been “huge” in creating a sense of a toughness
-Says his trust level in seniors Julien Lewis and Lucky Jackson is high. Julian is a great player and does everything you ask a Hilltopper can do. Lucky has shown growth and consistency. He’s the offensive spark that they will need this season, especially since they are breaking in a quarterback (Drew Eckels) this year.
-He mentioned that UK transfer Eli Brown has fit right in with the culture on the team. He runs well and compared him to former WKU linebacker Joel "Iggy" Iyiebuniwe.
-Coach let new quarterback Drew Eckels be in charge of the 13 player run practices and all of the quarterback meetings over the summer.
-He admitted the run game “has to” get better. Says its up to him and the coaches to find creative ways to get runs going. They need to find out who on the running back corps can churn out explosive runs and it doesn’t matter what year they are.
-When asked if this was his first time with a team with 10 or less seniors, he said he has been with a team with 10 or less seniors before at Stanford. However he says in this case at WKU, the 10 seniors here are the ones you want leading a team. They are bought in and want to win a conference championship.
-For him what will make his second year coaching easier is knowing the roster and the culture going forward has been helpful going forward. Also, he said learning from his mistakes. Things like setting practice plans so that the players are fresh and healthy are big deals for him and will be better addressed this season.
-He described the theme for this year is its about “We”. Everyone gets to share in the successes and failures, so it's a "we" mentality.
-Sanford's thoughts on C-USA: He referenced the record number of bowl games the conference was represented in last year. He says the conference is very competitive and there is lots of parity. He references how close WKU came last year to knocking off Florida Atlantic before the tide turned on them. He says its not a conference of the "haves and have nots".
-Sanford says he is comfortable and plans on playing multiple quarterbacks, noting that he will have 4 or 5 guys ready to go at the position.
-Says linebacker Ben Holt is problem for an offensive coach since he has a great feel for the game and its quickness.
Julien Lewis:
-He says having a second year coaching staff will help with continuity and their experience level.
-So far he has liked the level of physicality from this team in practice
Lucky Jackson:
-He is confident with Drew Eckels as his quarterback this season.
-He is enjoying the competitiveness of his teammates so far and is embracing his role as the senior leader of the WR corps
-He says Mik'quan Deane will be big for the team and will capably fill the shoes of last year's Tight End Deon Yelder
