By Norm Haney, BuyLocalBG.com, BuyLocalBg@gmail.com/
Friday, October 6th, 2011 9:00 AM CST
It’s a slow week in the southcentral Kentucky sports world, so instead of giving you another video installment of Beyond the Norm, we’re going to try something different.
We’ll keep it short and sweet and do a written version, let’s call it Three and Out.
Here are three things to keep an eye on this week in the world of BG sports.
Fir st up – the Western Kentucky football team will try to pick up its first win of the season on Thursday at Middle Tennessee State. This game was supposed to be the Hilltoppers big rivalry game when the move to the College Bowl Subdivision was made four years ago, but with a lack of wins from both programs there’s been little to no excitement surrounding the matchup the last three years, especially since the Blue Raiders have won the games by a combined 110 to 60 during that time span.
WKU is coming off a crushing 26-22 loss last week at home to Arkansas State. The Hilltoppers were unable to convert a fourth-and-one late in the game that would have virtually allowed them to kill the clock and close the deal. Instead, the Red Wolves held firm and then took the ball down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown in the game’s final minute to secure the victory.
Although the MTSU rivalry might not be catching on that quickly with the fans, don’t tell that to coach Willie Taggart and his team.
“It means a lot for me, and it does for all of the guys. This is a conference game, and we are looking to get a win. We need a win badly, and fortunately Middle Tennessee is the next team on the schedule. From a rivalry standpoint, when I was here before it was Eastern Kentucky, and we are not playing them anymore and now it is Middle Tennessee. Middle Tennessee does not like us, and we do not like them.”
Second up – there might be tumble weeds blowing across the high school football fields in Bowling Green this week with all five schools in Warren County out because of fall break. One team, however, will be suiting up and getting after it. South Warren will be on the road this Thursday as they take on Monroe County in Tompkinsville, home of the Dovie’s world famous fried cheeseburger (yes, I am going to get one).
The Spartans are coming off their first-ever varsity win, a 41-14 victory at home
against Caverna. South Warren (1-5) was off last Friday with a bye, giving them extra preparation time for Monroe County (4-3). Both teams are very young and have been improving as the season has matured. The Falcons have scored two consecutive blowout wins over Hart County and Adair County and are playing with a lot of confidence.
Next week, it’s a different story. I’ve been covering sports in Bowling Green since 2002 and this upcoming week features the most highly anticipated regular season matchup in that time. Of course I’m talking about Warren Central at Bowling Green. According to the Louisville Courier Journal’s rankings, the Purples are the #1 team in Class 5A and the Dragons are #3. We’ll have plenty more on this game next week, but you better get your popcorn ready because this one has the makings of a classic.
Last but not least – the KHSAA Boys and Girls State Golf Championships have
returned to Bowling Green this week at the Bowling Green Country Club. This event, much like the Girls Sweet 16 and the high school football Gridiron Bowl Championship Games, are a huge draw for the city of Bowling Green.
Not only do these events bring in thousands of people from all over the state, but it also gives perspective students a first hand look at the campus of WKU.
Bowling Green Country Club’s Jeff McGill and his grounds crew deserve a ton of credit for making the golf course look great, proving a challenging yet fair venue for the best young golfers in the state of Kentucky.
– Norm Haney is the Programs Director at 1340-WBGN and the host of The Sports Guys, which airs Monday thru Friday from 4 p.m. till 6 p.m.
