September 3, 2019

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 2

WKUPD announces renovation plans

BY ABBEY NUTTER

HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

HALL OF SHAME WKU’s recent history of FCS losses SPORTS • B6

TOP: KEILEN FRAZIER • HERALD BOTTOM LEFT: MIKE CLARK • HERALD BOTTOM RIGHT: CHRISTIAN RANDOLPH • HERALD

Top: WKU wide receiver Lucky Jackson (11) is tackled while running with the ball against the Central Arkansas Bears at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Aug. 29, 2019. Central Arkansas defeated WKU 35-28.

Bottom Left: WKU’s DeAndre Farris (22) tries to block a pass by Maine’s Chris Ferguson (14) during WKU’s game against Maine at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.

Bottom Right: Runningback Bobby Rainey (3) is hit by Indiana State defensive Alex Sewall (3) during a run for a loss in the third quarter at HouchensSmith Stadium during WKU’s 44-16 loss.

The WKU Police Department has begun a transformation for the start of the Fall 2019 semester.

The WKUPD is currently undergoing a series of changes that are meant to improve morale within the department, starting with cosmetic improvements, the most notable being the new striping visible on WKUPD cruisers. Along with this project, alterations to the officer’s uniforms will include new patches and badges.

According to WKUPD Chief Mitchell Walker, the department’s headquarters and annexes will undergo a complete renovation.

“We’ve had some minor updates, as far as paint and things like that,” Walker said. “But really we’re in need of a complete overhaul of our police department.”

With an estimated budget of $1.5 million, the project’s cost will be paid for through funds set aside by the WKUPD over the years in anticipation of the renovation.

Once the renovation is completed, Walker stated that the WKUPD would change how the office operates within the building.

By reorganizing and updating the training area, evidence and briefing room, Walker hopes to increase the functionality of the space and to increase retention and recruitment of police officers.

“I’m hoping that it’s an encouragement that we take policing very seriously here and community policing as well,” Walker said. “That people want to work here, they want to serve our students, faculty and staff.”

WKUPD’s public information officer, Tim Gray, also believed that the renovation was overdue.

“The biggest change will be the physical renovation of the department, which includes our headquarters and our annex,” Gray explained. “We just closed out the bid process a little over a week ago, so we do have the company that’s been decided that is going to lead the project.”

Gray stated that the changes to the WKUPD would occur in phases, the first of which are the changes to the officer’s uniforms, which include a new patch design as well as new badges.

The next change to occur was the striping on the cruisers, which Gray explained was around halfway done.

Another notable difference is the new 7-4-5 phone numbers for the WKUPD. “Since every phone number on campus is a 745 number, we wanted to have a number that made it easy for them to remember to call,” Gray said.

Quentin Hughes, WKUPD access control administrator, also expressed his excitement surrounding the impending renovation of the offices.

“Its had a couple of facelifts, but overall because of the heating and the lighting and the structure itself, its well outworn its functionality at this point, so I think it’s important that we do proceed with this renovation,” Hughes said.

Hughes explained that the access control and police department office spaces don’t quite fit what their campus policing model looks like and how they need to function as a police organization.

“I think that the renovations in those areas would be money well spent,” Hughes said.

News reporter Abbey Nutter can be reached at 270-745-6011 and abbigail. nutter168@topper.wku.edu.Follow her on Twitter at @abbeynutter.

Changes to WKU’s retirement system remain undecided

BY JACK DOBBS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

A recent change to Kentucky law aimed to fix parts of the state’s troubled retirement system. What that means for WKU will be decided in the coming months.

In July 2019, the Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill 1. The bill will allow “quasi-governmental agencies,” such as universities, to exit the state retirement system. Tony Glisson, director of human resources for WKU, said that under the new law nothing will change for WKU employees who

are currently in the Kentucky Teacher Retirement System.

Retirement funds for WKU faculty and staff are organized into two statewide systems, the Kentucky Employee Retirement System (KERS), for positions that don’t require a bachelor’s degree or higher, and the Kentucky

Teacher Retirement System (KTRS), for positions that do.

“It only affects our employees in KERS,” Glisson said. “It allows employers to possibly elect to get out of the state system, put new hires into the

SEE HOUSE BILL 1 • PAGE A2

A2 NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

HOUSE BILL 1

CONTINUED FROM FRONT ORP, and pay in installments whatever the institution’s liability is associated with those participants.”

WKU also employs its own system, the Optional Retirement Plan. ORP is a 403(b) plan, which is similar in many ways to a 401(k) plan. The main difference is that a 403(b) plan is for “certain employees of public schools, employees of certain tax-exempt organizations, and certain ministers,” according to the IRS. In other words, the university’s Board of Regents can vote to leave the state retirement system. If WKU leaves the system, it will have to pay a liability to the state. Glisson said that the cost of the liability is not yet known.

“We have requested our numbers but won’t have them until early in 2020,” Glisson said in an email.

According to a report from WKU Media Relations Director Bob Skipper and WKU Director of Government and Community Relations Jennifer Smith, the new bill only impacts “KERS non-hazardous participants.”

Hazardous recipients are defined as police officers, firefighters, and “other positions with duties that require a frequent exposure to a high degree of danger or peril,” according to Kentucky Retirement Systems.

According to the report, HB1 does not change retirement benefits for KERS. Rather, it freezes employer contribution to the system at 49.97% of their salary until July 1, 2020, and creates options for employers to leave KERS.

The report stated that faculty and staff are sorted into the systems by the requirements of their position. If an employee’s position requires a bachelor’s degree, the employee will get to choose whether their retirement is put into KTRS or ORP. However, it is different with someone whose position does not require a bachelor’s degree.

“If a position does not require a bachelor’s degree, you are put into KERS,” Smith said. “Those employees don’t get to choose.”

Smith said that in essence, this means that if someone holds a doctorate but is employed in a field that does not require a doctorate or a bachelor’s degree, they will be put into KERS regardless of their degree.

According to the report, there are two routes WKU can take if it wishes to exit the system. One route, a “hard

exit” will withdraw everyone from the state systems and freeze retirement benefits as of June 30, 2020. The report states that this is unlikely.

The other exit strategy is known as a “soft exit.” Under this plan, anyone hired by the university before January 1, 2014 will remain in the state retirement system with no change. However, those hired after January 1, 2014, would move into ORP. In addition to these exit options, the university could simply opt to stay in the current system. According to the report, the university has until April 30, 2020 to make a decision.

Reporter Jack Dobbs can be reached at 270-745-0655 and jack.dobbs469@ topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter at @jackrdobbs.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

NEWS A3

Campus safety is focus with new key cards

BY ABBEY NUTTER HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

Students returning to WKU for the fall 2019 semester most likely noticed the addition of small, black scanners and received new ID cards while moving into their residence halls.

For over two years, Access Control, Information and Technology, Housing and Residence Life and Planning and Design have been working together to make WKU safer.

According to Quentin Hughes, the Access Control administrator, the new card is technology that cannot be copied. Hughes also said ITS has been working all summer to transition and install all of the readers to the residence halls.

“We really wanted to have a more centralized and accountable method in place for how we do electronic access control on campus,” Hughes said.

Hughes explained that the volume of electronic access control at WKU required full integration for automated cardholder imports and user-friendly levels of access through ITS. After installing the readers, Hughes said the next step was distributing the new ID cards, which are red over white with a small inch-

by-inch, portrait style photo on the far right of it.

“As those cards get into everyone’s hands, we will fully migrate into that encryption technology,” Hughes said. “We’re still several months down the road from getting all of that put into place.”

Hughes said HRL has been instrumental in paving the way for university-wide enhancements.

Mike Reagle, executive director for housing and dining, was an integral part of the process according to both Hughes and Jeppie Sumpter, senior director of infrastructure and operations at WKU. “The electronic access system is a more secure system because if a student loses their card we can instantly take that card out of the system and it won’t work,” Reagle said. “A lost key would still work on the building.”

Sumpter said ITS had begun increasing its involvement on campus.

“Information Technologies Services is playing a more pivotal role in WKU’s Electronic Access Control efforts as compared to years past,” Sumpter said in an e-mail. “We have been working to build a new foundation for these services to serve the university’s needs moving forward.”

Sumpter said the project included new encrypted ID cards, all new card readers, new software and up-

REED MATTISON • HERALD Ryan Bishop, an exercise science major from New Jersey, keys into Northeast Hall. “I like them a lot better than the keys,” Bishop said.

dated software and explained that it focused on increased security, ease of use, efficiency and automation where appropriate.

Sumpter also said safety was a priority to this project.

“WKU cares greatly about the safety of its students, employees, affiliates and guests,” Sumpter said.

“Safety and security is never just one ‘thing’ nor buying a certain product.“

News reporter Abbey Nutter can be reached at 270-745-6011 and abbigail.nutter168@topper.wku.edu.Follow her on Twitter at @abbeynutter.

Construction continues across campus

BY NATASHA BREU HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

The renovation of Helm Library, which began at the end of the spring 2019 semester, is anticipated to be finished by early October, according to Bob Skipper, director of media relations. The goal is to bid construction on the WKU Commons by November and start by late December or early January.

The Commons will be an “intellectual hub where students, faculty, and staff gather to share ideas and engage in active learning,” according to WKU’s website. It is meant to replace Garrett Conference Center and include new dining options. The project is expected to be completed by spring 2021 as a partnership between WKU Libraries and Aramark.

Java City, previously located in Helm Library, is now located in Garrett Conference Center.

Other construction across campus includes the demolition of Bemis Lawrence Hall as the first phase of the First Year Village for the freshman class of 2021, according to a previous Herald article. Two new residence halls will be constructed in place of Bemis Lawrence, and Barnes-Campbell will remain a residence hall until its demolition at the end of the 20202021 school year.

Mike Reagle, assistant vice president for student engagement and executive director of housing and dining, said the First Year Village will repurpose Meredith and Zacharias halls to house additional living-learning communities to connect in and out of class experiences.

The two new residence halls will

wrap around a “quad” in the middle with independent pods on each floor for students to engage with faculty and staff. These two residence halls will cost more than other residence halls, according to a previous Herald article.

Reagle said freshmen will not be required to live in the First Year Village but all will have the opportunity to.

“Our goal is to provide a diversity of experiences for students with one goal in mind, that we assist them in whatever means necessary to successfully matriculate from one year to the next, and ultimately to graduate,” Reagle said.

Preparation for demolition of Bemis Lawrence has caused the surrounding Pearce Ford Tower lot and a portion of the Gated Regents lots to close down.

The University Boulevard lot will serve as housing parking under the HU pass for students living in PFT. According to WKU Housing’s Twitter account, a viewing area will be available at 9 a.m. on Friday for those wanting to watch the start of the demolition process.

The University Boulevard lot previously served as a commuter lot for students, but the Student Life Foundation developed a new lot for commuters near the top of the Hill at the 1400 block of Park and High streets.

Jennifer Tougas, director of parking and transportation, said this lot contains 365 parking spaces for zone C4. It is served by the Big Red Route for Topper Transit every 15 minutes and can be accessed through the U.S. 31-W bypass by turning onto 15th avenue.

Assistant News Editor Natasha Breu can be reached at 270-745-6011 and natasha.breu597@topper.wku.edu.

Follow Natasha on Twitter @nnbreu.

SILAS WALKER • HERALD

Freshman Adam Desloge, 18, fills a water bottle from WKU’s Fill it Forward recycling program at his room in Minton Hall on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Each bottle came with instructions to download an app to track how much water they are consuming.

A true Cupanion

BY MATTHEW WILLIAMS HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU “Fill It Forward,” a new recycling program at WKU, made its debut on campus during the first week of classes. Students were recorded to have refilled their bottles over 2,000 times.

It comes as a new and green reality for students on campus, stemming from a summer collaboration between WKU’s Department of Resource Conservation and Cupanion, distributor of the unbreakable Tritan material bottles.

“The program magnifies the impact of living responsibly by donating money to the different water causes and breaking down environment impact in the easiest way,” said Assistant Coordinator of Resource Conservation Courtney Martin.

Beth Gafford, coordinator of Resource Conservation, led the team in providing all freshmen who attended M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan with a Cupanion bottle to drink from in lieu of plastic bottles.

M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan mentors handed out the reusable bottles during the sign-in time frames. Each bottle came with a sticker and instructions to download the Fill It Forward app to scan and track the amount of water or beverage they consumed.

WKU is charged a yearly subscription for the facility’s capability to track the campus usage, but the scannable tags never expire.

For many students, this recycling tool is an opportunity to reduce the detrimental effects plastic has on the environment. For others, the incentives for participating in the program are just as rewarding.

A 2 cent donation comes from each cup of water consumed and is contributed towards an international reuse program or other related projects. Cupanion has funded over 100 clean water projects, which assist deprived families around the globe. Some current projects are in Africa and rural Canada.

The comprehensive app also allows

its users to visually see how their reuse habits are lessening WKU’s ecological footprint.

Other incentives for reusing the water bottles include free promotional items, half-off deals for coffee and entry into a monthly drawing upon reaching 10 refills.

Aramark restaurants on campus are also part of the program and will refill students’ Cupanion bottles at the beverage fountain machines. The variety of drinks that can be stored in the bottles are endless.

Fill It Forward expands on recycling endeavors that were already established on campus. In 2017-2018, the Diddle/ Smith Recycling Program invested $13,625 in student organizations to clean Smith Stadium or Diddle Arena after each home game.

WKU saved $16,300 in the process of doing so while giving back to its students and community.

“Cupanion really stands behind their bottles,” Grace Keeling, marketing intern and researcher for WKU Resource Conservation, said. “The material is a hard plastic that won’t break like a glass bottle, but they’ll last a really long time.

They were really nice and easy to work with.”

The workers in Reserve Conservation and Facilities Management at WKU believe “small things make a big change,” Keeling said.

According to Martin, in the coming weeks, bottles and stickers will be made available to anyone interested, regardless of whether or not they are students.

Success for the Fill It Forward program means longevity. Depending on student participation, the program could become a fixture on campus, instead of a year-long project.

Students who are interested in the Fill It Forward program can pick up a Cupanion bottle and sticker at the front office of Facilities Management, which is on the ground floor of Parking Structure 1.

Reporter Matthew Williams can be reached at 270-745-6291 and matt he w. w i l l i a ms @ t o p p e r. w k u . e d u .

OPINION

A4

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

ILLUSTRATION BY MADALYN STACK • HERALD

ISEC’S ATTENTION LEADS TO RETENTION

BY HERALD EDITORIAL BOARD HERALD.OPINION@WKU.EDU Issue: The number of high school graduates are decreasing because of a shrinkage in birth rates, which makes it vital post-secondary universities find ways to better retain incoming first-year students.

Our stance: WKU’s Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC), led by Martha Sales, has done a fantastic job of helping retain firstyear students who are either at risk of withdrawing from school or in need of additional guidance.

ISEC’s program is geared toward students of color and those who are also/or “first generation, Pell eligible, and have some need with their transition, persistence, and graduation from Western Kentucky University,” according to the initiative’s website.

Giving minority and/or first generation students a place to feel at home is exactly what they need in order to be successful. Along with having access to additional academic

benefits, the students also are in a community with people who look like them and are in a similar situation, ensuring that they do not come to a large university and feel completely alone. Forty percent of undergraduates at WKU will be the first in their family to get a degree, so they need guidance from people who have the necessary experience to help them get through college.

Students in ISEC are able to take what they have learned and instill their gained knowledge in incoming freshmen by becoming peer-advisers within the program, giving younger students someone on campus to look up to and creating a cycle of positive growth.

Peer advisers in ISEC also helped with the WKU Summer Scholars program, an initiative before the fall semester that hosted 142 students who had a “C” average in high school and were at-risk for withdrawing from WKU if they were accepted.

Instead of blindly admitting these students, WKU hosted them for five weeks on campus and allowed them to take a colonnade course and a sec-

ond one that taught them about how to be a successful student, as well as seminars focused on financial planning and productive study habits. If a student earns a “C” in both of these classes then they are officially accepted into WKU. This only cost students $500, and 117 of 142 students in the program were accepted, while WKU worked to help the 25 other students find a community college to attend.

The 25 students who did not make it through the Summer Scholars program most likely saved around $4,000 from not having to pay tuition to a school they would not graduate from.

WKU could have easily accepted the 25 students, charged them $4,000 and brought in an extra $100,000 from students who were trying to better themselves.

However, the university realized profiting off students who are leaving college with only debt instead of a degree is an immoral practice.

In a meeting with the Herald on Aug. 23, President Timothy Caboni said first to second year retention among low-income and first gener-

CORRECTIONS •

•

•

A photo caption that ran on the front page of last week’s edition incorrectly stated that Ann Mead was the director of budget and information. Mead actually retired from her position as a vice president. The caption also incorrectly stated that Mead is an English professor. The College Heights Herald regrets the error, and it has been corrected.

A graphic on page A2 of last week’s edition incorrectly stated that the athletics fee that students are charged for is $212. The fee is actually $218. The College Heights Herald regrets the error, and it has been corrected.

A story that ran on last week’s front page incorrectly stated that the fee for online courses had increased from $100 to $150 per credit hour.

The fee actually increased from $50 to $150. The College Heights Herald regrets the error, and it has been corrected.

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DISCLOSURES

ation students went up 5% last year, underrepresented minority retention went up almost 8% and total first to second year retention moved up 4%.

Caboni also added that first-tosecond year retention in general should be above 70% this year (it was 68% last year), and that it was the highest it has been in a decade and within a tenth of a percentage point from the highest in university history.

He said the goal is to have an 80% first to second year retention rate and a graduation rate of 60%, which would put WKU on par with the retention of schools like Mississippi State and Old Dominion while being above schools such as West Virginia University and Florida Atlantic University, according to USnews.com.

Giving students who are at a disadvantage extra attention is necessary to their success, and this correlates with having a higher retention rate and an overall better culture at WKU.

WKU Herald

Should WKU have provided Terry Ballman with a $255,000 position that is essentially a sabbatical following her resignation?

Yes, to help her relocate

7%

No, it’s a waste of money

79%

She deserves $, but less

14%

138 Votes

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FUN A5

TUESDAY, MONTH XX, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

FUN PAGE Across 1 6 11 14

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herald.advertising@wku.edu

15 16 17

Help Wanted

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440 Main/White Squirrel Brewery now hiring responsible and experienced kitchen staff. Desired skills: Knife work, leadership, multitasking, clear communication, line cook and prep. Up to $15/hr.

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PHOTO

A6

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

GABI BROEKEMA • HERALD

Cathy Otis, general manager and daughter of the founders of Jackson’s Orchard, sorts through the last of the peaches to sell at the beginning of the first day of Jackson’s Orchard’s annual Apple Fest on Saturday morning, Aug 31, 2019. “We’re still trying to sort through all the peaches,” she said as she inspects a peach and sets it down in a basket.

CIDER CELEBRATION Jackson’s Orchard hosts annual Apple Fest

BY GABI BROEKEMA HERALD.PHOTO@WKU.EDU

T

he 2019 Apple Fest took place over the Labor Day weekend at Jackson’s Orchard in Bowling Green. It included a variety of activities, including a playground, apple picking, a goat petting farm and slides. This event provided everything apple-related including fresh

GABI BROEKEMA • HERALD

Roy Johnson sits down between his grandsons, Eli and Caleb, on the Cider Slider at Jackson’s Orchard’s annual Apple Fest on Saturday morning, Aug. 31, 2019. “We drove seven hours to get here; we’re from Missouri.” his wife said with a laugh as she watched them slide down the slide.

apple cider, slushies, pies, ice cream, apple butter and more. A variety of other farm-fresh local fruits were also available for purchasing. Jackson’s Orchard is owned by the Jackson family and has provided services and fresh products for people of the Bowling Grreen area for over 54 years.

BRENNA PEPKE • HERALD

The Stroube family of six sits down to enjoy some apple-based treats Sunday, Sep. 1, at Jackson’s Orchard. The Stroube’s came to the annual Apple Fest for the second year in a row to eat fresh sweets and pick their own apples.

GABI BROEKEMA • HERALD

BRENNA PEPKE • HERALD

Spencer Handshoe leaps from tire to tire at the playground in Jackson’s Orchard during the annual Apple Fest on Saturday morning, Aug. 31.

Sam Humbert crawls under a tree of Red Delicious apples to find the best fruits Sunday, Sep. 1, at the annual Apple Fest held at Jackson’s Orchard. Sam attended the Apple Fest with his brother, mother and father, who, all picked apples with plans to make apple fritters.

LIFE

B1

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ERIC KNACKMUHS

WKU assistant professor of recreation Eric Knackmuhs gives a night tour at Alcatraz Island.

ENGLISH MAJOR, PARK RANGER A look into Eric Knackmuhs’ life after college

BY KATELYN LATTURE HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU

A vast canyon with mountains rising in the distance provide the view for Eric Knackmuhs as he sits in his office. This is ironic for the former national parks ranger-turned-professor considering his office is in the interior of Diddle Arena and has no windows.

It is a fold-out photograph of Canyonlands National Park from a magazine.

Knackmuhs first pulled it out and taped it to a small wall in a California office cubicle over a decade ago. He then worked as a customer service representative, but he longed to be out in the canyons in the picture.

Knackmuhs began volunteering at Alcatraz Island as a night tour guide while he was studying for his master’s degree at Stephen F. Austin in Texas.

“I told myself I couldn’t do it,” Knackmuhs said as he remembered his plan to quit his first day on the job.

He wanted to challenge his public-speaking skills, but his naturally quiet demeanor kept him back. He said he planned to back out when he arrived to work the first day, but he never had the opportunity. Knackmuhs said as soon as he got to work, his boss introduced herself and took him on a boat headed directly for Alcatraz Island.

“He doesn’t like to stay still,” Katie Knackmuhs, his wife and a professional counselor at WKU, said.

Knackmuhs, who is only 38, has lived and worked in many places.

Born in New Jersey, he got his bache-

lor’s in English in Maine. He lived in San Francisco before volunteering at Alcatraz Island, becoming a park ranger and historical interpreter while he was earning his master’s degree in resource interpretation.

He served as a park ranger at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina

and as a park guide at Death Valley National Park before moving to Bloomington, Indiana, where he met his wife while earning his doctorate in leisure behavior from the University of Indiana.

Since 2017, Knackmuhs has worked as an assistant professor at WKU. He and Katie married the next year in December 2018.

“I think he’s a good example that just because you get a degree doesn’t mean it’s your entire life.”

WKU staff counselor KATIE KNACKMUHS

SEE KNACKMUHS • PAGE B3

Candle making in 3 steps at Wicks & Things

BY KELLEY HOLLAND HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU As I stepped into a small building on Broadway Avenue, a flurry of scents filled the air.

Three long tables sat in front of me, each complete with trays of all of the tools needed to make a soy candle.

Wicks & Things Candle Bar opened in Bowling Green in March 2019. Since then, the owners have taught candle making to a variety of customers such as groups of friends, couples, bridal parties and even children’s birthday parties.

They also offer the space for private parties in which customers can bring their own catering.

The shop also sells already-made candles as well as a variety of other items such as bath bombs and handmade goat’s milk soaps. Customers often fill small gift baskets with such items, which serve as perfect last-minute birthday surprises.

Step 1: Choosing a vessel and scent After being greeted by Sandra Hills, one of the owners at Wicks & Things, I received an apron to start me on my candle-making journey. First things first — I would need to choose a vessel.

The shop offers a variety of large and small vessels: large ones for $30 or two small ones for the same price. And once a customer’s candle melts down, they can return the empty vessel and refill it with any scent for just half price.

After selecting a large vessel for my candle, I was tasked with choosing a scent. Sixteen different scents are available at Wicks & Things, including green tea and lemongrass, vanilla bean, lavender and chamomile and blackberry sage. Customers can also mix scents if desired.

Step 2: Attaching wicks and stabilizing them Once I chose a seat, Hills poured my chosen scent of vanilla bean into two small cups and brought over some cotton wicks. Smaller vessels require one wick, while larger ones require two.

Hills next instructed me to peel off the adhesive on the bottom of the wicks and stick them inside the vessel directly across from one another. It was now time to stabilize the wicks.

This was done with two long metal bars, each with a groove in the center.

By placing the bars on top of the vessel, I was able to wiggle the wicks into the grooves and hold them straight.

Step 3: Mixing the wax Next came a small pitcher of hot wax, which meant it was time to mix in my scent. After pouring two cups of vanilla bean fragrance oil into the wax, I used a long spoon to mix it all up.

Hills then sat a thermometer inside the vanilla-scented wax and instructed me to wait for it to cool to about 125 degrees before I could slowly pour it into the vessel. From there, the wax would just need to settle and cool before the candle was ready to light and enjoy.

GABI BROEKEMA • HERALD

Sandra Hills, mother of the owner of Wicks & Things, Kasey McNamee, demonstrates how the wicks should stand in a candle’s vessel at Wicks & Things on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 31.

Where it all started Hills has pursued candle making for about four years, which she picked up as a hobby soon after retiring. Her daughter and WKU alumna, Kasey McNamee, proposed the idea of turning that hobby into a business.

“She wanted something of her own, some kind of a business,” Hills said about her daughter’s interest in setting up business in Bowling Green. “Since I was in the candle-making business, she thought it would be something great to start the candle bar. She knew there was nothing like that here.”

McNamee said the candle bar fits her lifestyle in a special way, as it’s a business that allows her to work and still spend time with family. Along with that freedom, she gets to watch people create something of their own every day.

“It’s more about the experience for me and the experience for people to come together and enjoy each other’s company,” McNamee said. “To be able to connect, to be able to pour a candle and take it home.”

Features reporter Kelley Holland can be reached at 270-745-6291 and kelley.holland872@topper.wku.edu.

LIFE B3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

KNACKMUHS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 “I think he’s a good example that just because you get a degree doesn’t mean it’s your entire life,” Katie said.

The National Park Service celebrated 103 years on August 25. According to the service’s website, they serve over 330 mil-

“When he does something, he gives it 100%.”

WKU staff counselor KATIE KNACKMUHS

lion visitors annually. Such numbers rise each year, Knackmuhs said.

“The national parks ideally tell the story of America,” Knackmuhs said.

He acknowledged there is still a lot of growing left for the service, however.

Knackmuhs said the service is working to better represent the full story of America by focusing on the stories of minority groups.

Knackmuhs estimated he has visited 115 to 120 of the 418 national parks sites

in the U.S. Katie said he has been an outdoorsman and history buff all of his life. He grew up with his parents taking him to national sites, and he loves a good book.

A tall and thin man, many might be surprised to know Knackmuhs is a frequent trail biker and a half Ironman triathlon trainee.

Katie said her favorite and least favorite qualities of Knackmuhs are the same: his dedication.

“When he does something, he gives it one hundred percent,” Katie said.

She added that she loves his intense commitment to everything he does, but it can be frustrating when she wants to enjoy a restful night at home. She said Knackmuhs won’t sacrifice a single night if training’s on his mind.

Knackmuhs said working full time at Alcatraz Island is probably his dream job, but he loves his job as a professor and “interacting with people and teaching.”

As he and Katie are expecting their first child in February, they’ve planned ahead — a national parks-themed nursery is a first order of business.

“I bleed green,” Knackmuhs said.

Features reporter Katelyn Latture can be reached at 270-745-6291 and katelyn. latture423@topper.wku.edu. Follow on her on social media at @katelynlatture.

JOELEEN HUBBARD • HERALD

Eric Knackmuhs, a professor of recreation at WKU, cycles or hikes around Bowling Green in his free time outside of the classroom. Knackmuhs, a New Jersey native, came to WKU in order to teach after working in national parks.

Freshman exhibit helps students share past experiences

EMMA STEELE• HERALD

WKU welcomes the class of 2023 by presenting words and photographs of freshmen in a gallery, “Facing the Freshman Year,” displayed on the third floor of the Kentucky Museum on Saturday.

BY JULIE SISLER HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU

Every student has a story.

The Kentucky Museum’s newest exhibit, “Facing Freshman Year,” features black and white portraits of various students and includes personal quotes regarding advice to faculty, worst-day-offreshman-year stories and even letters to their past selves. All these aspects are woven together throughout the exhibit,

highlighting the story within every student and how it deserves to be heard.

The students featured in the exhibit are members of Freshman Guided Pathway, a student success initiative program intended to provide additional support and guidance for students from Bowling Green schools attending WKU. These students represent a typical WKU student in things such as academic performance and nonathlete status.

Daniel Super, director of the Burch Institute, said he imagines the student body

to be like a bell curve: At one end, there are students that need more help academically. At the other, there are honors students and others who excel academically.

Students at either end of the spectrum receive the most attention and aid on campus although they represent the smallest parts of the student population.

Freshman Guided Pathway caters to students that are at the middle of the bell curve, Super said.

“Based on their demographics, what they’re targeting is the typical Western student,” Kentucky Museum Education Curator Christy Spurlock said. “That’s what these students represent.”

Many of the students involved are locals who don’t live on campus, work part-time or even full-time jobs and represent the type of students WKU strives to retain, Spurlock said.

Students in the program go through freshman year with additional guidance from on-campus mentors and complete tasks such as designated study hours. If they complete all tasks and maintain a certain GPA by the end of the year, they receive tuition incentives.

The exhibit was created due to responses a portion of these students, now sophomores, gave after looking back on their freshman year.

“Being able to host this show conceived by our colleagues at the Burch Institute shares the intimate personal stories of what it is like coming to college through the eyes of the students experiencing Hilltopper life for the first time,” Kentucky Museum Director Brent Bjorkman said. “This ‘Facing the Freshman Year’ exhibit is an excellent example of an innovative collaboration dedicated to student success.”

The exhibit’s original purpose was to highlight the program, though it has grown into an exhibit that highlights not only the program but also what it

means to be a student at WKU, Spurlock said.

For Spurlock, the evolution of the exhibit meant bringing her back to her own time as a WKU student.

“I was a freshman at Western in 1980, my mother was a freshman at Western in 1958,” Spurlock said. “And although this is a different generation and a different reality, still, I can identify with some of their struggles and successes. It’s universal.”

Sophomore Canan Russell, one of the students featured in the exhibit, found that seeing the other responses empowered her own college experience.

“The similar responses let me know that I am not the only one going through these college struggles,” Russell said.

Though the exhibit is intended to be relatable, Super said each of these students has been through things most can’t relate to.

From moving across the world without notice to supporting their own siblings at an early age, the exhibit also examines the unimaginable.

Super said he sees each student has a story which deserves to be told, but it’s up to the institution and its faculty and staff to build relationships with students to find those stories.

“Everybody has that story in them, but we don’t illicit it or even become aware of it unless we try to get to know them,” Super said.

Super believes the stories and voices on display in the exhibit are representative of the rest of the WKU student body and should be treated as such. He said he hopes faculty and staff will see these stories and be reminded that every student is anything but typical.

“The students are special,” Super said.

“Let’s treat them as such.”

Features reporter Julie Sisler can be reached at 270-745-6291 and julie.sisler389@topper.wku.edu. Follow Julie on

SPORTS B4

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

WKU midfielder Ambere Barnett (15) dribbles the ball upfield against Belmont during the season opener at the WKU Soccer Complex on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019.

KEILEN FRAZIER • HERALD

RESILIENCY ON THE ROAD WKU soccer finishes off road swing with first win at MTSU since 2011

BY ELLIOTT WELLS HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

The WKU soccer team capped off its early three-game road trip on Sunday evening with a 1-0 win against Middle Tennessee (3-1). The win came just two days after the Lady Toppers lost their first match of the season against Samford (1-1-2) in a 3-2 double-overtime decision.

“I’m just really proud of our kids,” head coach Jason Neidell said in a postgame press release. “We really needed a hard-fought, gritty win against a good team. After letting Friday’s match slip through our fingertips, our kids found a way tonight. It says a lot about this team’s mentality and will to win.”

The Lady Toppers gave up a total of five corner kicks on Friday evening against Samford, two of which resulted in a goal for the Bulldogs.

Samford’s final corner kick of the night deflected in the box and found junior defender Grace Sommi for the game-winning goal.

WKU (2-1-1) allowed its only three goals of the season against the Bulldogs. The Lady Toppers had not given up a goal all year until freshman defender Kylie Gazza scored off a corner kick. Gazza’s goal in the 48th minute was the first of her career and Samford’s first of the season.

Although WKU didn’t have a shot in the opening 10 minutes of play, the Lady Toppers were first to get on the scoreboard when senior forward Chandler Backes gave WKU an early 1-0 lead at the 16:32 mark.

Sophomore midfielder Ambere Barnett was rewarded with her third assist of the season by placing a

through ball into open space, finding Backes at the top of the box, where she dribbled around Samford goalkeeper Morgan McAslan and scored with her right foot.

Backes’ goal was the 19th of her career and moved her into sole possession of eighth place on WKU’s all-time goalscoring chart.

The Lady Toppers held a 1-0 lead for the remainder of the first half, but the Bulldogs came out of the halftime break and scored an equalizing goal just three minutes into the second half.

WKU struck once more in the 68th minute to increase its lead to 2-1.

Barnett again played a long ball into Samford’s defense where the ball deflected and found junior forward Ashley Leonard’s right foot. Leonard beat McAslan with her right foot, resulting in her first goal of the season.

Through four matches played, Barnett has assisted on four of WKU’s eight goals so far.

“She is such a phenomenal player,” Neidell said about Barnett after the season opener, “She reads the game so well, she puts herself into great places on the field. We always say, ‘It’s so easy to play with Ambere because she makes the game look easy and brings others into the game,’ and it’s not just about her getting chances, but about her trying to bring other players into the game, and she does that so well.”

Barnett’s second assist against Samford marked the second time this season where she had two assists in a match. Her first two-assist game was against Belmont.

The Bulldogs equaled the score to two goals apiece just a couple of minutes after the Lady Toppers regained a 2-1 lead. Sophomore midfielder Audrey Kleiman hit a well-struck ball that was out of goalkeeper Anne-Ma-

WKU volleyball begins season 3-0

BY KADEN GAYLORD HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

The WKU volleyball team won all three matches on its slate last weekend, with the final two being clean sweeps to claim the Toledo Blue & Gold Tournament crown.

The Lady Toppers (3-0) are now undefeated to start the 2019 season, including a tight win on Friday and two dominant wins in a doubleheader on Saturday.

“I’m really happy with the weekend overall,” head coach Travis Hudson said in a postgame press release. “We improved with each match throughout the weekend, and that is what’s most important to me at this point, regardless of the outcome.”

WKU was taken to its limit against Loyola (Chicago) on Friday, but the Lady Toppers overpowered the Ram-

blers in the end to win their first match of the season 3-2.

Four Lady Toppers registered double-digit kills, while freshman Paige Briggs and junior transfer Nadia Dieudonne each recorded double-doubles in their WKU debuts.

“Well, that was a good old-fashioned early season struggle,” Hudson said in a postgame press release. “We did not play very well in a lot of facets of the game today but found a way to win.

I thought we finally found a rhythm in that fifth set so hopefully that carries over to tomorrow.”

The Lady Toppers won the first of their two sweeps against Toledo on Saturday. WKU won two out of the three sets by double digits, as Briggs lead the team in kills with 11. As a team, WKU hit at a .398 offensive rate while SEE VOLLEYBALL • PAGE B5

rie Ulliac’s reach.

Both teams had their chances in the overtime periods, but neither could score. WKU appeared set to claim its second straight draw, but Sommi’s goal in the final 30 seconds lifted the Bulldogs to their first win of the season over the Lady Toppers in heartbreaking fashion.

The Bulldogs outshot the Lady Toppers 18-15, as five Samford players had at least two shots. The game marked the first time in 2019 that the Lady Toppers had been outshot in a contest.

The Lady Toppers bounced back on Sunday evening, as they defeated MTSU — the squad picked to finish fifth in the Conference USA preseason poll. WKU’s 1-0 victory marked the first time since 2011 that WKU had beaten the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

WKU and MTSU met in a rare non-conference matchup due to C-USA scheduling conflicts. The two sides did not meet last season and were not scheduled to play in 2019, but the two coaching staffs agreed to play Sunday’s match in lieu of a conference battle.

The Lady Toppers were led by Leonard, who found the back of the net for her second goal of the weekend. Leonard’s goal on Sunday came during the 33rd minute off an assist from freshman forward Ansley Cate.

Cate’s assist marked her first of the season.

WKU’s resilient defense has been the highlight for most of its young season, and that remained true against MTSU, as the Lady Toppers have now shutout three of their first four opponents.

Going into the match, the Blue Raiders had scored at least four goals in three consecutive matches. WKU was the first squad to successfully

shut down MTSU this season.

The Lady Toppers had the challenge of stopping junior forward Peyton DePriest, who was named in August as C-USA’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and had already poured in five goals in three matches for the Blue Raiders.

WKU executed its gameplan of stopping DePriest, as she only finished with one shot.

WKU was outshot in back-to-back matches this weekend, as MTSU outshot the Lady Toppers 19-10.

WKU had more shots on goal with five compared to MTSU’s four. The Blue Raiders were led by senior midfielder Amber Hoot, who had five shots in the loss to WKU. After recording four shots on Sunday, Barnett has finished with the most shots in each contest for WKU. In all four matches, Barnett has finished with at least four shots and she has already produced 17 shots so far this season.

Ulliac and MTSU senior goalkeeper Sydney Chalcraft each ended the match with four saves.

WKU’s win against the Blue Raiders also moved the Lady Toppers to the most wins in the all-time series between the two rival programs at 7-6-6.

The Lady Toppers will look to win back-to-back matches for the first time this season on Thursday when they welcome Mississippi to the WKU Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.

The last meeting between WKU and Ole Miss in Bowling Green was on Aug. 22, 2008, when the Lady Toppers defeated the Rebels 2-1 in an overtime victory at home.

Reporter Elliott Wells can be reached at 270-745-6291 and douglas.wells357@topper.wku.edu. Follow Elliott on Twitter at @ewells5.

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NOW HIRING Be a part of our team and gain experience, references, connections and memories

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B5 SPORTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

NFL

CONTINUED FROM B6 200 receptions for 1,728 yards and 14 touchdowns over six seasons with the Colts, but the tight end will be without his usual starting quarterback in 2019 — Andrew Luck abruptly retired from the NFL on Aug. 24.

Forrest Lamp, Los Angeles Chargers Lamp will look to prove his worth to the Chargers fan base this season, as the former second-round pick has managed only 17 total snaps over his first two seasons due to a torn ACL in his right knee. Lamp is currently a backup at right guard, but the WKU Football All-Century Team member has been working to become effective at both guard positions.

Deon Yelder, Kansas City Chiefs Yelder will push to find his niche for the Chiefs during his second season in the league. Yelder will serve as a backup to Travis Kelce in the high-powered Chiefs offense, which is led by MVP Patrick Mahomes. He will also get plen-

QUIT STAHL-ING

CONTINUED FROM B6

$300,000 to be its punching bag for the evening, they were unable to do it — especially during an awful fourth quarter.

So what’s next? If an FBS team can’t defeat an FCS team, who can it beat?

For the fans, what’s the point in sticking around to find out?

Over 17,000 people attended the game, if we’re to believe the numbers released by WKU during the course of the contest.

Is it that much fun to watch the team lose like that? Based on the amount of students who vacate the Berm before halftime, even when the team has a commanding lead, the answer might be no.

While other Herald writers through the years have browbeat the student population for not bringing an SEC-level atmosphere to a school hovering near the bottom of what 247Sports ranked as the No. 8 conference in FBS college football entering the 2019 season, this isn’t going to be one of those columns.

Come to the games. Or don’t. Come for the first quarter, the full game, leave at the half, whatever you want.

Fans, especially students, don’t owe the program anything. In fact, the high-

HARRISON HILL • HERALD

WKU’s wide receiver Taywan Taylor (2) tries to get around University of Miami (Ohio) defensive back Marshall Taylor (21) during the Hilltoppers’ 56-14 win against the University of Miami (Ohio) on Sept.

26, 2015 at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

ty of snaps as part of the special teams unit, which he became part of after he was promoted by the Chiefs from their practice squad last October. est fee students pay every semester goes to athletics, which is why students get into games for free. Students have already supported the program enough without even walking through the gate.

Now, by no means is this to encourage a boycott of the WKU football program, nor should it be perceived to be against athletics receiving funding from the school and the student body.

However, with the football team in the shambles that it’s currently in, no student should feel like they’re obligated to do anything.

If it’s not fun to attend football games, stay home. There’s plenty else to do in this town without watching one of the worst college football teams look totally stagnant against an opponent it should’ve easily defeated.

On that point, why are the Hilltoppers paying lower-level teams to come play them when WKU can’t even win those games? Wouldn’t it be better to go be the punching bag for an SEC school during the first week of the season and make some money?

At least an underdog win would be exciting.

Sports Columnist and News Editor Matt Stahl can be reached at 270-745-2653 and matthew.stahl551@topper.wku.edu.

Follow Matt on Twitter @mattstahl97.

FALL 2019 REGULAR HOURS Fresh Food Company Mon. – Fri. ............7am – 8pm Sat. ................10:30am – 7pm Sun. ...............10:30am – 8pm

Einstein Bros. Bagels Mon. – Thurs. ............................... 7am – 5pm Fri. ................................................ 7am – 2pm Sat. – Sun............................................Closed

RedZone Mon. – Thurs........... 11am – 9pm Fri. ...................... 11am – 8pm Sat. .......................4pm – 8pm Sun. .....................4pm - 10pm

The Den by Denny’s @ Tower Mon. – Thurs. ............................11am – 11pm Fri. .............................................. 11am – 3pm Sat. ......................................................Closed Sun ..............................................4pm – 11pm

DSU Food Court Mon. – Thurs.... 10:30am – 11pm* Fri. ............. 10:30am – 10pm* Sat. ............ 10:30am – 10pm* Sun. ................Noon – 11pm**

The Pit Stop Convenience Store Mon. – Thurs. .......................... 10am – 11pm Fri. .............................................. 10am – 6pm Sat. ......................................................Closed Sun. ............................................ 5pm – 11pm

Located at Downing Student Union

Located behind DSU Food Court

®

Located at Downing Student Union

Burrito Bowl Mon. – Thurs..10:30am – 8pm Fri. ............10:30am – 2:30pm Sat. – Sun....................Closed

Located at Mass Media Technology Hall

Located at Tower Court Next to PFT

Located at Tower Court Next to PFT

Java City Mon. – Thurs. ............................... 7am – 8pm Fri. ................................................ 7am – 2pm Sat. – Sun............................................Closed

Located at Downing Student Union

Located in Garrett Conference Center Lobby

Starbucks Mon. – Thurs. .......7am – 8pm Fri. ........................7am – 4pm Sat. .......................8am – 2pm Sun. .................... 10am – 5pm

GCC Subway Mon. – Thurs. ............................. 10am – 5pm Fri. .............................................. 10am – 2pm Sat. – Sun............................................Closed

Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Chicago Bears Iyiegbuniwe will aim to continue making an impact on special teams for the Bears in his second year with the

team. Iyiegbuniwe appeared in every game last season as a reserve — including a Wild Card playoff game — and made nine tackles as a rookie. He is currently listed behind former firstround pick Roquan Smith at inside linebacker in the Bears’ 3-4 defense.

Potential practice squad players The Baltimore Ravens cut former WKU offensive lineman Darrell Williams, while the Dallas Cowboys cut former WKU quarterback Mike White.

The Cowboys are hoping to add their 2018 fifth-round pick to the practice squad if he clear waivers, but White is looking for a 53-man roster spot elsewhere, according to a tweet from Dallas Morning News reporter Calvin Watkins.

Former WKU tight end Mik’Quan Deane also spent time during the preseason with the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns.

Deane was waived by all three teams.

Reporter Jesse Spencer can be reached at 270-745-6291 and jesse. spencer782@topper.wku.edu.

MIKE CLARK • HERALD

Head coach Travis Hudson speaks to the WKU women’s volleyball team during their match against UVA Sept. 13, 2013, at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky.

VOLLEYBALL

CONTINUED FROM B4 holding Toledo to a .140 percentage.

In their last match of the weekend, the Lady Toppers swept the North Dakota State Bison. But WKU had a bit more trouble than its previous matchup earlier in the day.

WKU traded blows with NDSU in the first set but scored 19 of the next 25 points to claim the set 25-12. The Lady Toppers went on to win the second set 25-18 and edged out the Bison in the third set 25-23 to earn the right to be called Toledo Blue & Gold Tournament champion.

Dieudonne — a transfer from Xavier — was named the Toledo Blue & Gold Tournament MVP. Fellow WKU newcomer Briggs and sophomore Lauren Matthews also earned spots on the All-Tournament Team for the Lady Toppers.

WKU is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2017, but the Lady Topper program has started a season with three straight wins 10 different times under Hudson’s tutelage.

The Lady Toppers’ early season road swing continues this week, as WKU will head to Louisville to participate in the Fleur de Lis Tournament. WKU will face a very tough field, as two out of its three matches will come against Power 5 opponents.

WKU will first meet Arizona State on Friday morning. The two teams have played only once before — a 3-2 WKU win in 2008. The Sun Devils

finished last season 14-18 while going 5-15 in the Pac-12. Like WKU, ASU started the season out strong by going 3-0 in the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup over the weekend.

The Lady Toppers will also meet hosting Louisville on Friday night.

The Lady Toppers haven’t faced the Cardinals since a 3-1 Louisville win in 2017. WKU has never defeated Louisville in school history, posting 0-16 record in the all-time series.

Last season, Louisville finished 22-9 and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Illinois. The Cardinals also won 11 out of 14 matches at home in 2018.

WKU’s last matchup will be against Tennessee Tech on Saturday. WKU hasn’t faced the Golden Eagles since the 2014 season, where the Lady Toppers won in a clean 3-0 sweep.

The Lady Toppers are currently on a 19-match winning streak against the Golden Eagles and leads Tennessee Tech 24-8 in the all-time series.

The Golden Eagles are currently 0-3 to start the season. Tennessee Tech lost all three of its matches in the Michigan Invitational, including a loss to host No. 15 Michigan.

The team’s first game against ASU starts at 9:30 a.m. on Friday. Later that evening, WKU will meet the Cardinals at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Toppers’ last game of the weekend will take place against Tennesse Tech on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Reporter Kaden Gaylord can be reached at 270-745-6291 and kaden. gaylord559@topper.wku.edu.

Follow Kaden on Twitter at @_KLG3.

WELCOME STUDENTS wishing you the best for the upcoming year!

Located at Garrett Conference Center

Located at Downing Student Union

Subway @ Bates Mon. – Thurs...... 8:30am – 2am Fri. ..................8:30am – 8pm Sat. .....................10am – 8pm Sun. ....................10am – 2am Located at Bates-Runner Hall

P.O.D. Market @ Bates Mon.–Thurs. ... 7:30am – Midnight Fri. .................7:30am – 10pm Sat. ......................3pm – 9pm Sun. ....................3pm – 10pm Located at Bates-Runner Hall

Garrett Food Court Mon. – Thurs. .......................... 7:30am – 3pm Fri. ........................................... 7:30am – 2pm Sat. – Sun............................................Closed

Located at Garrett Conference Center

Panda Express Mon. – Thurs. ........................ 10:30am – 8pm Fri. .................................... 10:30am – 2:30pm Sat. – Sun. ..........................................Closed

Located at Garrett Conference Center

DaVinci’s Mon. – Thurs. .............................. 7am – 4pm Fri. .......................................... 7am – 2:30pm Sat. – Sun............................................Closed

Western Hilltopper 10 Buck Wednesdays! $10 Arroz con Pollo entree and House Margarita or draft beer

Topper Grill and Pub Mon. – Thurs. ............................ 11am – 8pm Fri. ............................................. 11am – 4pm Sat. – Sun............................................Closed

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

SPORTS

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FAHAD ALOTAIBI • HERALD

WKU wide receiver Lucky Jackson (11) runs with the ball while defended by Duke Upshaw (22) of the UCA Bears during WKU’s season opener at Houchens-Smith Stadium on August 29, 2019. WKU lost 35-28 to the UCA Bears.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

WKU tasked with recovering from another FCS loss

BY ALEC JESSIE HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

The WKU football team repeated history last weekend, but not in a pleasant way. For the second straight season, the Hilltoppers (0-1) dropped their home opener to a Football Championship Subdivision program.

Last year, WKU blew a 21-point lead to Maine under the direction of former head coach Mike Sanford. With a new head man at the helm, Hilltopper fans hoped to keep the sting of that loss in the past.

But the beginning of the 2019 season rang in more of the same. The Hilltoppers dropped their season opener 35-28 against Central Arkansas (1-0) on Thursday, as the Bears tallied three unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter to vaporize a 14-point Hilltopper lead.

These disheartening losses have become a troubling trend for the Hilltopper football program. WKU has lost to an FCS school just four times since 2009 — the program’s first year as a full-fledged member of the Football Bowl Subdivision.

But with two of those FCS losses coming back-to-back during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Hilltopper fans have been left wondering just how far the program has fallen since winning back-to-back Conference USA championships in 2015 and 2016.

First-year head coach Tyson Helton hopes the fanbase appreciates the hardworking nature of his team regardless of the final score.

“You either win or you don’t,” Helton said postgame. “Hopefully they see a team that’s out there that’s trying to compete as hard as they can to go win a game. We may not make every play, but at the end of the day, those kids battled hard. Both sides of the ball, special teams, there was a lot of things I’m proud of with our kids tonight.

“Hopefully our fanbase sees that. I would be disappointed too as a fan if we lost. I’m not worried about FCS, Division I — a game is a game, and we’ll wake up in the morning and get ready for FIU and try to go win our first conference game.”

Helton is not the only WKU head coach forced to bounce back from an FCS loss. Three other coaches have faced the same challenge, and each turned in different results.

UCA not only gave Helton his first FCS defeat, it also took down WKU in the Hilltoppers’ first season at the FBS level. The Bears traveled to Bowling Green and routed WKU 28-7 on Sept.

19, 2009. The head coach of the Hilltoppers at the time was David Elson, who seemed optimistic in a recap vlog posted two days after the loss.

“First of all, we had a great crowd, a great game day environment, and our guys played hard,” Elson said in a video posted on the InsideWKUFootball YouTube channel. “Unfortunately didn’t come up with the W, but we are still improving and ready to get this thing going.”

WKU didn’t fare well the rest of the year. After dropping to 0-3 with the loss to UCA, the 2009 Hilltoppers lost their final nine games and finished with an 0-12 record. Although he was allowed to finish out the year, Elson found himself without a job at its conclusion — he was fired on Nov. 9, 2009, after the team’s 0-9 start.

Willie Taggart also suffered a loss to an FCS program during his threeyear tenure as head coach on the Hill.

The Indiana State Sycamores came to town and crushed the Hilltoppers 44-16 on Sept. 17, 2011, dropping the squad to 0-3 on the year at that point.

“I just told them we’re not going to put our head down and just call it the year,” Taggart said postgame.

“We don’t work that way. That’s not the way I’m molded. We’re gonna roll our sleeves up, and we’re gonna keep working because we know we have a good football team. We gotta

Seven former Hilltoppers make NFL rosters

BY JESSE SPENCER HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

All 32 NFL teams released their official 53-man rosters for the 2019 season on Saturday afternoon, and seven former Hilltoppers made the cut for the league’s 100th season.

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams Higbee will be returning to the Rams for his fourth season with the team. He enters the season as the team’s starting tight end and will look to help the Rams reach a second consecutive Super Bowl after the team’s 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. During his budding NFL career, Higbee has amassed 60 receptions for 672 yards and four touchdowns.

Taywan Taylor, Cleveland Browns Taylor will look to make an immediate impact for the revamped Browns offense after the Tennessee Titans traded him away for a 2020 draft pick

on cut day. Entering his third season in the league and his first with the Browns, the WKU Football All-Century Team member will try to build on his 53 career receptions for 697 yards and two touchdowns.

George Fant, Seattle Seahawks Fant is entering his fourth season with the Seahawks with the hopes of having an injury-free year. Fant missed the entire 2017 season due to an ACL tear, and the versatile big man suffered an ankle sprain against the Minnesota Vikings this preseason. The 6-foot-5inch, 322-pounder is expected to serve as a backup at both offensive tackle and tight end when healthy in 2019.

Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts Doyle will have many obstacles to overcome during the 2019 season, as he looks to overcome a hip injury that cost him five games and a lacerated kidney that landed him on injured reserve to end 2018. The WKU Football All-Century Team member has tallied SEE NFL • PAGE B5

do things that winning football teams do.”

The 2011 Hilltoppers fared much better following the heartbreaking loss. WKU put an 0-4 start in the rearview mirror, went 7-1 in its final eight games and ultimately finished the season with a 7-5 record. Although the Hilltoppers were bowl eligible, they weren’t invited to participate in a bowl game at the conclusion of the year.

The most recent loss to an FCS opponent prior to Thursday’s season opener came last season. Sanford hoped his squad would rebound after a 34-3 loss in the opener at No. 4 Wisconsin one week prior, but the Hilltoppers instead blew a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and ruined their home opener with a 31-28 loss on Sept. 8, 2018.

“I fully do expect us to bounce back from this loss — I do,” Sanford said postgame. “I know nobody else out there does right now, but I feel like the WKU football program that took the field and exploded in that first five minutes like we haven’t seen probably in quite some time, I think that’s who we are. We gotta maintain that and channel that and keep the gas pedal down for four quarters.”

After dropping to 0-2 with the loss to Maine, the 2018 Hilltoppers managed only three wins the rest of the season and posted a 3-9 mark overall.

Sanford was fired in November following the conclusion of the Hilltoppers’ first losing season since 2010.

The WKU football program now finds itself in a similar make-or-break situation after a critical upset defeat, but the fate of the 2019 Hilltoppers is hardly sealed.

The players could use this loss as a wakeup call to practice and perform better, which could lead to a winning season much like 2011. If the players allow the loss to linger and continue to dig themselves further into a hole, results like those turned in by WKU’s 2009 and 2018 teams won’t be far

behind.

While Helton clearly has his work cut out for him, there were still positives to take away from the opener.

Redshirt junior running back Gaej Walker exploded for 153 yards and two touchdowns in his first start after moving from defensive back during the offseason.

Helton said he was very pleased with his running back’s performance.

“Thought it was really good,” Helton said. “Thought he made a lot of good tough runs. He really stepped up.”

The offensive and defensive lines also stepped up in a big way for WKU. Helton said that the offensive line gave redshirt junior quarterback Steven Duncan plenty of time to make reads and throws.

“I didn’t feel like there was much of a pass rush,” Helton said. “The offensive line did a great job up front.

There was plenty of time to make reads. I thought they did a nice job.”

The defensive line, led by anchors DeAngelo Malone and Juwuan Jones, was a brick wall all night. UCA only mustered 20 rushing yards on 29 carries, while Malone and Jones combined for 4.5 tackles for loss.

Helton has talent to work with heading into C-USA play this week, and he’s sure his squad will respond the right way after its difficult start.

“I think they’ll wake up tomorrow and be ready to go to work,” Helton said. “I expect nothing less out of them and I know that’s how they’ll respond.”

WKU will have its first opportunity to bounce back on Saturday at Florida International (0-1), a team that fell 42-14 at Tulane (1-0) in its season opener. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed live for ESPN+ subscribers.

Reporter Alec Jessie can be reached at 270-745-6291 and alec.jessie226@ topper.wku.edu. Follow Alec on Twitter at @Alec_Jessie.

QUIT STAHL-ING

FCS loss is everybody’s fault

BY MATT STAHL HERALD.SPORTS@WKU.EDU

So, here we are again. WKU football just got embarrassed against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent, one that the Hilltoppers should have handled easily if we were to believe what first-year head coach Tyson Helton had been saying in the weeks leading up to the game.

While losing to an FCS team is certainly something that the program shouldn’t be doing, it wouldn’t be as concerning to WKU fans if the team hadn’t looked so flat in the late minutes. The offense didn’t, as Helton had promised throughout the offseason, come out letting the ball fly.

Nobody in Houchens-Smith Stadium on Thursday night was fooled into thinking that the year was 2015 or 2016 and something like the Mike White-toTaywan Taylor connection was back in

action. Instead, redshirt junior Steven Duncan, who recently beat out Arkansas transfer Ty Storey for the job, started at quarterback.

While Duncan wasn’t terrible the entire game, he had moments where he looked dreadful. Both of his interceptions could have been avoided and he had several other throws that, to put it politely, could have been better.

That’s not the performance you need from a quarterback who seems purpose-built for the offense that Helton supposedly wants to put into place.

However, Duncan can’t be made to shoulder the entire blame for Thursday’s debacle. The creativity that Helton was supposedly going to bring the offense was limited to a few trick plays, none of which worked particularly well.

When WKU needed to come up big, make a few stops and maintain a few drives to take down a powder-puff opponent the program paid over

SEE QUIT STAHL-ING• PAGE B5