September 15, 2020 by College Heights Herald

VOLUME 96 • ISSUE 4

WEEK OF 9.15.20

KEEPING COUNT Nursing students assist with COVID-19 testing Hope Williams is a senior nursing student at WKU and currently works with the Medical Center of Bowling Green. Healthcare workers have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic across the U.S. and the world.

Hilltoppers fall victim to Louisville in opener After falling in the 2020 season opener at the University of Louisville, the Hilltoppers shift their focus to host Liberty University Saturday in Houchens-Smith Stadium.

WKUPD shares statement on Black Lives Matter WKU police officer Tim Gray sugggests that communities are better together during times of tradgedy and protest. The department honors Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.

System upgrade from local health department affects WKU’s COVID-19 case count By Leo Bertucci leo.bertucci665@topper.wku.edu WKU hasn’t received any COVID-19 case data from the Barren River District Health Department since its system started upgrading on Aug. 28. Six data points on WKU’s COVID-19 case dashboard have an asterisk next to them, which signifies a variable that is affecting WKU’s positive COVID-19 case count. “Because of a system upgrade, data from the Barren River District Health Department is not currently available for the current reporting period,” the statement on the WKU dashboard reads. Bob Skipper, Director of Media Relations, said in a statement that the Barren River District Health Department is not currently able to provide data to WKU because of an “ongoing transition to their contact tracing software.” WKU currently receives COVID-19 case data from the Graves Gilbert Clinic and Med Center Health. Self-reporting also contributes to the data on WKU’s dashboard. Skipper said that he does not know if

WKU’s COVID-19 positive case count would be higher if the Barren River District Health Department could provide their reporting data to the university. Ashli McCarty, a spokesperson for the Barren River District Health Department, said that the Barren River District Health Department is transitioning to a COVID-19 case information software that mimics what the Kentucky Department of Public Health is using to track positive cases. “That’s the reason for the lag,” McCarty said. “It’s thousands and thousands of input to manually enter.” In addition to manually inputting thousands of data points, health department staff has to organize data by applying filters, McCarty said. McCarty said that the Barren River District Health Department can only organize reported cases of COVID-19 by county. “We don’t release any data that’s specific to a certain school,” McCarty said, referring to both grade schools and WKU. In order to determine what positive cas-

es of COVID-19 affected WKU’s campus, the university announced in May that it would be performing contact tracing in a partnership with the Barren River District Health Department. Skipper said that WKU has been able to perform contact tracing with the health department while the ongoing system upgrade continues. McCarty said that the Kentucky Department for Public Health has the ability to track reported positive cases of COVID-19 that occur within the state’s colleges and universities. As of Sept. 12, the state public health department has linked 199 positive cases of COVID-19 to the WKU campus community. According to the health department’s website, all of the reported cases of COVID-19 are confirmed through a verification process, so their case count might not align with case counts from other dashboards. WKU’s COVID-19 case dashboard has tallied 565 positive cases since July 1. Skipper stated in an email that he is not sure where the Kentucky Department for

Public Health is getting its data from. “I can confirm the numbers we post and hope we will be able to be even more complete once we get data from Barren River,” Skipper said. In a message to the campus community on Aug. 28, WKU President Timothy Caboni said that the number of positive COVID-19 cases could be higher if the Barren River District Health Department could provide their reporting data to WKU. Until last week, WKU was updating its COVID-19 dashboard on a weekly basis. Now the dashboard is updated every Tuesday and Friday. Viewers can see how many cases were diagnosed during the new reporting period, and they can view the running total of positive COVID-19 cases that have been tallied since July 1.

Leo Bertucci can be reached at leo.bertucci665@topper.wku.edu Follow him on Twitter @leober2chee.

WKU alum works as photojournalist for USA Today By Kelley Holland

kelley.holland872@topper.wku.edu Photographing celebrities, documenting important events and attending the 2020 Golden Globes are just a few major things that alumni Harrison Hill has been up to. Hill was born in Kansas but grew up in Louisville. He later attended WKU as a photojournalism major graduating in 2013. While at WKU, he worked for both the Herald and the Talisman, which he said helped him in his future endeavors. “A lot of real world companies work similarly to the Herald and Talisman,” Hill said. “I understood how newsrooms work.” With both of his parents being photojournalists, it seemed like a path that ran in the family. Since he was always surrounded by it, he said his interest and passion for photojournalism formed pretty quickly. Hill took on internships with the Los Angeles Times, New York Times and Boston Globe, among others. He then freelanced across the U.S. and Europe. “I took it slow and made sure I stayed on the path I wanted to be on,” Hill said. “I knew what I wanted.” In 2019, Hill landed his first full-time job with USA Today as a video and photojournalist, prompting him to move to Los Angeles. At USA Today, Hill was part of a network-wide project following the journey of migrants in the U.S. Hill covered the Los Angeles area and court system, do-

ing a portrait series which he said is his favorite shoot to date. “I was really able to learn and understand why they are making this journey,” Hill said. “I had a broad understanding of what they were facing, but I was able to understand the depths.” Hill said he was glad to be a part of the project and he hoped it would help other people understand the issues migrants face. In addition to that project, Hill has photographed many notable celebrities including Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson. Hill also had the opportunity to shoot a one-hour video special with legendary basketball star Kobe Bryant. Only 10 days before he passed, Hill did a quick portrait with Bryant — the last known photos taken. Going into the shoot, Hill said he never thought much of it, other than the obvious fact that he was photographing a star. Looking back on it, he realized that a simple portrait could have a large impact. One of the photos that Hill took of Bryant at his office in Costa Mesa, California, was posted by his widow, Vanessa Bryant, on her Instagram page. The photo garnered 5.2 million likes. “I realized the magnitude of one picture,” Hill said, explaining that the photo may be a precious memory for Vanessa Bryant and her family. Being a video and photojournalist

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HARRISON HILL

with USA Today, Hill has been able to attend the Golden Globes, among other award shows. “It was a great experience getting to see the ins and outs of the shows,” Hill said. Sandy Hooper, senior video producer for USA Today, works as Hill’s manager. She said that while the journalism industry is unpredictable, Hill stays flexible and moves wherever the stories take him. “Harrison has a really beautiful ability to make anyone who is on the other side of the camera feel at ease,” Hooper said in an email. “He builds great rap-

port with everyone from A-list celebrities to people working through tragedy.” Hooper said that Hill’s photos and videos show that he cares about people and the stories they have to share. Hill’s advice for success is simple — follow your heart. “You have to understand where your heart is and what you want for yourself and the world,” Hill said. “The journey is gonna be long, and it’s not going to be easy.” Kelley Holland can be reached at kelley.holland872@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter @kelleyaholland.

Nursing students employed at on-campus clinic assist with COVID-19 testing By Jacob Latimer jacoblatimer0308@gmail.com As COVID-19 testing continues to ramp up on campus, some students want to have a helping hand during this historic time. The Graves Gilbert Clinic began hiring nursing students, along with students from healthcare administration and other departments, as employees, some assisting with COVID-19 testing. However, while the clinic is still hiring students, they are no longer hiring any to assist with COVID-19 related tasks. “We haven’t stopped hiring students entirely,” stated Graves Gilbert employee Leah Goodwin in an email. “We will continue to hire as needed to meet staffing requirements. With our current staff levels and the addition of the student workers, we are able to sufficiently manage the patient volume to ensure that each patient receives the best care possible.” There are nursing students employed with Graves Gilbert who deal with COVID-19. According to Dr. Zaiba Moledina, a physician practice coordinator at Graves Gilbert, the safety of its employees and patients is the clinic’s number one priority. “We use an improved testing technique that protects the tester from the risks they use to incur in the massive drive-by testing,” Moledina stated in an email. “By using a shorter, more patient friendly swab, the physical response to the test (coughing, sneezing, gagging… and the accompanying spewing of bodily fluid) by the patient is minimal.” With the mystery and severity of the coronavirus, it is expected that some students and employees don’t feel comfortable being in contact with

potential cases. To Graves Gilbert, this is not a problem. “The students or patients who are at the least bit concerned, can reach out to their supervisor or the lab director with their concerns,” Moledina stated. “Our team will then take the necessary actions based on student/patient concerns.”

JACK DOBBS

Anna Hurd, a nursing student at WKU, shows off her mask on Aug. 10. Healthcare workers like Hurd across the world have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic saving lives and treating patients of the disease.

Aside from previously hired student employees at GGC, nursing students will not come into contact with anyone suspected to have COVID-19 or any type of infectious disease. “For now, students may assist nursing personnel with other functions, to include non-patient care activities, to allow the nursing staff more time

to spend with patients who may have some type of infectious disease,” the WKU nursing program’s website stated. According to the CEO of Graves Gilbert, Chris Thorn, working at the clinic as a student can give valuable experience in the nursing field. “The students will obtain real life, hands-on experience in parts of healthcare,” Thorn stated in an email. “Practical experience will help when they follow their educational path. It’s

one thing to learn from a book or a classroom, but more meaningful and valuable if you have experience applying the lessons learned.” For students who are interested in applying at Graves Gilbert Clinic, applications can be found at www.gravesgilbert.com/employment/.

Jacob Latimer can be reached at jacob.latimer745@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @jacoblatimer_.

Feeling lost or overwhelmed about your place in this world?

There is hope for the future. For info on the College Ministry, contact Brian and Carolletta at collegeandcareergbcky@gmail.com 110 Mark Trail, Bowling Green, KY 42101 www.gracebaptistbg.com (270)781-5355

Fall 2020 Tuition and Fee Payment Reminder Due date for Payment of Tuition and Fees for the Fall 2020 semester is:

September 18, 2020

*Failure to submit payment will result in a Financial Obligation hold.

For additional information, please refer to: www.wku.edu/bursar

PHOTO

WKU senior Cecilia Morris holds Josie Rhodes while driving a tractor carrying tobacco leaves on Sept. 12, 2020. Morris is a family friend that has been around the farm ever since she was in high school.

DRIED OUT:

Students seek to learn about tobacco picking process

KEILEN FRAZIER/HERALD (Upper right) Western Kentucky University senior Mahmood Alalawi grabs a rack of tobacco leaves to transport them on a tractor to the barn on Sept. 12, 2020. (Above) Justin Bausch hands a tobacco leaf to Tommy Rhodes while being positioned into the rafters of the barn on Tommy’s family’s farm on Sept. 12, 2020. Bausch is a graduate from the University of Florida that is in Bowling Green as a missionary in St. Thomas’ FOCUS program that exchanges missionaries across the U.S.

KEILEN FRAZIER/HERALD

@WKURG

KEILEN FRAZIER/HERALD Bryan Reaka stacks tobacco leaves on a stick to load the leaves on the tractor and suspend them in the barn on the farm. Reaka led a group of students, teaching them about Kentucky culture with tobacco on Sept. 12, 2020.

WKU’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Doctor Bryan Reaka led a group of 10 students to Hartford, Kentucky to learn about Kentucky’s culture of farming tobacco. According to the University of Kentucky’s Department of Agricultural Economics, Kentucky’s agricultural economy is the most tobacco-dependent in the nation. These students came to Dr. Reaka interested in learning about “the drying art of tobacco.” Luckily a member of the group was freshman, Tommy Rhodes, who grew up on a tobacco farm. The Rhodes’ family welcomed the students to spend time seeing what work is like in the tobacco farming industry for the day. Reaka used this opportunity to help with this year’s harvest and introduce students to a huge part of Kentucky’s heritage. Students and a few graduates spent the day hanging tobacco plants in a barn, cutting plants, attaching tobacco to a stick and loading them on a tractor to the barn. At the end of the day students had a deep understanding and appreciation of tobacco with a day in the life of a farmer. Copyblock written by Keilen Frazier

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WKU PD PIO on Black Lives Matter protests Tim Gray

WKU Police Public Information Officer In light of the recent tragedies that have struck communities around the country, the men and women of the Western Kentucky University Police Department want you to know we remain committed to providing service to our WKU campus and the community beyond with integrity, responsibility, and commitment. The deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd put a necessary reminder in our hearts that peace, equality, and justice for all must be a conscious effort made by each and every one of us. United we stand and divided we fall. Let us not allow unrest and threats of violence to pull us apart. Communities must heal so they can grow. Let us grieve together, let us heal together, and let us be better together.

Send students home: WKU’s campus isn’t safe Herald Editorial Board illustration by Madalyn Stack

Issue: WKU students have been on campus attending in-person classes for three weeks as COVID-19 cases continue to rise among students, faculty and staff, but few steps have been taken to ensure the safety of the campus community. Our stance: The administration did not fully prepare campus — nor faculty and staff — for the return of students, and students should not solely be held responsible for the mishaps on campus. In-person classes must come to a halt. Since July, the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases on WKU’s campus has come to 565 as of Friday. Of those cases, 521 are students and 44 are employees. Three weeks into the Fall 2020 semester, there are more than 100 new cases a week reported from Graves Gilbert Clinic, Midtown—an off-campus student apartment complex—is allowing packed pool parties, WKU’s Sigma Nu chapter is suspended for breaking COVID-19 guidelines, there is no enforcement of mask-wearing policies and Chick-Fil-A is indefinitely closed. The administration may believe that WKU’s campus was properly prepared for the return of 17,000 students, but it was not. Now that the unpreparedness has shown its face, students and faculty should be safely sent home. On Friday, WKU asked Midtown residents that attended a Labor Day weekend party at Midtown’s recreation center to get tested and isolate from other people. The letter came after a tweet circulated on Twitter showing pictures of students not adhering to COVID-19

guidelines at the Midtown pool. “Despite the prevailing requirements of the State of Kentucky that limit both the number of individuals gathering in a communal space and prescribe social distancing and masking, this event included many people who were in close proximity for extended periods without proper public safety standards adhered,” Vice President for Enrollment and Student Experience Ethan Logan said in an email to Midtown residents on Friday. WKU has no authority over Midtown and its residents, but most of the residents living at Midtown are students of WKU, meaning that the people attending the pool party are the same people attending in-person classes and grabbing food inside Downing Student Union. Yes, these students should be held accountable for their own actions, but the WKU administration is responsible for bringing them back to interact with other students that are doing everything they can to adhere to guidelines. In a story published by the Herald

on Sept. 8, it was revealed that Sigma Nu was placed under interim suspension and investigation after having large numbers of people present in their chapter house violating WKU’s COVID-19 guidelines. That’s just it — guidelines. If there are no procedures in place to prevent these types of events from happening, students should not have been asked to return to campus. The same applies to the mask-wearing policy on campus. In an Aug. 21 meeting with the Herald, President Timothy Caboni stated that wearing masks is the responsibility of the WKU community and that everyone within the community is responsible for holding each other accountable. “Just like wearing masks is on each one of us, so is helping the community comply with that expectation,” Caboni said. Young adults do not have the drive to ask their peers to wear masks, especially in a time where mask-wearing can so quickly become political. For the administration to leave the health of the

WKU community in the hands of young adults shows obliviousness. Students quarantined on campus have trouble accessing food, which adds to the complication of Chick-Fil-A being closed indefinitely since the second week of classes. Only students quarantined in designated quarantine dorms can have university meals delivered to them. According to the WKU COVID-19 hotline, there are no WKU food delivery services for any of the other dorms on campus or off-campus students. Food delivered to those students is ordered through an online survey system that automatically charges the meal swipe or dollars to the student’s account. “WKU has an option for quarantine meals,” Sam Hynes said during her self-quarantine in Hilltopper Hall after learning that only students in official quarantine dorms can receive these meals. “We got groceries the Sunday before we tested, but we’re starting to run out of food, so we have to use DoorDash.” We’re three weeks into the semester, and there is no enforcement of guidelines, nor are there any strict rules or consequences in place. The administration did not properly prepare WKU’s campus for the return to in-person classes. It’s time for the school to own up to this mistake and put the safety of the students first. Send students home.

TO THE MOUNTAINS: By Nick Kieser

nick.kieser036@topper.wku.edu. On Sept. 7, WKU Athletics announced that the men’s and women’s cross-country teams would continue with an opening competition for the 2020 season. Originally the teams were slated to travel to Austin Peay State University on Sept. 18. After last competing in the NCAA Southeast Regional on Nov. 15, 2019, WKU’s respective cross country teams will be in action this fall semester. “This thing here we are dealing with is bigger than sport, it’s something where the health of the kids come first,” Head Coach Brooks LeCompte said ahead of his first season on the Hill. “We waited patiently for Conference USA to give us the nod, but these kids are very enthusiastic about getting to compete now that we know we are.” The competition at APSU was postponed and instead, the Hilltoppers will head to Appalachian State University to kick off an additional WKU sport amid the COVID-19 pandemic. LeCompte said the protocol now is to have a reduced travel roster and that it’s been a guessing game trying to figure out who would be the right people to take. Cross-country joins the football and golf programs with sports back in action on the Hill. Volleyball and soccer are in preparation for their respective seasons for the ensuing Spring 2021. First-year coach LeCompte will now be at the helm of the teams following the departure of Tim Sykes who was announced as head coach back on Aug. 12, 2019. LeCompte was introduced on Jan. 22 this year and now heads into his first full season at the helm of the program. Formerly, the Lake Charles, Louisiana, native was the assistant coach for both

LeCompte takes the reigns of the cross-country program amid the pandemic season

cross-country and track and field at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. LeCompte said in a release that he was very excited for his first season leading the Hilltoppers, and in a short time frame, he’s brought in a solid recruiting class. “You couldn’t plan this, you have to be ready for whatever in this profession, but just don’t expect to come in during a pandemic,” LeCompte said. “I was just at a previous college, and I had just wrapped up recruiting, so I had to go back to the drawing board and start recruiting from scratch again.” There are 16 total returning athletes to both the men’s and women’s teams. Additionally, the Hilltoppers welcome seven new faces to the teams for the 2020 campaign. Two of the newcomers are from Australia. Freshman Casey Buchanan out of Adelaide for the men’s runners, and freshman Zoe Manning who hails out of Brisbane. Buchanan was a bronze medalist in the Australian Under 20 Championship in the 800-meter competition while Manning was a national champion in Steeplechase under 18. “He’s a middle-distance guy, but I integrated him into the longer distance stuff, and I asked him if it was too much,” LeCompte said of Buchana. “Now we’re at the stage where he’s starting to do the whole workouts and he’s able to be one of our front runners.” LeCompte added than additional runner who came as a surprise for the women’s team was freshman Rory O’Connor out of Mount Washington, Kentucky. O’Connor last ran cross country in the eighth grade.

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Sports Editor Nick Kieser can be reached at nick.kieser036@topper. wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @ KieserNick.

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believe UAB will be hosting.” Following the competition at Appalachian State, LeCompte noted that the second meet is supposed to be the Louisville Classic two weeks later and that’s something the program is looking forward to.

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This kid is going to be one of my top runners,” LeCompte said. “The way she’s running now she probably would have been one of if not the top cross-country runner in Kentucky during high school.” WKU’s cross-country team has yet to announce its full schedule yet and will be announced at a later date. “We’re taking things week by week, there’s been meets we have initially been entered in and they tell us it’s postponed so I have to scramble,” LeCompte said. “I know we will have a Conference USA Championship, I

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MATT KEENAN • WKU ATHLETICS

Cross-country head coach Brooks LeCompte signaling to his runners at practice in prior to the first competition of the fall.

FUN

U Herald 9/15/20 Crossword

Across

Hilltoppers to host Liberty for home opener By Casey Warner casey.warner@yahoo.com.

WKU (0-1) will kickoff its home opener against Liberty University in Houchens-Smith Stadium at 11 a.m. this Saturday. The Hilltoppers lost 35-21 at the University of Louisville to begin the 2020 campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the Eagles posted a 8-5 record while going 2-4 on the road. According to a tweet from Damian Sordelett from News Advance in Lynchburg, Virginia, head coach Hugh Freeze announced Monday that Malik Willis will start as quarterback Saturday. Willis, a redshirt junior transfer out of Auburn University, played in 15 games for the Tigers while tossing for 69 yards and one touchdown. Sordelett added on Twitter that Freeze said WKU’s senior defensive end DeAngelo Malone is a different dude. He’s an NFL guy. He’s a handful that can create some negative plays in a hurry. Kicking off the 2020 season on Sept. 12 in Cardinal Stadium with 11,179 fans in the stands, the Hilltoppers won the coin toss to start the game and deferred to the second half. The Hilltoppers struck first blood on the gridiron against Louisville following a mishandled punt by sophomore kicker Logan Lupo. Redshirt senior running-back Gaej Walker and the Hilltopper offense took advantage of the misjudged punt and scored from the 1-yard line. Following the early score for the Hilltoppers, the Cardinals fired back with a 63-yard gain. Redshirt junior quarterback Micale Cunningham completed a pass to sophomore receiver Braden Smith, which was then followed up by a 28-yard score through the air caught by graduate tight -end Ean Pfiefer to tie the game. Head Coach Tyson Helton elaborated on how crucial the focus was not to give up big plays. “That was a goal for us to try and not give up those big plays,” Helton said. “They still found them, and that was the story.” WKU’s offense fired back with a deep ball thrown by graduate quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome to redshirt senior Jahcour Pearson with under five minutes to play in the first quarter. Pearson fumbled the ball inside the Louisville 20-yard line. The Cardinals recovered the pigskin on the play and began their drive from the 6 yard line. After the turnover the Cardinals capped off a 10-play, 93-yard drive to

COLUMN

pull ahead 14-7. Cunningham took it to the end zone with a 14-yard rush. Then Louisville added to the scoresheet after a 7-play, 65-yard drive to take a two touchdown lead 21-7 midway through the second quarter after a 19yard run by redshirt sophomore Javian Hawkins. The following drive for the Hilltoppers resulted in a punt from senior punter John Haggerty with just over six minutes left in the first half. Louisville added salt to the wound with less than a minute left in the half, Cunningham tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore Marshon Ford to put Lousiville up by a commanding three touchdowns and 28-7 just before halftime. At the half, the Cardinals had 229 passing yards and 108 rushing yards. The Hilltoppers had the lone score from Walker in the first quarter. “Offensively … we didn’t do our part,” Helton said. “We didn’t really get much going here and there.” In the first half, WKU’s defense was no match for Louisville’s dynamic passing game. Cunningham torched the Hilltoppers going 13 of 21 through the air. Smith ended up with 114 yards receiving. “He was okay,” Helton said of Pigrome’s week one performance. “He had a tough opponent that he had to go against, and we all knew that. I thought he kept his composure for the most part.” Senior defensive end DeAngelo

Malone was the standout on defense for WKU grabbing a sack, one-and-a-half tackles for loss and four total tackles. The Hilltoppers opened up the second half with a five play drive that ended up with Haggerty booting the ball 49 yards downfield. Redshirt senior Omari Alexander responded with a blocked punt on Louisville’s following possession, giving the Hilltoppers great field position at the Louisville 5-yard line. WKU’s senior redshirt running back Malik Staples gave new life to the Hilltoppers scoring from the goalline to cut the differential to 28-14. Cunningham completed his third passing touchdown after a three play 85-yard drive. Redshirt sophomore receiver Dez Fitzpatrick punched back on the scoreboard to make it 35-14 Louisville. In an attempt to counter Louisville’s final score of the game, Pigrome went for a fourth down conversion in the third quarter with 5:58 to play. WKU’s new signal caller was sacked on the fourth and eleven down, Louisville held the Hilltoppers and began on their drive with 5:53 to go in the third quarter. Alexander picked up an interception with 4:10 left to go in the third, but WKU could not capitalize on the opportunity, punting it away after another three and out. “It’s like I told the team, we all gotta

do a self-evaluation tonight ... and say hey, what do we gotta get better at?” Helton said. At the end of the third quarter, the Hilltoppers started to make a few more gains on the field. Pigrome closed out three quarters of play with 117 throwing yards and 47 yards alone in the second to last 15 minutes of play. Beginning the final quarter of play, the Hilltoppers continued their drive from the Louisville 38-yard line. After a few short gains and a first down to put WKU inside the redzone, the offense could not come away with a score, turning the ball over on downs. As the fourth quarter progressed, the Cardinals and the Hilltoppers traded possessions two more times going under the 10 minute mark. With 5:40 left in the game, Pigrome found junior receiver Mitchell Tinsley in the endzone to provide late energy, cutting the deficit to 35-21. The inability to shut down Louisville’s playmakers, in addition to not capitalizing on early big plays would plague WKU in this one. WKU will host Liberty University Sept. 19 in Houchens-Smith Stadium for the home opener.

Football beat reporter Casey Warner can be reached at casey.warner@yahoo. com. Follow him on Twitter @thecaseywarner.

Hilltopper loss isn’t on Pigrome

By Kaden Gaylord kaden.gaylord559@topper.wku.edu Tyrell Pigrome’s first game as a Hilltopper wasn’t very eventful. In fact, he didn’t throw a pass until halfway through the first quarter for an incomplete pass to Jahcour Pearson due to miscommunication. But we got a little glimpse of what he can do on a 50-yard throw to Pearson that ended up in a fumble, giving the Cardinals the possession. At times, the ball came out of his hands wobbly, and he had a few inaccurate passes, but I’m going to blame that on the rainy conditions. The offense couldn’t go anywhere for the most part, but it wasn’t due to Pigrome’s play. At halftime, he was 4-8 for 70 yards and led the team in rushing with five carries for 33 yards. They had 120 yards total for the half. For the past few years, the Hilltoppers have gone through early season struggles, which is expected especially during this season and the circumstances we are under. In the first three quarters, WKU’s offense was its special teams as their play gave the Hilltoppers the ball inside of Louisville’s 5-yard line on two occasions, making it easy to run it in. There were many problems on both sides of the ball, but make no mistake, this game isn’t on Pigrome. An offensive line that is supposed to be good didn’t really give him any time in the pocket, making him run

CREDIT: ACC

Head coach Tyson Helton overlooks his team on the field in Cardinal Stadium on Saturday Sept. 12, 2020

illustration by Dylan Harkreader

for his life for most of the game. The run game wasn’t established, and there were multiple drops that would have led to more points on the board. Helooked comfortable in the pocket, when he had time and knew when to escape when needed, providing multiple opportunities for the offense that they just couldn’t capitalize on. If anything he was a bright spot of the night along with the special teams play. It took until halfway through the fourth quarter for the offense to change and basically turn Pigrome into Lamar Jackson in the Ravens offense with designed runs multiple plays in a row. It opened up the field more leading to Pigrome to throw his first touchdown of the season to Mitchell Tinsley. That’s how this offense will be successful with him in the backfield; that’s when he played his best. WKU’s offense will for sure be better next week in their home opener against Liberty, who hasn’t played a game yet and will likely be going through the first game woes like WKU did. Pigrome finished the game going 10-23 for 129 yards and a TD while rushing for 68 yards in 17 carries. “I don’t think there was anything he did that hurt us personally,” head coach Tyson Helton said. “I think the scenarios we put ourselves in is what hurt us, it wasn’t the quarterback... and I have to be better as an offensive

Views from the Bottom of the Hill

coach, I have to help him out better.” This will likely be WKU’s worst performances on both sides of the ball all season. Let’s not forget that Jaquez Sloan transferred at the beginning of the week right before their first game, while he was expected to help carry the load on the receiving end. He was third on the team in catches last season and was supposed to be a top three guy again for the Hilltoppers. It’s hard to fully adjust when something like that gets thrown at you while

you’re trying to prepare for a game. In a game full of negatives, it was nice to see WKU close the fourth quarter out strong with some actual offense, and as the season goes along, Pigrome will prove to be the guy we all want him to be.

Men’s basketball beat reporter and sports columnist Kaden Gaylord can be reached at kaden.gaylord559@topper. wku.edu. Follow Kaden on Twitter at @_KLG3.