Bobby Petrino

WKU 2013 Football Schedule Features Games Against UK, Tennessee, and Navy

Kevin Willis — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:09:35 +0000

WKU has released its 2013 football schedule. Highlights include the opening game against Kentucky in Nashville, a home game versus Navy, and an early fall game at Louisiana-Monroe.

The Hilltoppers will open their first season under new head coach Bobby Petrino Aug. 31 against the UK Wildcats, a team WKU beat last season in overtime at Commonwealth Stadium.

A second SEC opponent follows the opener, with WKU traveling to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers Sept. 7. WKU's Sun Belt opener is in week three at South Alabama.

You can see the team's complete 2013 schedule here.

Web Extra: WKU President Ransdell on Role of Athletics at University

Kevin Willis — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:35:41 +0000

WKU President Gary Ransdell spoke to WKU Public Radio Tuesday on a variety of subjects, including the high-profile role athletics has been playing lately at the university.

Head football coach Willie Taggart left WKU late last year for a bigger salary at South Florida. Within 72 hours, WKU had hired former Louisville coach Bobby Petrino, an accomplished--and controversial--name in collegiate athletics.

What does Dr. Ransdell say to those on and off WKU's campus who wonder if athletics is playing too big a role at the university? You can hear the President's comments on WKU athletics in the audio clip above.

The rest of Dr. Ransdell's interview can be heard here.

At WKU, the New Football Staff is Rooted in Louisville Cardinal Memories

Kevin Willis — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:27:47 +0000

WKU football coach Bobby Petrino has put the finishing touches on his first Hilltopper staff. At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Petrino introduced Jeff Brohm as his new offensive coordinator, and Nick Holt as the new WKU defensive coordinator.

Like Petrino, both Brohm and Holt have ties to the University of Louisville.

Brohm is a former U of L quarterback and assistant coach. He is rejoining Petrino after working under him at U of L for three seasons. Brohm says he was willing to leave his job at Alabama-Birmingham for the chance to reunite with his former boss.

“I have a past with Coach Petrino, and I have a great deal of respect for his ability as a coach, what he believes, how we believe in things that are very similar. And I wanted a chance to get back and work with him,” said Brohm, who played eight seasons in the NFL.

Petrino to Introduce New Offensive, Defensive Coordinators Wednesday

Kevin Willis — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:00:09 +0000

WKU football coach Bobby Petrino is bringing another former Louisville Cardinal to the Hill. Petrino will introduce his new offensive and defensive coordinators Wednesday afternoon at a news conference on campus.

Former U of L quarterback and offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm will be put in charge of the WKU offense. Brohm comes to Bowling Green after serving as offensive coordinator at Alabama-Birmingham.

Brohm is a Louisville native who played quarterback at U of L in the early 90s and played eight seasons in the NFL.

NYT: WKU Hiring of Petrino Opens Nationwide Debate on Ethics, Athletics

Kevin Willis — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:30:27 +0000

The New York Times has this story looking at WKU's hiring of Bobby Petrino as the school's next head football coach. The Times says Monday's hiring of Petrino began a discussion over whether "Western Kentucky had made a Faustian decision to trade its morality for the possibility of on-field success."

As WKU Public Radio reported Monday, athletic director Todd Stewart said Petrino was the number one name on the school's wish list when the head coaching job opened up.

All this took place after Willie Taggart left WKU Friday to become the next head coach at the University of South Florida.

WKU has announced that despite the hiring of Petrino, WKU defensive coordinator Lance Guidry will coach the team Dec. 26 in the Little Caesar's Bowl vs. Central Michigan.