by Ryan Murphy, Sports Director, The Extra Point
(BOWLING GREEN, Ky.) — Western Kentucky University Football hosted their Week 0 press conference Monday morning with Head Coach Tyson Helton, Offensive Coordinator Rick Bowie, and Co-Defensive Coordinator Da’Von Brown to discuss the team’s matchup Saturday against Conference USA opponent Sam Houston State.
“The locker room is as good as it can be right now,” Tyson Helton said. “[We’ve] got a bunch of men that are motivated and anxious to play.”
This Saturday’s game marks the beginning of a new era for all sides of the ball at WKU, including the air-raid style offense — one OC Rick Bowie and QB Maverick McIvor look to take full advantage of after a successful season together at Abilene Christian University.
McIvor threw for 3,828 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, an average of 294.5 passing yards per game. McIvor’s three seasons at ACU included 8,012 total yards and 63 touchdowns, and last season saw McIvor maintain one of the highest 3rd and 4th down conversion rates in all of college football (46% 3rd down, 66.67% 4th down).
“[I’m] really pleased with what Mav has done on critical downs,” OC Rick Bowie said of McIvor’s ability to execute during 3rd and 4th downs. “We harp on him pretty significantly… but that percentage is just a testament to the work and the time, mentally and physically, for our entire offense.”
The Hilltoppers began summer practice with 59 new additions to the roster, including 44 transfers, per 247sports. WKU’s defense gained many of those and found new leadership in Co-Defensive Coordinators Da’Von Brown and Davis Merritt. Brown and Merritt replace Tyson Summers who returned to Colorado State University for the same role.
Week 0’s matchup against Sam Houston brings it’s own air-raid style threat under first year head coach Phil Longo. Longo rejoined the Sam Houston Bearkats in December of 2024 after previously working as offensive coordinator at Ole Miss, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Longo previously served as Sam Houston’s offensive coordinator from 2014-16.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for us now across the board,” Co-DC Da’Von Brown said of the Bearkats. “That quarterback is a really good player… I think it’s a good challenge for both sides of the ball.”
WKU’s Week 0 home-opener will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network on Saturday, August 23, at 6 P.M. CT.
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