Super Bowl Update

I get asked this question a lot, and while Kawaun Jakes' play has been pivotal, I think it's simply just a matter of the team as a whole playing better. Coach Willie Taggart, the assistants and the players will tell us about how it's believing and brotherhood and coming together as a football team. That's all good and well, but running the right routes, blocking the right assignments and tackling better are pretty important, too. They did none of those things in the first three ballgames. As for Jakes, he's made a total transformation. He'll never be considered a great quarterback, but he doesn't need to be. In this offense, Jakes has only to "manage the game", not turn the ball over and consistently read the defense – which he's done for eight straight weeks now.

Condisdering Bobby Rainey accounts for about half the team's offense – he's huge. Folks might think, 'Hey, stop that Rainey kid and you got a shot'. Problem is, Taggart likes to mix up the play-calling early so as to give the opposing defense extra things to think about. When the fourth quarter comes around, Rainey dominates worn-down defenses. Since WKU hasn't a serious threat – anywhere – in the wide receiving corps, Doyle (above, Associated Press photo) is by far the team's best weapon through the air. Last week at North Texas, on third-and-four, he would simply run a five-yard curl and get a first down. Time after time after time. The only other serious scoring threats are John Evans and Antonio Andrews in the return game, but both have ankle injuries which have hindered them lately. Fullback Kadeem Jones has had a breakout year as well.

Andrew Jackson. Remember the name. The sophomore at middle linebacker is a bad man. We're kinda afraid to interview him sometimes. But seriously, he's become an all-out monster for this defense. The defensive line play has been good as well, but the loss of senior captain Jared Clendenin to a broken toe has hurt. The weakness all season has been the team's tackling. At times they are very good wrapping up. Other times it goes out the window. I've called them a "bend-don't-break-defense" because they'll often give up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points.

Shoot, were do I begin as a bit of a foodie? There's the old staples like Double Dogs and Buffalo Wild Wings on Scottsville Road for the sports bar fan. Mariah's downtown is a local landmark. 440 Main, The Bistro and Verdi on the square are more high-priced dining. For those more adventurous, Taj Palace has a great Indian buffet and Thai Express has great, well, Thai.