Hilltoppers, Panthers eager to finish season on high note
The New Year is still a few weeks away, but Western Kentucky and Georgia State aren’t ready to say farewell to 2017 just yet. Both programs have unfinished business entering Saturday’s AutoNation Cure Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
Western Kentucky (6-6, 4-4 CUSA) was the preseason favorite to win its third consecutive Conference USA title. Early on, the Hilltoppers appeared to be on track to match the prediction after winning five of their first seven games. But a rash of turnovers and injuries on the defensive side of the football helped the team drop four of its last five games and finish tied for third in the C-USA East Division.
Despite missing out on the conference title, WKU players aren’t letting another opportunity slip away from them.
“This is a big game for us,” said Western Kentucky linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe, a redshirt senior who earned first team All-Conference USA honors after leading the team with 104 tackles and nine tackles for loss.
“To go out and get this win would be a great momentum shift for us leading into next year and obviously to finish out this year, that would be great. So we're looking to get that win.”
Georgia State (6-5, 5-3 Sun Belt) began this season looking to bounce back after a disappointing 3-9 campaign in 2016 capped by a coaching change in the offseason. Under the direction of first-year coach Shawn Elliott, the Panthers lost their first two games this season. However, Georgia State picked up some steam by winning six of its next seven games.
Five of those six wins were on the road and helped the team secure the second bowl invitation in school history.
“I think one of the biggest things about bowl games are they truly carry on to the following year,” said Georgia State quarterback Conner Manning, a redshirt senior who earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention honors after passing for 2,870 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“To be able to go out there Saturday and compete, if we get that victory, we could help build this program for next year.”
For Georgia State, a win would special. The program is nine years removed from its creation and has only been playing as a Football Bowl Subdivision member for four years. A victory Saturday would provide the school with it’s first bowl win.
“It definitely sets a standard, winning the first one is always the toughest, because you'll start the ball and get things rolling,” Panthers linebacker Trey Payne said. “Coach Elliot is doing a great job of getting us prepared but it'll definitely set a standard by winning this bowl game.”
Georgia State players, who were on this team two years ago, remember the sting of losing to San Jose State in the inaugural Cure Bowl. This time around, they expect things to be different. “Two years ago, I had no idea what their mindset was, but I believe they were just happy to be here and I think they were thinking, ‘Hey we made a bowl game. This is amazing.’ But we’re here to win the bowl game,” Elliot said. “It wasn’t about making the bowl game, it’s about coming here and winning the bowl game. I think that’s the biggest difference between two years ago and now.”
Western Kentucky coach Mike Sanford Jr. knows his team is facing a highly motivated foe on Saturday.
“They play with a lot of passion. You guys will see on third down — it'll be a conglomeration of roughly eight to 35 members of their sideline jumping up and down around the signal caller on third down. We love that challenge. We love playing that kind of football,” Sanford said.
“The key to this game really, what I've been challenging our team is, we have to play harder. We have to play the hardest we've played all year and our effort has to surpass that of our opponents.”