WKU Football: Louisiana Tech Q&A With Go Tech Pls Don't Die
While we don't necessarily want Tech to "die," them losing on Thursday night would be ideal.
Western Kentucky takes to the road this week for their first away Conference USA test, and it comes against a Louisiana Tech team that almost always has high expectations and, at least over the last decade or so, very rarely meets them.
It’s always (well, almost always) a good time when the Tops and Techsters get together. Since 2014, the series has been split, 3-3, with each of the last two Tech wins coming by a combined three points and each of WKU’s last two wins coming by two scores.
The two teams haven’t met since 2018, however (if you can believe that) and a lot has changed for both programs in that time.
To get caught up to speed, we reached out to one of CUSA - if not college athletics - best Twitter accounts and blogs in our pals, Go Tech Pls Don’t Die. GTPPD’s Nathan was kind enough to stop by to answer some questions for us.
This was an absolute joy, with the GTPDD homies being maybe our closest in the CUSA blogosphere, especially after being the two most prominent left behind programs in 2021.
And that’s where we pick up…
The Towel Rack: Before we talk about the game itself, let's have a vibe check. If there were two schools who felt most slighted about remaining in Conference USA after the 2021 realignment carousel, it was WKU and La Tech. I think, for the most part, Toppers fans have come to terms - begrudgingly or not - about the new CUSA. How have the last 18 months or so been for Tech fans in that regard?
Go Tech Pls Don’t Die: I don't think we as a fan base has quite made it all the way through the five stages of grief when it comes to the latest round of realignment. But I think that the team's poor record these past 2.5 years has attributed to staying in the fourth stage (depression) of the Kubler-Ross model. When you get left out and you go 3-9 for two straight seasons, it's harder to find things to be too happy about.
TTR: With La Tech playing in Week 0, this week marks the halfway point for the Bulldogs. A cursory look at the Bulldogs' schedule would make it seem like it's been a bit of a roller coaster of a season to this point. What is your assessment of where the Bulldogs are at and what needs to happen in the back half of their schedule to get them to where they need to be?
GTPDD: While this team hasn't looked "good" all year, they've definitely fluctuated around different levels of "bad." For example, the team that was tied with Nebraska at halftime looked much better than the team that struggled with an FIU team that couldn't complete a pass to save their life. If one of the better versions of this team showed up against North Texas, Tech would be 4-2 and feeling a bit more optimistic.
What really hasn't helped Tech find any consistency is that they lack an identity, especially on offense. Tech fans were promised an air raid offense, and instead got play calling that isn't "afraid" to run on 3rd & 10.
Gathering that identity and making better use of skill players (I'm looking at you Smoke Harris) will be the difference between squeaking into a bowl game and staying home in December for the third straight year.
TTR: Hank Bachmeier and Smoke Harris headline the Bulldogs offense. Who - if anyone - are players worth knowing on the offensive side of the ball that could do some damage against the Hilltoppers?
GTPDD: Tech wants to run the ball, arguably more than they probably should. The issue with pointing to a running back to keep you eye on is that injuries have wrecked the Bulldogs' running back unit.Â
Tyre Shelton, Marquis Crosby and Charvis Thornton are probably the names to know at this point in the season. But who knows which of them (if any) will be healthy enough to suit up Thursday.
TTR: On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs will be without Brevin Randle due to...reasons. In his absence, who will need to step up?
GTPDD: Tech has struggled to stop the run all season long, and Randle was often one of the few pieces of that front seven that kept things from getting any worse. Linebacker Zach Zimos has looked better and better these past few weeks, and has a chance to take a huge step forward with the absence of Randle.
TTR: Finish the sentence: Louisiana Tech will win if...
GTPDD: Our passing defense is actually as good as the stats indicate. Skewed by games against bad passing offenses FIU (4 passing yards allowed) and a UTEP team missing their starting QB (101 passing yards allowed), Tech ranks sixth in college football at passing yards allowed per game.
If the Bulldogs can keep Austin Reed in check, they might have a chance to pull out a victory.
TTR: Western Kentucky will win if...
GTPDD: They can create turnovers. This year, WKU is a Top 10 team in most takeaways and Tech is a Top 10 team in fewest giveaways. Both Tech QBs have taken care of the ball this year, but will that still be true this week?
TTR: If the series history is any indication, the Hilltoppers will either win pretty handily or Tech will win close. What is your prediction for Thursday night?
GTPDD: I think I'm the only one in our gtpdd group to predict this, but I think Tech will pull out a close victory. On our podcast, I predicted something like 31-28 Bulldogs. That's assuming Tech is able to protect the ball, slow down the WKU passing attack, and play as one of the better versions of the team we've watched this year.
That's a lot of things to go right. But on the 50th anniversary of the season that ended with Tech beating WKU for the Division I-AA championship, how could I not pick the Bulldogs?
Our thanks again to Nathan for answering our questions. This is the part where I tell you to follow GTPDD this week for the La Tech perspective, but honestly, you should be following them regardless if WKU is playing them or not. Also, be sure to frequent their website for all things Tech and not dying.