Western Kentucky coach Jeff Brohm met with the media Thursday, the final such meeting before he and the Hilltoppers depart Saturday for Wednesday’s Bahamas Bowl.

Jeff Brohm

    Practice: “Practice has gone very well. I think our guys are enthusiastic, they’re ready to get out there on the field, they’ve had a good week.

    “They know we’re going to have to play hard and play well to win. I think they’re looking forward to getting to the Bahamas and playing that game on Wednesday.”

    If Marshall was the ‘championship,’ what is the bowl? “We haven’t used a term yet for this, but we definitely took on that title – the playoffs and the championship game – and they definitely came through big time.

    “Now it’s chance to prove we can do it more than once. This team (CMU) is very well-coached, they play hard, they’re disciplined, they don’t give up big plays, they’re very good on defense, they’ve had big wins this season. We’re gonna have to play well.

    “We’re gonna have to play well in all facets of the game – offense, defense and special teams – to win this game.”

    Layoff: “I think that you always worry about that a little bit, but our guys had time off. I think they’re refreshed, they have the energy and enthusiasm you want right now. I think the fact we’re going there, they’ll enjoy being there, they’ll enjoy being in a new environment, getting ready to play a game.

    “When you’re playing in a new venue like this on gameday, I think our guys will be ready to play.”

    Arriving in the Bahamas: “We won’t practice Saturday when we fly and arrive there. We’ll get up Sunday morning and have what we call a Wednesday practice, which will be a pretty good practice and that’ll be our hardest practice of the week.

    “On Monday, which is basically a Thursday, practice we’ll definitely lighten up, and Tuesday will be a walkthrough and we’ll be ready to play on Wednesday.”

    Improving all three facets: “I think our defense improved the later half of the year. Obviously the last game was a interesting, different game, but we did make some plays.

    “This game we’re gonna have to play well in all three facets. Their offense is gonna run the ball, they’re gonna throw play-action, they’re gonna control it. I know they lead the time of possession by a big margin in their games, so it’s important that we find a way to get a couple three-and-outs, get ‘em off the field.

    “Offensively that means that you’re not gonna get as many possessions, so you have to make sure that they count. So we’ve got to score, hopefully score early which is important as well to try to get a lead and make them do things they don’t want to do.”