New Hilltopper coach looking to stay on top

But Western Kentucky must deal with a tough rival in Western Illinois.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
David Elson isn't new to Western Kentucky and he certainly isn't new to football.
But when he was named the new Hilltoppers' coach in the off-season, he had a problem. He wasn't sure what to do at practice, which units to oversee and where to stand.
So Elson called the man he replaced, Jack Harbaugh, who led Western Kentucky to the Division I-AA national championship last season, and asked for help.
Harbaugh: "You have a whistle?"
Elson: "Yeah."
Harbaugh: "Does it have a string?"
Elson: "Yeah."
Harbaugh: "Well, get out there, stand and twirl it to the right. Then twirl it to the left."
Elson figured he could handle that much.
Stepping in
The Gateway's only new head coach, just 31-years-old, takes over for Harbaugh after seven years as an assistant coach. Elson was the defensive coordinator the last two seasons.
"It's been a whirlwind off-season, but the transition has been smooth," he said. "We feel like we have a good senior group [23]. We're just looking forward to getting started."
Although Western Kentucky is the defending national champion, it still was picked second in the Gateway Conference's preseason poll, behind Western Illinois.
"Last year we were in an underdog role. This year we have to assume the role of the favorite," Western Illinois coach Don Patterson said.
"We feel that with our talent level, we should have a chance to win each game," he added. "Our focus is on not cheating ourselves with the ability we have been given."
Growing rivalry
One of the hottest story lines coming into the 2003 season is the rivalry that's developing between Western Kentucky and Western Illinois.
Both teams finished with 6-1 Gateway records, but Western Illinois won the championship by virtue of its 14-0 victory over the Hilltoppers in the season's second week.
The teams rematched in the playoff quarterfinals, with Western Kentucky winning 31-28 after the Leathernecks missed a 61-yard game-tying field goal in the waning seconds.
"That was the most intense and competitive football game I have ever been associated with as a player or coach," Elson said.
"A lot of the credit goes to Coach Patterson and the attitude and intensity their program has developed," he added. "We feel like we've developed that over the years with Coach Harbaugh, and hopefully I can keep that going."
The only negative on the teams' rivalry came following their playoff meeting last season, when a brawl ensued after the missed field goal.
Elson scowled when asked about the incident during Thursday's Media Day in St. Louis and then said, "We've decided to focus on the 2003 football team and season, and we've forgotten about all of that."
The teams play on Oct. 4 in Macomb, Ill.