Taggart: Hilltoppers looking forward, not back

After apologizing on Twitter last week to the Western Kentucky faithful for saying some students wear Kentucky gear "because they couldn't get into UK," he gave them one of the most memorable moments in school history: a victory over Kentucky. He then took a verbal jab at Wildcat fans by boasting after the overtime victory that "WKU red is the new blue."

Hilltopper fans didn't seem to mind that one.

Western Kentucky (2-1) is favored against the Golden Eagles (0-2), the defending Conference-USA champions.

Taggart said players had 25 hours instead of the usual 24 to celebrate the win against Kentucky. That deadline has passed.

"At 11 o'clock (Sunday) night I texted all of them and told them it was over with, we're on to the next one," Taggart said.

The Hilltoppers move on against a Golden Eagles team that lost 49-20 to Nebraska and fell 24-14 Saturday to East Carolina in their Conference-USA opener.

The defending C-USA champs have struggled this season under first-year Coach Ellis Johnson but have consistently been one of the nation's best non-automatic qualifying conference schools. Southern Miss is one of eight teams that have been to 14 bowls the past 15 years.

Taggart said a Google search on the Golden Eagles reveals much about the success of the Hilltoppers' next opponent.