Commentary: WKU coach doubling as fashion consultant

Willie Taggart, head football coach at Western Kentucky University, I have a confession to make:

I sometimes wore another college’s shirt, hat and/or hoodie while attending Wright State University.

Granted, it was mostly in support of the Ohio State and Penn State football programs, as my beloved WSU didn’t have one. I’m not sure if that would have drawn the ire of Taggart or not. The WKU coach made headlines earlier this week when he questioned why students would walk around campus wearing University of Kentucky gear, especially when the teams meet on the football field Saturday.

Said Taggart: “It’s just not good. Whether it’s just respect or not, it just don’t make a lot of sense. You’ll wear another school’s shirt, jersey, whatever it is. You don’t go to school there. That makes no sense at all. Everybody wears it and I hear people ask me why they do it. The reason they’re at WKU, probably, is they didn’t get into UK and then they want to support them. Just doesn’t make any sense.”

It does if you’re from Kentucky.

Or Ohio.

Or Michigan.

There are exceptions with pockets of protest in Louisville, Cincinnati and East Lansing, but growing up a Big Blue, a Buckeye or a Wolverines fan is like a family heirloom handed down from generation to generation.

Taggart was right about one thing, though. WKU students should show some school spirt. My Raiders shirt was the preferred choice over anything Ohio State when traveling up to St. John Arena to watch the Raiders battle the Buckeyes.

Taggart, for his part, can help shift the culture at Western Kentucky University starting Saturday.

If you don’t want WKU students to wear UK clothes, then beat them.

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