The first game week news conference at Eastern Kentucky University for this football season looked a little different. EKU Head Football Coach Walt Wells suffered a cardiac episode this past weekend and remains hospitalized. Gary McPeek is stepping in to fill the role of acting head coach. McPeek said he got a positive update and is excited about Wells' progress. He was asked how he would feel to come back to Richmond with a win over Eastern Michigan.
“Nothing would make me happier than to get home at 5:00 a.m. off that bus ride and to drive that football up and to give it to Miss Jen and take that leadership group with me, take the freakin bus. I’d think we’d take them all. Just circle that place and take that ball up to him. Nothing would make me any happier,” said McPeek.
McPeek said he’s known Walt Wells for 25 years in coaching. During the game week briefing, McPeek said the team is resilient and responding well to their head coach’s absence.
“Adversity is gonna hit. This ain’t gonna be the last time. This just happens to be the first time for us. How you handle adversity is what kind of person you are. And we got a choice. You can either make excuses and whatever and lay down or you can freakin bow your neck and line up and play and do it the way your supposed to do. And I know all these young me will do that,” said McPeek.
EKU’s game against Eastern Michigan is scheduled this Friday evening in Ypsilanti.
