WKU players, coaches and administrators know how important attendance and ticket sales are when the bowl selection committees choose teams for bowls.

In an effort to help with attendance at a game that falls over Thanksgiving break, WKU is opening the dorms at 10 a.m. Saturday morning to allow students to move back in from Thanksgiving break and attend the 11:30 a.m. game against Troy. 

Senior Associate Athletic Director Todd Stewart said it’s important there’s a strong showing from the student body.

“If (the bowl committees) see a large crowd here on Saturday and see a large student turnout, that will only help our cause in the eyes of the bowl committee,” Stewart said. “Our students deserve a tremendous amount of credit. They’ve been outstanding this year. It started the very first game in Nashville when we had over 4,000 students.

“They’ve come out in force all year long and they’ve certainly played a role in this.”

Stewart acknowledged that the student crowd will likely be slimmer than at other home games, simply because most will be home for Thanksgiving break.

But he said if nothing else, it’s also important the students make their way back to salute the senior class on Senior Day, saying those are the players that have led WKU through its transition to Division I-A.

“For the rest of the student body, what better way than to send the senior class out and to be here in large numbers and help cheer on a huge win,” Stewart said. “It would be a huge win because it would make a difference in the eyes of the bowl committee if we were 7-5, not 6-6.

“It would be great to have them come out on Saturday and end it all on a good note.”