Lots of Manatee County flavor at WKU-Nebraska opener

Two former Manatee County players are expected to play key roles in the Willie Taggart era that begins Saturday when Western Kentucky visits Nebraska.

Braden River’s Willie McNeal is slated to start at receiver and return punts and kickoffs while true freshman Ty Scott from Palmetto High goes into the game as a second team defensive back.

The game will mark the head coaching debut of former Manatee High great Taggart, who takes over a team that did not win a game last season and has lost 20 straight.

The game has some strong Manatee County ties involving three former quarterbacks, who played at Manatee under legendary head coach Joe Kinnan.

Tommie Frazier, former Nebraska All-American, played at Manatee High and helped sway Brion Carnes, last year’s quarterback for Kinnan, to the Cornhuskers. Ray Woodie, who coached and played at Palmetto High, is on Taggart’s staff.