With only one day of preparation remaining, the Campbellsville University football program is ready to launch its "Over the Top" campaign for 2010 Saturday night.

The Tigers will welcome Mid-South Conference East Division foe Kentucky Christian University at 7 p.m., Aug. 28 for the first-ever night game on synthetic turf at HIG Field and Finley Stadium.

"We're excited about the lights and the turf. It's provided us with some great opportunities for our practices, and the atmosphere is going to be intense. I think we'll have a record crowd Saturday against Kentucky Christian. Everyone's excited about the facilities that we have now," CU head coach Perry Thomas said.

The Tigers will line up with most of its team returning from 2009, but a few fresh faces on offense. One of the most noticeable changes will be at quarterback, where former Metcalfe County quarterback and University of the Cumberlands transfer Will Warf (6-foot-2, 225) won the starting job this past week over last year's first game starter Robert Hill of Mount Juliet, Tenn. Nathan Cooper, a redshirt-sophomore from Owensville, Mo., started most of the 2009 season but will sit out the start of the 2010 season due to injury.

"Will had a great spring. We thought he'd be in the mix with Nathan and Robert for the top spot. We didn't know if he'd win it, but he's definitely won it out right," Thomas said.

Warf was the No. 5 passer in Class 2A of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association during his senior season at Metcalfe County in 2007. He averaged 141.2 yards per game, while completing 58 percent of his passes. He led state 2A quarterbacks with 25 touchdowns thrown.

"These past two years have really helped me develope as QB. Being able to set back and watch Nathan Cooper and Robert Hill I have really learned a lot from them these two years. It was hard setting back and having to just sit around and watch, but I believe I have gotten better by doing so. The main thing I did was to just keep telling myself not to get down, that my time would come, that I would get the chance to compete," Warf said.

Mark Terry gets some reps during Thursday's practice.

Another fresh face is running back Mark Terry of Radcliff, Ky., who beat out returning starter Wayne Coffee for the Saturday's season opener. Terry led the Maroon team to victory, 16-7, in the spring game this past April by scoring a late touchdown to secure the win. Saturday will be Terry's first game at Campbellsville, despite practicing with the Tigers each of the last two springs. He sat out in 2009 due to eligibility issues. Warf also helped lead the Maroon to victory in April, throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to returning wide receiver Harold Small and also helped set up a 36-yard field goal by David Hon.

Through the first two weeks of camp and one scrimmage, Thomas said he sees a great attitude and improved speed among his players as they prepare for the first game.

"We're a great deal faster than we've been. We have team speed that fits our system really well. Our guys are more experienced. We're getting started a week later than some of the teams in the Mid-South Conference, because we have so many guys," Thomas said.

With receivers Demetric Ray and Stan Warrenhuffman back from last year's injuries and Harold Small returning, Warf will see the speed Thomas talks of in his receiving corp.

"Fans can expect to see an offense that I believe is very fun to watch. I have great athletes that surround me and really I just need to get them the ball and let them do the rest," Warf said. "Our offensive line, I wouldn't trade for any other in the country. They do such a great job of not only giving me time to pass but also opening up holes for our running backs. Fans should expect to see and exciting game when we have the ball."

To Warf and Thomas, that begins Saturday when Kentucky Christian comes to town, a team that finished last in the MSC West in 2009, but one that leaves question marks for how to prepare in 2010. 

"They are where we were three years ago. No one knows what to expect," Thomas said. "We really don't know what they have. We're going to have to be sound and understand that it's our first conference game, not just our first game. This is a game that counts toward a conference game. We're going to go out there, fly around and have some fun."

Thomas said one of the best things about entering his third season as head coach at Campbellsville is the Tigers are not starting a true freshman for the first time on offense or defense. The lone true freshman slated to start, as of Thursday, is Kyle Thomas of Vine Grove, Ky., who will handle kick offs for the Tigers.

Tickets for Saturday's season opener and historic night game are still available, $9 for adults and $5 for students. CU faculty, staff and students get in free.

The game will be televised by Campbellsville University TV station WLCU on Comcast Cable channel 10. Play-by-play veteran Jim Freeman and analyst Adam Smith return on the CU Sports Network to provide radio coverage in 2010 on K-Country 105.7 FM. Live video, audio and statistics can be found online at CampbellsvilleTigers.com with live audio also on KCountry1057.com.