By Wiley Ballard
NASSAU, Bahamas – “Records are made to be broken. It is in man’s nature to continue to strive to do just that.”
British Virgin Island resident and multi-billionaire Richard Branson coined that phrase in his pursuit of multiple world records. But as of this week, Branson isn’t the only record-breaker in his neck of the woods, or perhaps more accurately, the isles of the Caribbean.
WKU’s Brandon Doughty and Central Michigan’s Titus Davis have arrived in the Bahamas not so much as record breakers but as record-book destroyers.
Doughty, a redshirt senior, lays claim to 14 individual school records up. By virtue of his 593 yard passing performance against Middle Tennessee, his unprecedented 4,344 passing yards in 2014 and his jaw-dropping 58 career touchdowns in just two seasons, Doughty owns the Hilltopper record book.
In WKU’s signature win over C-USA champion Marshall, the Davie, Fla. native threw for four touchdowns in the first quarter, six in the first half and eight on the afternoon. Each total added another record under Doughty’s name.
With the postseason in full swing Doughty has received even more attention. The quarterback was recently named C-USA’s MVP and received the Sammy Baugh Award which is presented to college football’s top passer by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio. On top of the accolades, Doughty also received an additional, sixth year of eligibility on account of injuries during his first two seasons – another year to rewrite the record book.
On the Central Michigan sideline, senior wide receiver Titus Davis has made his fair share of record book revisions.
The Wheaton, Ill. native holds the school record for career touchdowns (33) and is just one of three Chippewas to earn all-conference honors in each of their four seasons. Davis, who averages 94 yards per game, needs just 85 to pass Bryan Anderson and become the Chippewas’ all-time leading receiver with 3,648 yards.
Davis hasn’t just settled for school records either. The four-time all-MAC selection has broken into the national archives by way of his consistency. With his three touchdowns in Central Michigan’s 34-27 win over Miami (Ohio), Davis became the first player in FBS history to record eight or more touchdowns in each of his four seasons despite missing three games in 2014.
While Wednesday’s game will be his last as a Chippewa, Davis, according to multiple experts, is a prime candidate for the upcoming NFL draft. But before Davis’ professional career begins, there’s business to be taken care of in the Bahamas.
And for two renaissance men like Brandon Doughty and Titus Davis, a championship in the inaugural Popeyes Bahamas Bowl is at the forefront of their focus.
