Andrew Mead will be back on the football field this week as Western prepares for the Mineral Water Bowl, but it’s his play at Rockhurst last weekend that is noteworthy.

Mead, a junior wide receiver who is playing basketball for the first time this season as well, had eight points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes of action Saturday — pretty fair for a guy who hadn’t played hoops competitively since high school.

He is averaging 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in just 10.5 minutes of play each game. Mead’s main focus has been on learning the offense the past three weeks, and coach Tom Smith expects his production to climb as the forward conditions himself to basketball.

"We’re just dipping our toe in the water with Andrew right now," Smith said Monday. "He has certainly shown some signs of being a very, very good player. I would be surprised he is does not end up in starting lineup eventually.

"I am very pleased with how he has come along. We don’t have the benefit of the shooting yet and some of the other things. They will come when he is in basketball shape and has his mind strictly on basketball."