1988 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

Last updated

1988 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record9–4
Head coach
Home stadium L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
←  1987
1989  →
1988 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Georgia Southern ^  – 10 –2 –0
No. 13 Western Kentucky ^  – 9 –4 –0
Liberty  – 8 –3 –0
Nicholls State  – 7 –4 –0
William & Mary  – 6 –4 –1
Towson  – 5 –5 –0
Arkansas State  – 5 –6 –0
James Madison  – 5 –6 –0
Louisiana Tech  – 4 –7 –0
Northeastern  – 4 –7 –0
Youngstown State  – 4 –7 –0
Lamar  – 3 –8 –0
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

The 1988 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by head coach Dave Roberts. The team earned their second consecutive NCAA Division I-AA playoff berth, making it to the quarterfinals. [1] The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked 13th in the final national poll. [2]

Western Kentucky's roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Tony Brown, Eddie Godfrey, Anthony Green, Jerome Martin, Xavier Jordan, Dean Tiebout, Jonathan Watts, and Riley Ware. Joe Arnold, Tiebout, and Dewayne Penn were named to the AP All American team.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 10at Morehead State No. 17
W 34–06,500
September 17at No. 15 Middle Tennessee No. 17
L 10–1310,500
September 24No. 8 Eastern Kentucky
W 16–1418,000 [3]
October 1 Austin Peay No. 14
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 28–37,500
October 8 Illinois State No. 10
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 31–1610,200
October 15at Southwest Missouri State No. 8
W 21–148,059
October 22at Tennessee Tech No. 5
W 20–179,242
October 29 Chattanooga Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 5
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 31–2918,200
November 5at Eastern Illinois No. 5
L 0–610,021
November 12at Louisville No. 11
L 17–3531,636
November 19 North Carolina A&T No. 16
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 44–02,500
November 26at No. 3 Western Illinois No. 13
W 35–326,000 [4]
December 3at No. 7 Eastern KentuckyNo. 13
L 24–418,100 [5]

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The 2000 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2000 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by veteran head coach Jack Harbaugh. They won their first conference championship since 1980, going undefeated in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in just their second year after rejoining as a football-only member; the school was a football independent from 1982 through 1998. The Hilltoppers received the OVC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division I-AA playoff, making it to the quarterfinals. Prior to the start of the season, the OVC gave Western Kentucky an ultimatum, join the conference for all sports or leave. The administration decided to leave and joined the Gateway Football Conference. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked No. 5 in final national poll by The Sports Network.

The 1997 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by quarterback Willie Taggart and head coach Jack Harbaugh. The team was an independent and earned their first NCAA Division I-AA Playoff berth since 1988, making it to the quarterfinals. The Hilltoppers primarily ran an option offense and were ranked 1st in Rush Offence for NCAA Division I-AA. They finished the season ranked 5th in final I-AA postseason national poll.

The 1987 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Dave Roberts, the Hilltoppers compiled a 7–4. The team earned the school's first NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoff berth; their previous playoff appearances had been at the NCAA Division II level. Western Kentucky played their home games at L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Lights were installed prior to the season, and Western Kentucky hosted their first night game on September 19, a victory over rival Murray State. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked No. 11 in final NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll. Western Kentucky's roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Tony Brown, Malcolm Darden, James Edwards, Glenn Holt, David Smith, Steve Walsh, Harold Wright, Xavier Jordan, and Dean Tiebout. Edwards, Walsh, and Dewayne Penn were named to the AP All American team.

The 1980 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers compiled and overall record of 9–1 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, winning the OVC title. However, Western Kentucky was not selected for the NCAA Division I_AA Football Championship playoffs. Instead, the OVC's second-place finisher, Eastern Kentucky, was invited despite the fact that Western had beaten them earlier in the season. This perceived snub was a factor in Western Kentucky's decision to leave the OVC in 1982. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked fifth in final Associated Press poll.

The 1993 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1993 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fifth-year head Jack Harbaugh, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 8–3. They missed the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs but finished the season ranked No. 19 in final NCAA Division I-AA poll.

The 1996 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by quarterback Willie Taggart and head coach Jack Harbaugh. The team was an independent and primarily ran an option offense. Their schedule included top-ranked and eventual undefeated NCAA Division I-AA champion, Marshall. Western Kentucky's roster featured future National Football League (NFL) player Ben Wittman. Joey Stockton and Mike Mills were named to All-American teams. The I-AA Independent All-Star Team included Antwan Floyd, Trae Hackett, Stockton, Turner Goodwin, and Mills.

The 1981 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 4–4 on conference play, tying for fourth in the OVC. The team's captains were Greg Gallas, Troy Snardon, Lamont Meacham.

The 1982 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team was an American football team that represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 15th-year head coach Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 5–5. The team's captain was Tom Fox.

The 1983 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 16th-year head coach Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 2–8–1. The team's captains were Paul Gray and Walter York.

The 1984 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by first-year head coach Dave Roberts, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 2–9.

The 1985 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach Dave Roberts, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 4–7.

The 1986 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Dave Roberts, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 4–6–1.

The 1989 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1989 NCAA Division I-AA football season Led by first-year head coach Jack Harbaugh, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 6–5.

The 1994 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season Led by sixth-year head coach Jack Harbaugh, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 5–6. The team's captains were Sheldon Benoit and Lito Mason.

References

  1. ↑ "WKU Football 2021 Media Guide" (PDF). Bowling Green, Kentucky: Western Kentucky University. p. 180. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Final NCAA Division I-AA". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. November 21, 1988. p. C4. Retrieved May 4, 2017– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. ↑ "Maher gets his kicks as Western Kentucky trips Eastern 16–14". The Courier-Journal. September 25, 1988. Retrieved March 23, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Branch, Bruce W. (November 27, 1988). "6th interception does it as Western survives Western Illinois comeback". The Courier-Journal . p. C5. Retrieved November 11, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Harris' 4 touchdowns boost Eastern past Western, into I-AA semifinal". The Courier-Journal. December 4, 1988. Retrieved March 23, 2024– via Newspapers.com.


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