1997 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

Last updated

1997 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 5
Record10–2
Head coach
Home stadium L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
←  1996
1998  →
1997 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 18 Cal Poly  –  10 –1  
No. 5 Western Kentucky ^  –  10 –2  
No. 17 Hofstra ^  –  9 –2  
No. 25 Liberty  –  9 –2  
Samford  –  7 –4  
Morehead State  –  5 –4  
South Florida  –  5 –6  
Southern Utah  –  5 –6  
Saint Mary's  –  4 –6  
Davidson  –  3 –8  
Buffalo  –  2 –9  
La Salle  –  1 –8  
Charleston Southern  –  1 –9  
Austin Peay  –  0 –10  
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

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. [1]

Western Kentucky's roster included future NFL players Rod “He Hate Me” Smart and Ben Wittman. Patrick Goodman and Andy Hape were named to All-America teams, [2] while Harbaugh was Division I-AA Independents and AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. [3] The I-AA Independent All-Star Team included Goodman, Bryan Heyward, Joey Stockton, Hape, Ron Kelly, and Taggart. [4]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 28at Tennessee–Martin No. 10
W 42–07,796
September 6No. 12 Murray State No. 11
W 52–50 3OT15,400
September 13at Eastern Kentucky No. 9
W 37–2118,600
September 20 Austin Peay No. 6
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 53–77,000
September 27 South Florida No. 3
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 31–311,200
October 4at UAB No. 3
L 16–2017,385 [5]
October 18No. 3 (DII) New Haven No. 7
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 24–219,300
October 25at Southern Illinois No. 7
W 52–313,000 [6]
November 1 Morehead State Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 5
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 38–249,700
November 8at Indiana State No. 5
W 21–142,265
November 29No. 15 Eastern KentuckyNo. 5
W 41–149,000
December 3at No. 4 Eastern Washington No. 5
L 21–386,829

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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 Kentukcy 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.

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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 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 1990 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1990 NCAA Division I-AA football season Led by second-year head coach Jack Harbaugh, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 2–8.

The 1991 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1991 NCAA Division I-AA football season Led by third-year head coach Jack Harbaugh, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 3–8. The team's captain was Milton Biggins.

The 1992 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1992 NCAA Division I-AA football season Led by fourth-year head coach Jack Harbaugh, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 4–6. The team's captains were Richard Grice and Mark Lamberth.

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.

The 1995 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1995 NCAA Division I-AA football season Led by seventh-year head coach Jack Harbaugh, the Hilltoppers compiled a record of 2–8. The team's captains were Stephon Benford, Daryl Houston, and Dan McGrath.

References

  1. ↑ "Div. I-AA Poll". Longview News-Journal. Longview, Texas. November 18, 1997. p. 2D. Retrieved April 30, 2017– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. ↑ WKU Football 2021 Media Guide retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. ↑ Coach Bio: Jack Harbaugh retrieved 6 April 2020.
  4. ↑ WKU Football 2019 Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
  5. ↑ "UAB tops Hilltoppers". The Paducah Sun. October 5, 1997. Retrieved December 13, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Hardwig, Greg (October 26, 1997). "Slick Willie waxes Salukis". The Southern Illinoisan . p. 1C. Retrieved January 15, 2022– via Newspapers.com.


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