2000 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

Last updated

2000 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png
OVC champion
Conference Ohio Valley Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 5
Record11–2 (7–0 OVC)
Head coach
Defensive coordinator Don Martindale
Home stadium L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
←  1999
2001  →
2000 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Western Kentucky $^  7 –0   11 –2  
No. 17 Eastern Illinois ^  6 –1   8 –4  
No. 22 Tennessee Tech  5 –2   8 –3  
Murray State  4 –3   6 –5  
Eastern Kentucky  3 –4   6 –5  
Tennessee State  2 –5   3 –8  
Southeast Missouri State  1 –6   3 –8  
Tennessee–Martin  0 –7   2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

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. [1] 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. [2] The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked No. 5 in final national poll by The Sports Network. [3]

Western Kentucky was ranked first in pass efficiency, scoring defense, and turnover margin out of all NCAA Division I-AA teams. The team's roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Joseph Jefferson, Mel Mitchell, Sherrod Coates, and Bobby Sippio, and NFL coach Jason Michael. [4] Sippio and Melvin Wisham were named to the AP All-American team and Harbaugh was OVC Coach of The Year. The All-Conference team included DeWayne Gallishaw, Peter Martinez, Chris Price, Sippio, Wisham, Coates, Jefferson, and Mitchell. [5]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 9 Tennessee–Martin
W 71–07,800
September 16at No. 24 Elon *
W 23–05,081
September 23at Southeast Missouri State No. 24
W 38–1410,222
September 30at Murray State No. 24
W 48–388,266
October 7No. 18 Eastern Kentucky No. 20
W 6–310,500
October 14 Tennessee Tech Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 14
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 17–1412,200
October 21at Tennessee State No. 12
W 52–146,932 [6]
October 28No. 19 Eastern Illinois No. 9
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 34–1211,300
November 4at South Florida *No. 6
L 24–3031,104
November 11 Indiana State *No. 10
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 28–35,800
November 18 Southern Illinois *No. 7
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 22–05,200 [7]
November 25No. 13 Florida A&M *No. 7
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)
W 27–03,200
December 6No. 14 Appalachian State *No. 7
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)
L 14–175,100 [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football</span> College football team that represents Western Kentucky University

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football program is a college football team that represents Western Kentucky University. The team competes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level and represents the university as a member of Conference USA in the Eastern division. The 2002 team was the FCS national champion. The program has 13 conference championships and 6 FBS-level bowl game victories. The Hilltoppers play their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky and the team's head football coach is Tyson Helton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle for the Red Belt</span> American college football rivalry

The Battle for the Red Belt is an American college football rivalry between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team of Western Kentucky University and the Murray State Racers football team of Murray State University. The rivalry began as an in-conference rivalry within the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), but both schools have since departed for other conferences. The Hilltoppers were the first to move, transitioning to the Football Bowl Subdivision and playing as an independent in the 2008 season before moving football to the Sun Belt Conference in 2009, followed by a move to Conference USA in 2014. The Racers, which remain in the Football Championship Subdivision to this day, played their final OVC season in 2022, and joined the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2023. The rivalry has continued as a trophy game, although it is no longer played on an annual basis.

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The 2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by head coach Jack Harbaugh in his 14th and final season as head coach. They claimed a share of the Gateway Football Conference championship and made the school's third straight appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. After a rocky start, the team rallied to win their last 10 games including the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game, beating McNeese State, 34–14, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked number 1 in both final 1AA postseason national polls.

The 1973 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the inaugural 1973 NCAA Division II football season. The team came off an 7–3 record from the prior season and was led by coach Jimmy Feix. They finished the regular season undefeated and won the Ohio Valley Conference championship. The Hilltoppers made the initial NCAA Division II Football Championship, winning their first two playoff games, including a win over Grambling in the Grantland Rice Bowl, before falling in the championship game to Louisiana Tech in the Camellia Bowl. Their rankings in the final polls were UPI 2 and AP 3.

The 1975 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1975 NCAA Division II football season. The team came off an 7–3 record from the prior season and was led by coach Jimmy Feix. They claimed a share of the Ohio Valley Conference championship and returned to the NCAA Division II Football Championship for the second time in three years. One of the highlights of the season was a victory over NCAA Division I Louisville. The Hilltoppers won their first two playoff games, including a win over New Hampshire in the Grantland Rice Bowl, before falling in the championship game to Northern Michigan in the Camellia Bowl. They finished ranked 3rd in both the AP and UPI final polls.

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The 2003 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by first-year head coach David Elson. Coming off winning the NCAA Division I-AA Championship the previous year, this team contended for Gateway Football Conference championship but ended up finishing tied for 3rd. They made the school's fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, beating Jacksonville State in the first round before losing to Wofford in the quarterfinals. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked number 7 in final 1AA postseason national poll.

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The 2004 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by second-year head coach David Elson. The team contended for Gateway Football Conference championship but finished 2nd. They made the school's fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs; it would end up being WKU's last playoff appearance, as they would initiate transitioning to NCAA Division I-A/FBS in 2006. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked 11th in final I-AA postseason national poll.

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The 2005 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2005 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were coached by David Elson. The Hilltoppers started the season strong, but after being ranked number 1 in Division I-AA, they lost their last four games and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team</span> American college football season

The 2001 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were coached by Jack Harbaugh. This was the school's first season as a member of the Gateway Football Conference, having won the Ohio Valley Conference championship the previous year. The Hilltoppers were the preseason favorites to win the conference but finished tied for 2nd. They qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs where they were defeated by eventual runner-up, Furman. The team was originally scheduled to play Wisconsin on September 14, however, due to the September 11 attacks, all college football games were suspended the following weekend, and the game was played on the 29th.

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 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. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked 13th in the final national poll.

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 1978 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the inaugural 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by head coach Jimmy Feix. The NCAA had formed NCAA Division I-AA for football and Western Kentucky, along with the rest of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), moved up from Division II to I-AA. The Hilltoppers won the OVC championship, but just missed the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. The team finished the season tied for fourth in final national NCAA poll.

The 1971 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. The team was led by coach Jimmy Feix and won their second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championship and the school's fourth overall. The coaching staff included future NFL coach Romeo Crennel. The Hilltoppers’ rankings in the final polls were UPI 12 and AP 6, and finished ranked 1st in Pass Defense in NCAA Division II. The team roster included future NFL players Virgil Livers, John Bushong, Clarence “Jazz” Jackson, and Mike McCoy. Jim Barber was named to the Universal Sports All-American team. The All OVC team included Barber, Terry Kokinda, Bob Morehead, Leo Peckenpaugh, Bill Sykes, and Terry Thompson.

The 1970 Western Kentucky football team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1970 NCAA College Division football season. The team was led by coach Jimmy Feix and won the Ohio Valley Conference championship after coming in second the previous three years. The coaching staff included future NFL coach Romeo Crennel. The Hilltoppers’ finished the season ranked No. 12 in the AP and No. 9 in the UPI final polls.

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 1998 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by All-American quarterback Willie Taggart and head coach Jack Harbaugh. This would be the team's last year as an independent, the next year they would rejoin the Ohio Valley Conference as a football only member. The Hilltoppers primarily ran an option offense and were ranked 3rd in rush offense for NCAA Division I-AA. They missed returning to the NCAA Playoffs and finished the season ranked 19th in final 1AA postseason national poll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team</span> American college football season

The 1999 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 1999 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by head coach Jack Harbaugh. The Hilltoppers rejoined the Ohio Valley Conference as a football only member this year; the school left the OVC in 1982 and had been a football independent since. The team's roster included future NFL players Joseph Jefferson, Rod “He Hate Me” Smart, Sherrod Coates, Mel Mitchell, Bobby Sippio, and Ben Wittman, as well as future NFL coach Jason Michael. Patrick Goodman was named to the AP All American team. The All OVC Team included Goodman, Sippio, Smart, Melvin Wisham, Wittman and Mitchell.

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 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. ↑ 2017 OVC Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020
  2. ↑ Toppers search for haven, By Justin Willis,, The Daily News, Jun 13, 2000, retrieved 6 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "I-AA poll". The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. December 19, 2000. p. 4C. Retrieved May 20, 2017– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. ↑ Pro Football Reference, retrieved 30 April 2020
  5. ↑ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
  6. ↑ "Western rolls 52–14, turns focus to title showdown". The Courier-Journal. October 22, 2000. Retrieved March 2, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Sippio, Western crush S. Illinois 22-0". The Courier-Journal . November 19, 2000. p. C12. Retrieved January 15, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Western Kentucky snowed under, 17–14". The Courier-Journal. December 3, 2000. Retrieved November 30, 2021– via Newspapers.com.


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