2003 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

Last updated

2003 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png
Conference Gateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 7
Record9–4 (5–2 Gateway)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator T. J. Weist (1st season)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinator Don Martindale (1st season)
Base defense 3–4
Home stadium L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
←  2002
2004  →
2003 Gateway Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Northern Iowa +^  6 –1   10 –3  
No. 9 Southern Illinois +^  6 –1   10 –2  
No. 6 Western Illinois ^  5 –2   9 –4  
No. 7 Western Kentucky ^  5 –2   9 –4  
Illinois State  3 –4   6 –6  
Youngstown State  2 –5   5 –7  
Southwest Missouri State  1 –6   4 –7  
Indiana State  0 –7   3 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

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. [1] 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. [2]

This team included future NFL players Anthony Oakley and Brian Claybourn. Matt Lange and Buster Ashley were named to the AP All American team and Justin Haddix was Gateway Conference Freshman of The Year. The All-Conference team included Ashley, Jeremy Chandler, Claybourn, Erik Dandy, Lange, Karl Maslowski, Casey Rooney, Antonio Veals, Daniel Withrow, Chad Kincaid, Oakley, and Charles Thompson. [3]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 28 Union (KY) *No. 5
W 51–39,325
September 6 West Virginia Tech *No. 5
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 67–310,325
September 20 Eastern Kentucky *No. 3
W 36–318,317
September 27at Auburn *No. 3
L 3–4885,046
October 4at No. 2 Western Illinois No. 6
L 28–3318,263 [4]
October 11 Southwest Missouri State No. 9
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 9–68,383 [5]
October 18at Illinois State No. 9
W 27–248,945 [6]
October 25at Indiana State No. 8
W 59–143,708
November 1No. 3 Southern Illinois Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 8
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
L 24–2813,430 [7]
November 8No. 6 Northern Iowa No. 12
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 24–37,518
November 15at Youngstown State No. 9
W 37–1312,858
November 29No. 17 Jacksonville State *No. 9
W 45–73,573
December 6at No. 2 Wofford *No. 9
L 17–347,500

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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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team</span> American college football season

The 2006 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season and were led by head coach David Elson. It was the school's last season as a member of Gateway Football Conference before their transition to the FBS. The Hilltoppers' schedule was rigorous, with seven ranked opponents, including Georgia.

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.

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 2003 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Don Patterson and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with an 9–4 record overall and a 5–2 record in conference play. The team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Montana in the first round and lost to Colgate in the second round. The team was ranked No. 6 in The Sports Network's postseason ranking of Division I-AA.

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 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.

References

  1. ↑ 2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020
  2. ↑ "Final Division I-AA Poll". The Gettysburg Times. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. December 23, 2003. p. B2. Retrieved May 20, 2017– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. ↑ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Grant, Michael (October 5, 2003). "WKU falls in thriller, 33-28". The Courier-Journal . p. C1. Retrieved October 27, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Lange's last-second FG lifts WKU to 9–6 victory". The Courier-Journal. October 12, 2003. Retrieved June 29, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Moore's late TD lifts WKU, 27-24". The Courier-Journal . October 19, 2003. p. C13. Retrieved November 30, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Rally pushes Salukis over 'Toppers". The Paducah Sun . Associated Press. November 2, 2003. p. 5B. Retrieved December 29, 2021– via Newspapers.com.


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