2006 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

Last updated

2006 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png
Conference Gateway Football Conference
Record6–5 (4–3 Gateway)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator T. J. Weist (4th season)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Base defense 3–4
Home stadium L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
←  2005
2007  →
2006 Gateway Football Conference standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 4 Youngstown State $^  6 –1   11 –3  
No. 8 Illinois State ^  5 –2   9 –4  
No. 17 Northern Iowa  5 –2   7 –4  
No. 7 Southern Illinois ^  4 –3   9 –4  
Western Kentucky  4 –3   6 –5  
Western Illinois  2 –5   5 –6  
Missouri State  1 –6   2 –9  
Indiana State  1 –6   1 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

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 [1] before their transition to the FBS. [2] The Hilltoppers' schedule was rigorous, with seven ranked opponents, including Georgia.

This team's roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Curtis Hamilton, Dan Cline, and Greg Ryan. Hamilton was named to the Hanson All American team. The All-Conference team included Hamilton, Marion Rumph, Dusty Bear, Blake Boyd, Andre Lewis, and Chris Sullivan. [3]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 2at No. 15 (FBS) Georgia *
L 12–4892,746
September 9at No. 23 Eastern Kentucky *
L 21–2619,800
September 16 Chattanooga *
W 28–219,322
September 30No. 21 Western Illinois
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 38–3511,710 [4]
October 7No. 6 Illinois State
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
L 27–287,661 [5]
October 14at Missouri State
W 17–149,405
October 21at No. 13 Southern Illinois
W 27–2411,024 [6]
October 28 Indiana State Dagger-14-plain.png
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 41–312,424
November 4at No. 14 Northern Iowa
L 20–318,746
November 11No. 6 Youngstown State
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
L 3–197,312
November 18 Austin Peay *
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 24–145,877
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

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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 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 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 1946 Western Kentucky State Teachers Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State Teachers College as a member of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by Jesse Thomas, who returned for his second season as head coach after helming the team in 1933, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 2–6 with a mark of 1–3 in conference play. The team's captains were Dallas Arnold and Rapheal "Boots" Able.

The 1947 Western Kentucky State Teachers Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State Teachers College as a member of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) during the 1947 college football season. Led by Jesse Thomas in his third and final season as head coach, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 3–4–2 with a mark of 1–3 in conference play. The team's captain was Jimmy Haynes.

The 1948 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky State College as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1948 college football season. Led by first-year head coach Jack Clayton, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 5–4 with a mark of 2–3 in conference play, placing fifth in the OVC.

References

  1. ↑ 2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020
  2. ↑ WKU's move to I-A tops 2006 stories, By OJ STAPLETON and MICHEAL COMPTON, The Daily News, Jan 1, 2007, retrieved 30 April 2020
  3. ↑ "2019 WKU Football Media Guide" (PDF). Western Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  4. ↑ Grant, Michael (October 1, 2006). "Last-minute score lifts Hilltoppers". The Courier-Journal . p. C14. Retrieved January 29, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Reinhardt, Randy (October 8, 2006). "ISU Dodges Hilltoppers' Bullet". The Pantagraph . p. D1. Retrieved October 5, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Toppers rally past Salukis". Messenger-Inquirer . Associated Press. October 22, 2006. p. 6B. Retrieved December 19, 2021– via Newspapers.com.


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