Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football

WKU Hilltoppers football
2016 WKU Hilltoppers football team
First season 1908
Athletic director Todd Stewart
Head coach Jeff Brohm
3rd year, 2910 (.744)
Stadium Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
Seating capacity 22,000
Field surface FieldTurf
Location Bowling Green, Kentucky
NCAA division Division I FBS
Conference Conference USA
Division East
All-time record 54038032 (.584)
Bowl record 41 (.800)
Claimed nat'l titles 1 (FCS)
Conference titles 12 (7 Division II, 4 FCS 1 Football Bowl Subdivision)
Colors Red and White[1]
         
Fight song Stand Up and Cheer!
Mascot Big Red
Marching band Big Red Marching Band
Rivals Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders and Marshall Thundering Herd
Website WKU Official Athletic Site

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football program is a college football team that represents Western Kentucky University (WKU). The team is currently a member of Conference USA, which is a NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The program has 1 national championship (FCS/I-AA), 12 conference championships (1 SIAA, 9 OVC, 1 Gateway, 1 Conference USA) and 5 Consensus All-Americans. The team's head football coach is Jeff Brohm. The Hilltoppers play their home games at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky.[2]

History

Early history

Western Kentucky first fielded a football team in 1908. The program's first coaches were M.A. Leiper and Roy Manchester. The Hilltoppers didn't compete in football from 1917–1919 because of World War I. L. T. Smith, whose name bears the Hilltoppers' home stadium, coached the team for two seasons from 1920–1921.

E.A. Diddle era (1922–1928)

Better known for serving as Western Kentucky's iconic basketball coach, Edgar Diddle coached the Hilltoppers football team for seven seasons. The Hilltoppers had their first football successes under Diddle, who was a dual athlete himself and encouraged his players to do the same so they could stay in shape.

Carl Anderson era (1929 and 1934–1937)

Carl Anderson served two stints as Western Kentucky's head football coach. Anderson posted a 31–12–3 record as the Hilltoppers head football coach.

Nick Denes era (1957–1967)

Nick Denes coached WKU football for 11 seasons, compiling a 57–39–7 mark for a .587 winning percentage. Denes was also the former WKU Hilltoppers baseball head coach, in which Nick Denes Field is named after.

Jimmy Feix era (1968–1983)

Jimmy Feix is the most successful coach in Western Kentucky football history. He complied a 105–56–6 record in 16 seasons as head coach. He led the transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS). His teams won six Ohio Valley Conference championships and two Division II runners-up in 1973 and 1975. Feix was also a six-time OVC Coach of the Year. His winning percentage (.6488) is also the highest among all coaches in Western Kentucky football history.

Jack Harbaugh era (1989–2002)

Jack Harbaugh served as the Hilltoppers head football coach for 14 seasons, compiling a 91–68 record, two conference championships (OVC 2000, Gateway 2002) and the 2002 Division I-AA National Championship. Harbaugh took the Hilltopper football program from the depths of despair in the early 1990s to its best stretch since the legendary Jimmy Feix coached on the Hill. Jack and his wife Jackie are credited with saving the WKU Football program. Jack's two sons, Baltimore Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh and Michigan head coach, Jim Harbaugh are also credited with helping their dad with recruiting and building a football powerhouse.[3]

David Elson era (2003–2009)

Coach David Elson led the Hilltoppers for seven seasons, four of which were at the Division I-AA level (now FCS). Elson led WKU into their first season in Division I-A (now FBS) as an Independent in 2007 posting a 7–5 record (with only one win over an FBS opponent, MTSU) before becoming full members including football of the Sun Belt Conference in 2008. WKU didn't win another FBS game under Elson which led to his firing after an 0–12 record in 2009.

Willie Taggart era (2010–2012)

WKU Quarterback Legend, Willie Taggart, returned to his alma mater as head football coach in 2010 leaving his position as Stanford running backs coach, where he served under Jack Harbaugh's son Jim Harbaugh.[4] In their first year under Taggart, coming off a winless season under Elson, WKU finally broke their 26-game losing streak with a 54–21 win at Louisiana-Lafayette. The Hilltoppers finished 2–10 that season. From there, Taggart is credited with getting WKU's football program back on track after posting back to back 7–5 regular seasons that included an upset of Kentucky in Lexington in 2012. That was Western Kentucky's first win over an SEC opponent in program history.

Despite the surprising 7–5 record in 2011, a season in which the Hilltoppers went 7–1 in their final eight games, they were not invited to a bowl game. However, in 2012, the Hilltoppers were invited to their first ever bowl game, the Little Caesar's Bowl. But, on WKU on December 7, 2012, prior to their December 26th bowl game, Taggart left WKU to accept the head football coach position at South Florida.[5] Lance Guidry, WKU's defensive coordinator was named interim head coach and led the Hilltoppers in their first bowl appearance as an FBS member. In a valiant but unsecssuful effort WKU was defeated 21- 24 by Central Michigan.[6]

Taggart, who started all four years as the Hilltopper's quarterback from 1995 to 1998, ran a run-heavy West Coast offense as WKU's head coach that helped develop leading rushers Bobby Rainey and Antonio Andrews.

Bobby Petrino era (2013)

Former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino was hired as the new head football coach following Taggart's departure.[7] In the news conference announcing Petrino's hiring in December 2012, athletic director Todd Stewart called the hiring a "landmark moment" in the history of WKU football.[8] Petrino led the team to a second straight win over SEC opponent Kentucky in August 2013, his first game as the Hilltoppers head football coach.[9] The Hilltoppers finished the 2013 regular season with an 8–4 record but were again snubbed from a bowl appearance.

On April 1, 2013, it was announced that Western Kentucky would join Conference USA in all sports effective July 1, 2014.[10]

In January 2014, it was announced that Petrino would leave WKU to accept the head football coach position at Louisville.[11]

Jeff Brohm era (2014–present)

After one season as offensive coordinator for the Hilltoppers, Jeff Brohm was promoted to the program's head football coach, replacing Petrino.[12] In his first season, WKU went 8–4. Highlights of the season include defeating #24 Marshall in Huntington 67–66[13] (which effectively started a rivalry) and winning the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, their first FBS bowl win with a 49–48 victory over Central Michigan.[14] Quarterback Brandon Doughty led FBS in passing yards with 4,830. He also threw for 49 touchdowns and was named 2014 Sammy Baugh Trophy winner and 2014 Conference USA Most Valuable Player.[15]

Brohm led WKU to an eleven-win regular season in 2015, highlighted by an undefeated conference record, WKU's first appearance in the top 25, and a Conference USA championship (beating Southern Miss in the championship game 45–28). The Hilltoppers went on to defeat South Florida, who was coached by former Hilltopper player and coach Willie Taggart, in the Miami Beach Bowl 45–35, ending the season with a 12-2 record and ranked 24th in the nation. Quarterback Brandon Doughty again led FBS in passing yards with 5,055 and passing touchdowns with 48 again being named the 2014 Conference USA Most Valuable Player for a second straight year (becoming the first player in league history to win the award in back-to-back seasons).

Logos and uniforms

Traditionally, the logo for Western Kentucky athletics was a diagonal "WKU" lettering. Although the "WKU" is still in use, the primary logo was switched in 2003 to a red towel with an embossed "WKU" wordmark in white.[16]

The Hilltoppers have a long relationship with Russell Athletic for their uniforms and the contract was renewed through 2016. Red and white are the primary colors of the football uniforms with an occasional gray or black uniform.

Before the 2011 season, head coach Willie Taggart announced new uniforms that were worn through the 2012 season. The highlight of the design were 2 shoulder stripes and featured bold "WKU" lettering on the chest.[17] During the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the Hilltoppers wore an alternate gray uniform with the same design template.[18]

On July 18, 2013, head coach Bobby Petrino held a launch event for new uniforms for the 2013 football season. Photos had already been released of chrome football helmets a few months after he was hired. Three WKU uniforms were released at the event and each design was paired with a chrome helmet. The new black alternate uniform received the most attention on social media.[19] The white away uniform included red sleeves in the design and all three pants had "Hilltoppers" lettering down the side.[20] The red design included black sleeves and all three uniforms had the Western Kentucky seal as a watermark in the numbers.[21]

On August 16, 2016, WKU released 2 new (red home and white away) jerseys with 3 pants (red, white, and black.) The houndstooth design from legendary coach, Jimmy Feix's fedora is used on team shirts and down the stripe of the helmet. Also, the university's cupola is enscribed on the chest plate and the line from the school's alma mater "We shall never fail thee" is written on the bottom of the jersey. On the pants, visibility of "Hilltoppers" lettering down the side of the pants increases. On the game against Alabama on September 10, WKU differed from their chrome helmets and unveiled new matte white helmets for the contest. They also wore the matte white helmest for their game against MTSU on October 15 due to the fact that MTSU also wears chrome helmets.

All-time record vs. CUSA teams

Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current CUSA opponents:

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First Last
Charlotte 0 0 0
Florida Atlantic 3 5 0 .375 Won 2 2008 2016
FIU 6 4 0 .600 Won 4 2002 2016
Louisiana Tech 2 4 0 .333 Lost 1 1939 2016
Marshall 4 4 0 .500 Won 3 1941 2016
Middle Tennessee 31 33 1 .485 Won 2 1914 2016
North Texas 4 4 0 .500 Won 4 2007 2016
Old Dominion 3 0 0 1.000 Won 3 2014 2016
Rice 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 2015 2016
Southern Miss 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 2012 2015
UAB 3 3 0 .500 Lost 3 1993 2014
UTEP 1 0 0 1.000 Won 1 2014 2014
UTSA 1 0 0 1.000 Won 1 2014 2014
Totals 62 57 1 .521

NCAA affiliations

Conference affiliations

National championships

Year Selector Coach Record
2002 NCAA Division I-AA Jack Harbaugh 12–3–0

Conference championships

WKU was a 1AA football independent from 1982 through 1998 and again in 2007 and 2008 while transitioning from FCS to FBS.

Year Conference Record
1932 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association 7–1–0
1952 Ohio Valley Conference 9–1–0 (co-champions)
1963 Ohio Valley Conference 10–0–1
1970 Ohio Valley Conference 8–1–1
1971 Ohio Valley Conference 8–2–0
1973 Ohio Valley Conference 12–1–0
1975 Ohio Valley Conference 11–2–0 (co-champions)
1978 Ohio Valley Conference 8–2–0
1980 Ohio Valley Conference 9–1–0
2000 Ohio Valley Conference 11–2
2002 Gateway Football Conference 12–3 (co-champions)
2015 Conference USA 12–2 (8–0)

Bowl Games

WKU competed in two "College Division" bowl games prior to the NCAA instituting playoffs for lower division teams in 1973. In 2009 WKU completed its transition from Division I-AA/FCS to FBS. All bowl games since then were at the NCAA Division I FBS level.

Season Date Coach Bowl Result Opponent
1952 December 7 Jack Clayton Refrigerator Bowl W 34–19 Arkansas State
1963 December 28 Nick Denes Tangerine Bowl W 27–0 Coast Guard
2012 December 26 Lance Guidry (interim) Little Caesars Pizza Bowl L 21–24 Central Michigan
2014 December 24 Jeff Brohm Bahamas Bowl W 49–48 Central Michigan
2015 December 21 Jeff Brohm Miami Beach Bowl W 45–35 South Florida

NCAA Playoff appearances

The NCAA began Division II National Football Championship in 1973. WKU made NCAA Division II playoff appearances in 1973 and 1975. NCAA Division I-AA was formed for football in 1978, and WKU moved up from Division II to Division 1-AA at that time, and all playoff appearances since then were at the Division 1-AA level. In 2006 the name of Division 1-AA was changed to NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). In 2007, WKU initiated the transition to NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and became ineligible for any further playoff appearances.

Year Record Coach Results
1973 12–1Jimmy FeixLehigh W 25–16; Grambling W 28–20; Louisiana Tech L 0–34 (NCAA Runners-up)
1975 11–2Jimmy FeixN. Iowa W 14–12; New Hampshire W 14- 3; N. Michigan L 14–16 (NCAA Runners-up)
1987 7–4Dave RobertsEastern Kentucky L 17–40
1988 9–4Dave RobertsWestern Illinois W 35–32; Eastern Kentucky L 24–41
1997 10–2Jack HarbaughEastern Kentucky W 42–14; Eastern Washington L 21–38
2000 11–2Jack HarbaughFlorida A&M W 27–0; Appalachian State L 14–17
2001 8–4Jack HarbaughFurman L 20–24
2002 12–3Jack HarbaughMurray St W 59–20; W. Illinois W 31–28; GA Southern W 31–28; McNeese St W 34–14 (NCAA Champions)
2003 9–4David ElsonJacksonville State W 45–7; Wofford L 17–34
2004 9–3David ElsonSam Houston State L 24–54

Hilltoppers in the polls

In 2008, WKU began competing in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, and as such was eligible for the post-season AP poll and the USA Today coaches' poll.

Year Record AP USA Today
2015 12–2 24 26* received votes

From 1978 until 2007, WKU competed in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and as such was eligible for the post-season FCS coaches poll and the Sports Network poll, started in 1993. They have appeared in the final rankings 12 seasons.

Year Record Coaches Sports Network
1978 8–2–0 5
1980 9–1–0 5
1987 7–4–0 11
1988 9–4–0 16
1993 8–3–0 NR 19
1997 10–2 7 5
1998 7–4 22 17
2000 11–2 7 5
2001 8–4 10 12
2002 12–3 1 1
2003 9–4 8 7
2004 9–3 11 11

Hilltoppers in the NFL

Active
Free agent or practice squad
Former

A total of 30 Hilltoppers have been drafted in the NFL.

Notable Hilltopper players

Notable Hilltopper coaches

Head coaches
Assistants

Retired jerseys

Individual award winners

Justin Haddix – 2003
Jack Harbaugh2002
Nick Denes – 1963
Jimmy Feix – 1973, 1978, 1980
Jack Harbaugh2000
Bobby Rainey – 2010, 2011
Antonio Andrews – 2013
Quanterus Smith – 2012
Xavius Boyd – 2013
Antonio Andrews – 2013
Brandon Doughty – 2014
Brandon Doughty – 2015

All-Americans

WKU has fielded 64 All-Americans, with the first being named in 1952 and the last being named in 2005.

5 have been designated by the NCAA as "Consensus All-Americans" (selected by the AP, the Walter Camp Foundation and the AFCA). They are:

WKU's total of 5 Consensus All-Americans outpaces BCS programs Duke, Wake Forest, and Iowa State.

Rivalries

WKU has several historic rivalries that stem from its time in the Ohio Valley Conference. Since WKU's move to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2008, two of the three rivalry games are no longer played on an annual basis.

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of November 4, 2016

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
at Miami (OH) vs Eastern Kentucky at Wisconsin vs Central Arkansas vs Chattanooga at Army at Hawaii vs South Florida at South Florida
vs Vanderbilt at Illinois vs Maine at Indiana at Indiana vs Indiana vs Austin Peay
at Alabama vs Ball State at Louisville vs Louisville (Nashville, TN) at Louisville
vs Houston Baptist at Vanderbilt at Ball State vs Army

[27]

References

  1. WKU Communication & Branding Manual (PDF). Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  2. Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. "Harbaugh sons used unconventional means to help father build college football powerhouse". Yahoo! Sports. 23 January 2013.
  4. "Western Kentucky hires Stanford assistant Willie Taggart as coach – USATODAY.com". usatoday.com.
  5. "Welcome Home Willie Taggart". GoUSFBulls.com.
  6. "Little Caesars Bowl: Western Kentucky gamble fails; Central Michigan wins". Sporting News.
  7. "Bobby Petrino hired as new Western Kentucky head coach". CBSSports.com.
  8. "Bobby Petrino is new WKU football coach". wdrb.com. 10 December 2012.
  9. "Kentucky Wildcats vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Recap". ESPN.
  10. "Western Kentucky to Join Conference USA in 2014". conferenceusa.com.
  11. "Louisville Cardinals hire Bobby Petrino as football coach". ESPN.
  12. "Jeff Brohm hired as coach of Western Kentucky Hilltoppers". ESPN.
  13. "Western Kentucky vs Marshall". ESPN.
  14. "Central Michigan vs Western Kentucky". ESPN.
  15. "After filling up stat sheet last year, Brandon Doughty focusing on championship". Kentucky.com.
  16. UniformCritics.com, Photos and History of Western Kentucky Football Uniforms. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  17. UniformCritics.com, Photos of 2011–2012 Red Hilltoppers Football Uniform. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  18. UniformCritics.com, Photos of 2012 Gray WKU Football Uniform. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  19. UniformCritics.com, Photos of 2013 Western Kentucky Black Alternate Uniform. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  20. UniformCritics.com, Photos of 2013 Western Kentucky White Football Uniform. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  21. UniformCritics.com, Photos of 2013 Western Kentucky Red Football Uniform. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20080917131133/http://www.wkusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5400&ATCLID=1573894. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. Archived March 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  24. Austin Lewis (February 9, 2011). "Inside the Rivalry : 100 Miles of Hate". rivals.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  25. Brad Stephens (4 October 2011). "WKU, MTSU rivalry week under way". College Heights Herald.
  26. "Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Football Schedules and Future Schedules". fbschedules.com. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
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