2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
NCAA Division I-AA champion; Gateway co-champion
NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game, W 34–14 vs. McNeese State
Conference	Gateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 1
Record	12–3 (7–1 Gateway)
Head coach	Jack Harbaugh (14th season);
Co-offensive coordinator	Willie Taggart (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Keven Lightner (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	David Elson (2nd season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	L. T. Smith Stadium
	Seasons ← 2001 2003 →

2002 Gateway Football Conference standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 1 Western Kentucky +^	6	–	1	12	–	3
No. 5 Western Illinois +^	6	–	1	11	–	2
Youngstown State	4	–	3	7	–	4
Illinois State	4	–	3	6	–	5
Indiana State	3	–	4	5	–	7
Northern Iowa	2	–	5	5	–	6
Southern Illinois	2	–	5	4	–	8
Southwest Missouri State	1	–	6	4	–	7

+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

This team won the school's first NCAA team championship and tied the program record for victories in a season set by the 1973 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team. Their roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Sherrod Coates, Jeremi Johnson, and Brian Claybourn, and future NFL coach Jason Michael. Coates, Chris Price, and Buster Ashley were named to the AP All American team and Harbuagh was named AFCA Coach of the Year Award. The All Conference team included Ashley, Coates, Price, Jeremy Chandler, Erik Dandy, Jon Frazier, and Daniel Withrow.^[3]

Schedule[edit]

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 31	6:10 pm	at Kansas State*	No. 18	KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS	L 3–48	45,844
September 7	5:30 pm	Kentucky State*	No. 22	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 49–0	9,500
September 14	1:30 pm	Western Illinois	No. 21	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	L 0–14	6,000	^[4]
September 21	5:30 pm	No. 11 Youngstown State		L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 13–7	10,100
September 28	7:00 pm	at No. 2 McNeese State*	No. 25	Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA	L 13–38	16,840
October 5	4:05 pm	at No. 6 Northern Iowa		UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	W 31–12	14,684
October 12	5:30 pm	FIU*		L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 56–7	6,000
October 19	1:30 pm	at Southwest Missouri State	No. 24	Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	W 31–7	13,002
October 26	4:30 pm	Indiana State	No. 22	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 24–7	11,200
November 2	4:30 pm	Illinois State	No. 19	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 9–0	5,600	^[5]
November 16	1:30 pm	at Southern Illinois	No. 15	Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	W 48–16	3,203	^[6]
November 30	1:00 pm	No. 23 Murray State*	No. 15	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY (NCAA Division I-AA First Round, Battle for the Red Belt)	W 59–20	3,300
December 7	1:00 pm	at No. 3 Western Illinois*	No. 15	Hanson Field Macomb, IL (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)	W 31–28	3,300	^[7]
December 14	1:05 pm	at No. 2 Georgia Southern*	No. 15	Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal)	W 31–28	6,573
December 20	5:30 pm	vs. No. 1 McNeese State*	No. 15	Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN (NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game)	W 34–14	12,360
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Rankings[edit]

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes ( ) = First-place votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
The Sports Network	18	22	21	RV	25	RV	RV	RV	24	22	19	15	15	15	1 (41)

Game summaries[edit]

At Kansas State[edit]

No. 18 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Kansas State Wildcats – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 18 Hilltoppers	0	0	0	3	3
Wildcats	3	31	7	7	48

at KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas

Date: August 31
Game time: 6:10 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Clear, 89 °F (32 °C)
Game attendance: 45,844
Referee: John Laurie
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

KSU – Joe Rheem 36-yard field goal, 10:26. Wildcats 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 4:34.

Second quarter

KSU – Ayo Saba 2-yard run (Joe Rheem kick), 12:57. Wildcats 10–0. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 5:57.
KSU – Bobby Walker 73-yard interception return (Joe Rheem kick), 8:56. Wildcats 17–0.
KSU – Danny Morris 7-yard run (Joe Rheem kick), 4:51. Wildcats 24–0. Drive: 3 plays, 62 yards, 1:01.
KSU – Darren Sproles 9-yard run (Joe Rheem kick), 3:45. Wildcats 31–0. Drive: 1 play, 9 yards, 0:06.
KSU – Joe Rheem 38-yard field goal, 0:00. Wildcats 34–0. Drive: 7 plays, 27 yards, 0:00.

Third quarter

KSU – Ell Roberson 18-yard run (Joe Rheem kick), 3:47. Wildcats 41–0. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:31.

Fourth quarter

WKU – Peter Martinez 30-yard field goal, 7:18. Wildcats 41–3. Drive: 13 plays, 60 yards, 6:09.
KSU – Ayo Saba 2-yard run (Jared Brite kick), 1:27. Wildcats 48–3. Drive: 14 plays, 89 yards, 5:51.

Statistics	WKU	KSU
First downs	12	23
Total yards	183	412
Rushing yards	110	240
Passing yards	73	172
Turnovers	2	0
Time of possession	31:55	27:14

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing	Jason Michael	7/11, 73 yards, INT
	Rushing	Maurice Bradley	19 rushes, 64 yards
	Receiving	Casey Rooney	2 receptions, 28 yards
Kansas State	Passing	Ell Roberson	4/8, 108 yards
	Rushing	Darren Sproles	19 rushes, 135 yards, TD
	Receiving	Derrick Evans	3 receptions, 74 yards

Kentucky State[edit]

Kentucky State Thorobreds at No. 22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Thorobreds	0	0	0	0	0
No. 22 Hilltoppers	14	17	9	9	49

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Date: September 7
Game time: 5:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 9,500

Statistics	KSU	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kentucky State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Western Illinois[edit]

Western Illinois Leathernecks at No. 21 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	7	7	0	0	14
No. 21 Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Date: September 14
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 6,000

Statistics	WIU	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 11 Youngstown State[edit]

No. 11 Youngstown State Penguins at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 11 Penguins	0	7	0	0	7
Hilltoppers	3	7	3	0	13

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Date: September 21
Game time: 5:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 10,100

Statistics	YSU	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Youngstown State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At No. 2 McNeese State[edit]

No. 25 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 2 McNeese State Cowboys – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 25 Hilltoppers	0	10	3	0	13
No. 2 Cowboys	14	7	7	10	38

at Cowboy Stadium, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Date: September 28
Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 16,840

Statistics	WKU	MCN
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
McNeese State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At No. 6 Northern Iowa[edit]

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 6 Northern Iowa Panthers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	0	7	10	14	31
No. 6 Panthers	3	0	3	6	12

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Date: October 5
Game time: 4:05 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 14,684

Statistics	WKU	UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

FIU[edit]

FIU Panthers at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	7	7
Hilltoppers	21	21	0	14	56

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Date: October 12
Game time: 5:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 6,000

Statistics	FIU	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At Southwest Missouri State[edit]

No. 24 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Southwest Missouri State Bears – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 24 Hilltoppers	7	7	10	7	31
Bears	7	0	0	0	7

at Plaster Sports Complex, Springfield, Missouri

Date: October 19
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 13,002

Statistics	WKU	SMS
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southwest Missouri State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Indiana State[edit]

Indiana State Sycamores at No. 22 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Sycamores	7	0	0	0	7
No. 22 Hilltoppers	10	14	0	0	24

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Date: October 26
Game time: 4:30 p.m. CDT
Game attendance: 11,200

Statistics	INS	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Indiana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Illinois State[edit]

Illinois State Redbirds at No. 19 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0
No. 19 Hilltoppers	0	6	3	0	9

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Date: November 2
Game time: 4:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 5,600

Statistics	ILS	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At Southern Illinois[edit]

No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Southern Illinois Salukis – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers	7	13	14	14	48
Salukis	3	0	6	7	16

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, Illinois

Date: November 16
Game time: 1:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 3,203

Statistics	WKU	SIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 23 Murray State (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)[edit]

No. 23 Murray State Racers at No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (NCAA Division I-AA First Round) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 23 Racers	0	14	0	6	20
No. 15 Hilltoppers	24	14	7	14	59

at L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Date: November 30
Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 3,300

Statistics	MUR	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Murray State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At No. 3 Western Illinois (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)[edit]

No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 3 Western Illinois (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers	0	7	7	17	31
No. 3 Leathernecks	0	14	7	7	28

at Hanson Field, Macomb, Illinois

Date: December 7
Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 3,300

Statistics	WKU	WIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At No. 2 Georgia Southern (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal)[edit]

No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at No. 2 Georgia Southern Eagles (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers	7	10	7	7	31
No. 2 Eagles	7	0	0	21	28

at Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, Georgia

Date: December 14
Game time: 1:05 p.m. CST/2:05 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 6,573

Statistics	WKU	GSO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Georgia Southern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Vs No. 1 McNeese State (NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game)[edit]

No. 15 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. No. 1 McNeese State Cowboys (NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 15 Hilltoppers	7	10	7	10	34
No. 1 Cowboys	0	6	8	0	14

at Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Date: December 20
Game time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Game weather: Partly cloudy, 48 °F (9 °C)
Game attendance: 12,360
Referee: A. Bellows
TV announcers (ESPN2): Ron Franklin, Mike Gottfried, and Adrian Karsten
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

WKU – Jeremi Johnson 16-yard pass from Jason Michael (Peter Martinez kick), 9:36. Hilltoppers 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 27 yards, 3:01.

Second quarter

WKU – Jon Frazier 55-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 14:51. Hilltoppers 14–0. Drive: 4 plays, 88 yards, 1:53.
MCN – John Marino 30-yard field goal, 7:32. Hilltoppers 14–3. Drive: 10 plays, 56 yards, 4:37.
WKU – Peter Martinez 40-yard field goal, 4:55. Hilltoppers 17–3. Drive: 6 plays, 43 yards, 2:37.
MCN – John Marino 24-yard field goal, 0:07. Hilltoppers 17–6. Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards, 0:48.

Third quarter

WKU – Jon Frazier 14-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 11:03. Hilltoppers 24–6. Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 1:05.
MCN – Luke Lawton 15-yard pass from Scott Pendarvis (Scott Pendarvis pass to Jeff Hamilton), 3:49. Hilltoppers 24–14. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:13.

Fourth quarter

WKU – Jason Michael 2-yard run (Peter Martinez kick), 13:49. Hilltoppers 31–14. Drive: 10 plays, 79 yards, 5:00.
WKU – Peter Martinez 23-yard field goal, 2:51. Hilltoppers 34–14. Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:36.

Statistics	WKU	MCN
First downs	13	26
Total yards	380	405
Rushing yards	195	137
Passing yards	185	268
Turnovers	1	3
Time of possession	30:18	29:42

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing	Jason Michael	6/10, 185 yards, TD
	Rushing	Jon Frazier	27 rushes, 159 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Jeremi Johnson	3 receptions, 90 yards, TD
McNeese State	Passing	Scott Pendarvis	21/38, 244 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Marcus Trahan	12 rushes, 82 yards
	Receiving	B. J. Sams	7 receptions, 69 yards

References[edit]

^ 2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020
^ "Div. I-AA poll". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. December 24, 2002. p. 6B. Retrieved May 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
^ Herbst, Rob (September 15, 2021). "Hilltoppers sacked by WIU". The Daily News. p. 1B. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Brown, C. L. (November 3, 2002). "Defense dominates in Western's 9-0 win". The Courier-Journal. p. C9. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Hilltoppers top Salukis for share of league title". The Courier-Journal. November 17, 2002. p. C9. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Jauss, Bill (December 8, 2021). "Kicker's premonition turns into truth". Chicago Tribune. p. 3:5. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[1] 2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020

[2] "Div. I-AA poll". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. December 24, 2002. p. 6B. Retrieved May 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.

[4] Herbst, Rob (September 15, 2021). "Hilltoppers sacked by WIU". The Daily News. p. 1B. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] Brown, C. L. (November 3, 2002). "Defense dominates in Western's 9-0 win". The Courier-Journal. p. C9. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "Hilltoppers top Salukis for share of league title". The Courier-Journal. November 17, 2002. p. C9. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] Jauss, Bill (December 8, 2021). "Kicker's premonition turns into truth". Chicago Tribune. p. 3:5. Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

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v t e Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
Venues	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium (1968–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Eastern Kentucky: Battle of the Bluegrass Middle Tennessee: 100 Miles of Hate Murray State: Battle for the Red Belt
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National championship seasons in bold