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[1] and was led by coach Jimmy Feix. They finished the regular season undefeated and won the Ohio Valley Conference championship.[2] 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.[3] Their rankings in the final polls were UPI 2 and AP 3.[4][5]
| 1973 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football | |
|---|---|
OVC champion Grantland Rice Bowl Champion | |
Camellia Bowl, L 0–34 vs. Louisiana Tech | |
| Conference | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Ranking | |
| AP | No. 3 |
| Record | 12–1 (7–0 OVC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Home stadium | L. T. Smith Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Western Kentucky $^ | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Murray State | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Kentucky | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Morehead State | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Tennessee State | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Middle Tennessee | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee Tech | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Austin Peay | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This team was one of the best in school history, set a school record for victories, and finished ranked 1st in NCAA Division II in Scoring Offense. The roster included future NFL players Virgil Livers, John Bushong, David Carter, Rick Caswell, Clarence “Jazz” Jackson, and Mike McCoy. Porter Williams and David Nollner were named to All American teams, Lonnie Schuster was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year, and Feix OVC Coach of the Year.[6] The All OVC team included Bushong, Jackson, Charlie Johnson, McCoy, Bob Morehead, Nollner, Schuster, Aundra Skiles, and Williams.[7] The coaching staff included future NFL coach Romeo Crennel.
Schedule edit
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8 | at Appalachian State* | W 42–7 | 8,250 | [8] | ||
| September 22 | at Austin Peay | W 28–0 | 7,000 | |||
| September 29 | East Tennessee State | W 30–0 | 13,500 | |||
| October 6 | Western Carolina* | No. 13 |
| W 45–7 | 13,400 | |
| October 13 | Tennessee Tech | No. 11 |
| W 41–0 | 13,150 | |
| October 20 | at Eastern Kentucky | No. 6 | W 35–0 | 19,500 | ||
| October 27 | Morehead State | No. 5 |
| W 34–7 | 19,250 | |
| November 3 | at Middle Tennessee | No. 3 | W 42–8 | 10,000 | ||
| November 10 | at Butler* | No. 3 | W 48–6 | 3,425 | ||
| November 17 | Murray State | No. 3 |
| W 32–27 | 19,250 | |
| December 1 | Lehigh | No. 2 |
| W 25–16 | 12,500 | [9] |
| December 8 | vs. No. 5 Grambling | No. 2 |
| W 28–20 | 15,000 | [10] |
| December 15 | vs. No. 3 Louisiana Tech | No. 2 |
| L 0–34 | 12,016 | [11] |
| ||||||
References edit
- ^ "Western Kentucky Hilltoppers College Football Scores, Schedules, and Analytics".
- ^ Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory: A History Of Athletics At Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co. ASIN B00ILIOPAO.
- ^ DeLassus, David (2016). "Western Kentucky Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- ^ "Small college poll". The Daily Chronicle. De Kalb, Illinois. November 28, 1973. p. 23. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Bows No. 9 in Final AP Poll". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu, Hawaii. December 20, 1973. p. E-1. Retrieved May 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 2017 OVC Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020
- ^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
- ^ "Western snaps Appalachian wishbone 42–7". The Park City Daily News. September 9, 1973. Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Patterson, Tom (December 2, 1973). "Santa Gives Nod and Western Rises". The Courier-Journal & Times. Louisville, Ky. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "California, here comes Western!". The Courier-Journal. December 9, 1973. Retrieved March 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "No doubts! Louisiana Tech is 1st College Division National Champ after 34–0 win". The Sacramento Bee. December 16, 1973. Retrieved June 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
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