1993 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

1993 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 19
Record8–3
Head coach
Captains
  • Ben Mooney
  • Eddie Thompson
Home stadiumL. T. Smith Stadium
1993 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Troy State ^   –   11 – 0 – 1
Youngstown State ^   –   10 – 2 – 0
UAB   –   9 – 2 – 0
Wagner   –   9 – 2 – 0
No. 12 UCF ^   –   9 – 3 – 0
No. 24 Towson State   –   8 – 2 – 0
No. 19   –   8 – 3 – 0
Hofstra   –   6 – 3 – 1
Saint Mary's   –   6 – 3 – 1
Davidson   –   6 – 4 – 0
Central Connecticut State   –   5 – 5 – 0
Liberty   –   5 – 5 – 0
Marist   –   5 – 5 – 0
Samford   –   5 – 6 – 0
Duquesne   –   4 – 6 – 0
Saint Francis (PA)   –   3 – 7 – 0
Charleston Southern   –   3 – 8 – 0
Monmouth   –   2 – 5 – 0
Buffalo   –   1 – 10 – 0
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

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.[1]

Western Kentucky primarily ran an option offense and led NCAA Division I-AA team in rushing. The team's captains were Ben Mooney and Eddie Thompson.[2] The roster included future National Football League (NFL) player Robert Jackson.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 2at No. 10 Eastern KentuckyW 15–1017,200[3]
September 111:10 p.m.at Kansas StateL 13–3829,356[4]
September 18at Austin PeayW 28–276,089[5]
September 25UABW 40–137,000[6]
October 2Jacksonville StatedaggerNo. 25
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 12–78,800[7]
October 16at Southern IllinoisNo. 21W 51–247,200[8]
October 23at Indiana StateNo. 18L 14–4110,191[9]
October 30Western Illinois
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 41–94,511[10]
November 6at No. 4 Troy StateNo. 24L 24–315,100[11]
November 13Eastern IllinoisNo. 25
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 24–213,527[12]
November 20Murray StateNo. 20
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY (rivalry)
W 44–144,552[13]

References

  1. ^ "NCAA I-AA". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. December 1, 1993. p. B-4. Retrieved April 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ "WKU Football 2021 Media Guide" (PDF). Bowling Green, Kentucky: Western Kentucky University. p. 180. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  3. ^ "Tops open with upset of Eastern". The Park City Daily News. September 3, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Cats show good half in victory". The Wichita Eagle. September 12, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Coleman seals Western win". The Courier-Journal. September 19, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Toppers roll to 3–1 start, coach's best". The Park City Daily News. September 26, 1993. Retrieved December 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Western Kentucky tops Jacksonville St. with four field goals". The Greenville News. October 3, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Western runs over Southern Illinois". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. October 17, 1993. p. C10. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Indiana State jolts Western 41–14 with 'complete game'". The Courier-Journal. October 24, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "WKU, weather and witches conspire against Leathernecks". Messenger-Inquirer. October 31, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Down by 17 in 4th, Troy State overtakes WKU 31–24". The Courier-Journal. November 7, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Western tops Eastern Illinois 28–14". The Glasgow Daily Times. November 14, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Hilltoppers rout Murray; playoffs announced today". The Park City Daily News. November 21, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.