1973 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

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 State 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
Rice Bowl Champion
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
Ranking
APNo. 3
1973 record12–1 (7–0 OVC)
Head coach
Assistant coachRomeo Crennel
Home stadiumL. T. Smith Stadium
1973 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW 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
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from Associated Press poll

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
DateOpponentRankSiteResult
September 8at Appalachian State*
W 42–7
September 22at Austin Peay
W 28–0
September 29East Tennessee State
W 30-0
October 6Western Carolina*No. 13
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, Kentucky
W 45–7
October 13Tennessee TechNo. 11
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, Kentucky
W 41–0
October 20at Eastern KentuckyNo. 6
W 35–0
October 27Morehead StateNo. 5
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, Kentucky
W 34–7
November 3at Middle TennesseeNo. 3
W 42–8
November 10at Butler*No. 3
W 48–6
November 17Murray StateNo. 3
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, Kentucky
W 32–27
December 1LehighNo. 2
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, Kentucky (NCAA Quarterfinal)
W 25–16
December 8vs. No. 5 Grambling StateNo. 2
W 28–20
December 15vs. No. 3 Louisiana TechNo. 2
L 0–34
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References
  1. http://college-football-results.com/f/wkentuck.htm
  2. Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory: A History Of Athletics At Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co. ASIN B00ILIOPAO.
  3. DeLassus, David (2016). "Western Kentucky Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  4. "Small college poll". The Daily Chronicle. De Kalb, Illinois. November 28, 1973. p. 23. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "'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.
  6. 2017 OVC Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020
  7. WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
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