2003 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

American college football season March 2026 August 2023 2003 Western Illinois Leathernecks football Gateway Football Conference Gateway 6 9–4 5–2 Don Patterson 5th Mark Hendrickson 5th Hanson Field NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 27–28 at Colgate The 2003 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Don Patterson and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with an 9–4 record overall and a 5–2 record in conference play. The team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Montana in the first round and lost to Colgate in the second round.Western Illinois Football Record Book https://goleathernecks.com/documents/2021/10/17/Football_Record_Book_Updated_Oct_2021_.pdf Western Illinois University Athletics October 27, 2021 73 The team was ranked No. 6 in The Sports Network's postseason ranking of Division I-AA.Final Division I-AA Poll The Gettysburg Times Gettysburg, Pennsylvania December 23, 2003 B2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11125749/poll_2003_1223_i_aa_tsn_final/ Newspapers.com October 27, 2021 Schedule 2003 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network August 28 Thursday w y 3 Wayne State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 35–3 12,174 Western Illinois spoils Wayne State's opener https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87891982/ October 27, 2021 Sioux City Journal August 29, 2003 B3 Newspapers.com September 4 Thursday w y y 4 Eastern Michigan Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI 34–12 11,123 Vandecar Annette Western Illinois dumps Eastern Michigan, 34-12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87892501/ October 27, 2021 Detroit Free Press September 5, 2003 4H Newspapers.com September 13 l y y 1 LSU Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 7–35 87,164 Vernellis Brian LSU pummels W. Illinois https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87892779/ October 27, 2021 The Times September 14, 2003 1C Newspapers.com September 20 w y 2 2003 Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks Tennessee–Martin Hanson Field Macomb, IL 56–0 11,887 Western Illinois 56, Tenn.-Martin 0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87893378/ October 27, 2021 Quad-City Times Associated Press September 21, 2003 D2 Newspapers.com October 4 w 2 Western Kentucky 5 Hanson Field Macomb, IL 33–28 18,263 Grant Michael WKU falls in thriller, 33-28 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87893731/ October 27, 2021 The Courier-Journal October 5, 2003 C1 Newspapers.com October 11 w y 2 2003 Youngstown State Penguins Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH 54–20 14,218 Youngstown State loses, 54-20 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87893939/ October 27, 2021 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette October 12, 2003 D8 Newspapers.com October 18 l 2 Southern Illinois 7 Hanson Field Macomb, IL 32–37 19,287 Unbeaten Salukis rally past WIU https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87894089/ October 27, 2021 Quad-City Times Associated Press October 19, 2003 D2 Newspapers.com October 25 l 7 Northern Iowa 9 Hanson Field Macomb, IL 30–38 8,302 Gray Rob Panthers' air game delivers victory https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87894297/ October 27, 2021 Des Moines Register October 26, 2003 6C Newspapers.com November 1 w y 13 Illinois State Hancock Stadium Normal, IL 24–20 8,415 Reinhardt Randy Too much Michna for Redbirds https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87894576/ October 27, 2021 The Pantagraph November 2, 2003 D1 Newspapers.com November 8 w y 11 2003 Indiana State Sycamores Indiana State Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN 34–28 2,001 Western Illinois 34, Indiana State 28 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87894926/ October 27, 2021 The Daily Chronicle Associated Press October 27, 2021 B5 Newspapers.com November 15 w 10 Southwest Missouri State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 63–42 7,513 Leathernecks turn up their offense, 63-42 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87895074/ October 27, 2021 The Courier-Journal Associated Press November 16, 2003 C10 Newspapers.com November 29 w y y 10 Montana Washington–Grizzly Stadium Missoula, MT NCAA Division I-AA First Round 43–40<2OT> 16,222 Western Illinois outlasts Montana https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87895372/ October 27, 2021 The Salt Lake Tribune Associated Press November 30, 2003 C14 Newspapers.com December 6 l y y 10 Colgate Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 27–28 5,287 Branch's Late TD Lifts Colgate over W. Illinois Craig Muder December 7, 2003 1B Press & Sun-Bulletin Binghamton, N.Y. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60984119/2003-colgate-illinois/ Western Illinois Schedule 2003 https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/2710/season/2003 ESPN March 16, 2026 References Western Illinois Category:Western Illinois Leathernecks football seasons Western Illinois Leathernecks football Western Illinois