1978 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1978 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football Ohio Valley Conference OVC T–4 8–2 7–0 Jimmy Feix 11th Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium OVC champion The 1978 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the inaugural 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by head coach Jimmy Feix. The NCAA had formed NCAA Division I-AA for football and Western Kentucky, along with the rest of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), moved up from Division II to I-AA.OVC History, retrieved 30 April 2020 The Hilltoppers won the OVC championship, but just missed the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.2017 OVC Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020 The team finished the season tied for fourth in final national NCAA poll.Division I-AA Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida November 21, 1978 4B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11023010/poll_1978_1121_i_aa/ Newspapers.com May 15, 2017 Western Kentucky's roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Carl Brazley, Darryl Drake, Ray Farmer, Ricky Gwinn, Lamont Meacham, Eddie Preston, Phil Rich, Troy Snardon, Brad Todd, Tony Towns, and Pete Walters. Towns was selected to play in the Blue-Gray Football Classic and Coach Feix was named OVC Coach of the Year for the second time. The All-Conference Team included Brazley, John Hall, Reginald Hayden, Preston, and Towns.2019 WKU Football Media Guide retrieved March 31, 2020. Schedule 1978 NCAA Division I-AA Associated Press September 9 l y Chattanooga L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 15–42 13,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer/89895637/ Messenger-Inquirer Powerful Mocs scortch Western September 10, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com September 16 w y y Illinois State Hancock Stadium Normal, IL 28–6 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-western-kentucky-beats-is/154983803/ The Pantagraph Western Kentucky beats ISU, 28–6 September 17, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 w Austin Peay 10 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 17–13 15,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-western-kentucky/154983928/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Western Kentucky tops Austin Peay September 24, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 w y East Tennessee State Memorial Center Johnson City, TN 27–21 5,732 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-western-clips-east-tenne/154984044/ The Paducah Sun Western clips East Tennessee October 1, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 l y 10 Akron 6 (D-II) L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 21–26 15,600 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-1978-10-07-akro/11249238/ The Akron Beacon Journal Team effort spells victory for Akron October 8, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 w y Tennessee Tech Tucker Stadium Cookeville, TN 26–20 16,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-heroics-by-hall-hay/154984295/ The Courier-Journal Heroics by Hall, Hayden help Western tip Tenn. Tech 26–20 October 15, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 w Eastern Kentucky 7 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY rivalry 17–16 19,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-toppers-win-on-late/154984415/ Messenger-Inquirer 'Toppers win on late kick October 22, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 w y 8 Morehead State Jayne Stadium Morehead, KY 35–7 9,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-city-daily-news-halls-arm-doom/154984509/ The Park City Daily News Hall's arm dooms Eagles October 29, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 w 7 y Middle Tennessee L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY rivalry 54–0 19,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-flip-flops-but-we/154984655/ The Courier-Journal 'Flip' flops, but Western, Skaggs 'Barry' Middle November 5, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 w y 4 Murray State Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY rivalry 14–6 9,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ovc-crown-to-western/154984757/ The Tennessean OVC crown to Western November 19, 1978 September 9, 2024 Newspapers.com References Western Kentucky Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football seasons Category:Ohio Valley Conference football champion seasons Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football