2002 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

American college football season March 2026 August 2023 2002 Western Illinois Leathernecks football Gateway Football Conference Gateway 5 11–2 6–1 Don Patterson 4th Mark Hendrickson 4th Hanson Field Gateway co-champion NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 28–31 vs. Western Kentucky The 2002 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Don Patterson and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with an 11–2 record overall and a 6–1 record in conference play, making them conference co-champions. The team received an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Eastern Illinois in the first round and lost to Western Kentucky in the quarterfinal.Western Illinois Football Record Book https://goleathernecks.com/documents/2021/10/17/Football_Record_Book_Updated_Oct_2021_.pdf Western Illinois University Athletics October 30, 2021 73 The team was ranked No. 5 in The Sports Network's postseason ranking of Division I-AA.Div. I-AA poll The Burlington Free Press Burlington, Vermont December 24, 2002 6B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11125770/poll_2002_1224_i_aa_tsn_final/ Newspapers.com October 30, 2021 Schedule 2002 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network August 29 w y 2002 Drake Bulldogs Drake Hanson Field Macomb, IL 64–7 10,830 Moeller Sean Leathernecks roll over Bulldogs https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87955543/ October 30, 2021 Quad-City Times August 30, 2002 D8 Newspapers.com September 14 w y Western Kentucky 21 Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 14–0 6,000 Herbst Rob Hilltoppers sacked by WIU https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87955950/ October 30, 2021 The Daily News September 15, 2021 1B Newspapers.com September 21 w y y 20 Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL 29–26 23,598 Narang Bobby Leathernecks put the bite on Huskies https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87956300/ October 30, 2021 The Daily Chronicle September 22, 2002 B1 Newspapers.com September 28 w y 12 Sam Houston State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 41–13 15,318 Undefeated Leathernecks scamper past Sam Houston State https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88045783/ October 30, 2021 Quad-City Times September 29, 2002 D13 Newspapers.com October 5 l y 8 Southern Illinois McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL 52–54 10,283 SIU wins shootout with WIU, 54-52 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88046429/ October 30, 2021 Daily Republican-Register Associated Press October 7, 2002 5 Newspapers.com October 12 w 13 Illinois State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 22–17 10,113 Reinhardt Randy W. Illinois holds off Redbirds https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88046989/ October 30, 2021 The Pantagraph October 13, 2002 D1 Newspapers.com October 19 w 10 Indiana State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 52–21 8,562 No. 10 W. Illinois overpowers Indiana St. with 2nd-quarter run https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88047215/ October 30, 2021 The Indianapolis Star October 20, 2002 C12 Newspapers.com October 26 w 9 2002 Youngstown State Penguins Youngstown State 23 Hanson Field Macomb, IL 19–0 14,186 Leathernecks shut out Youngstown State, 19-0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88047521/ October 30, 2021 The Southern Illinoisan Associated Press October 27, 2002 3B Newspapers.com November 2 w y 8 Southwest Missouri State Robert W. Plaster Stadium Springfield, MO 28–23 1,885 Western Illinois pulls out win over Bears https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88048236/ October 30, 2021 The Southern Illinoisan Associated Press November 3, 2002 3B Newspapers.com November 9 w y 8 Northern Iowa UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA 35–12 9,443 Gremmels Jon Western Illinois claims title share; UNI drops to 4-6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88049327/ October 30, 2021 Des Moines Register November 10, 2002 9C Newspapers.com November 16 w y y 5 2002 Southern Utah Thunderbirds Southern Utah Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT 38–28 1,913 Western Illinois 38, Southern Utah 28 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88049809/ October 30, 2021 Quad-City Times November 17, 2002 D2 Newspapers.com November 30 w y 3 Eastern Illinois 10 Hanson Field Macomb, IL NCAA Division I-AA First Round 48–9 2,429 WIU storms Eastern https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88050281/ October 30, 2021 Quad-City Times December 1, 2002 D3 Newspapers.com December 6 l 3 Western Kentucky 15 Hanson Field Macomb, IL NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 28–31 Jauss Bill Kicker's premonition turns into truth https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88051230/ October 30, 2021 Chicago Tribune December 8, 2021 3:5 Newspapers.com References Western Illinois Category:Western Illinois Leathernecks football seasons Category:Missouri Valley Football Conference champion seasons Western Illinois Leathernecks football Western Illinois