2003 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

American college football season March 2026 August 2023 2003 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png 175 Gateway Football Conference Gateway 7 9–4 5–2 David Elson 1st T. J. Weist 1st Multiple Don Martindale 1st 3–4 L. T. Smith Stadium NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 17–34 at Wofford The 2003 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by first-year head coach David Elson. Coming off winning the NCAA Division I-AA Championship the previous year, this team contended for Gateway Football Conference championship but ended up finishing tied for 3rd.2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020 They made the school's fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, beating Jacksonville State in the first round before losing to Wofford in the quarterfinals. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked number 7 in final 1AA postseason national poll.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 May 20, 2017 This team included future NFL players Anthony Oakley and Brian Claybourn. Matt Lange and Buster Ashley were named to the AP All American team and Justin Haddix was Gateway Conference Freshman of The Year. The All-Conference team included Ashley, Jeremy Chandler, Claybourn, Erik Dandy, Lange, Karl Maslowski, Casey Rooney, Antonio Veals, Daniel Withrow, Chad Kincaid, Oakley, and Charles Thompson.WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020. Schedule 2003 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network August 28 w y 5 2003 Union (Kentucky) Bulldogs Union (KY) L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 51–3 9,325 September 6 w y 5 2003 West Virginia Tech Golden Bears West Virginia Tech L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 67–3 10,325 September 20 w y 3 2003 Eastern Kentucky Colonels Eastern Kentucky L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY Battle of the Bluegrass 36–3 18,317 September 27 l y y 3 Auburn Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL 3–48 85,046 October 4 l y 6 Western Illinois 2 Hanson Field Macomb, IL 28–33 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 9 Southwest Missouri State L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 9–6 8,383 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-langes-last-second/150299550/ The Courier-Journal Lange's last-second FG lifts WKU to 9–6 victory October 12, 2003 June 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 18 w y 9 Illinois State Hancock Stadium Normal, IL 27–24 8,945 Moore's late TD lifts WKU, 27-24 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113912023/the-courier-journal/ November 30, 2022 The Courier-Journal October 19, 2003 C13 Newspapers.com October 25 w y 8 2003 Indiana State Sycamores Indiana State Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN 59–14 3,708 November 1 l y 8 Southern Illinois 3 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 24–28 13,430 Rally pushes Salukis over 'Toppers https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91431053/the-paducah-sun/ December 29, 2021 The Paducah Sun Associated Press November 2, 2003 5B Newspapers.com November 8 w 12 Northern Iowa 6 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 24–3 7,518 November 15 w y 9 2003 Youngstown State Penguins Youngstown State Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH 37–13 12,858 November 29 w y 9 Jacksonville State 17 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY NCAA Division I-AA First Round 45–7 3,573 December 6 l y y 9 Wofford 2 Gibbs Stadium Spartanburg, SC NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 17–34 7,500 Wofford grounds WKU's title hopes The Courier-Journal December 7, 2003 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110122130/wofford-grounds-wkus-title-hopes/ September 24, 2022 Newspapers.com References Western Kentucky Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football seasons Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football Western Kentucky