1987 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1987 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football Independent 7–4 Dave Roberts 4th L. T. Smith Stadium NCAA Division I-AA First Round L 17–40 at Eastern Kentucky The 1987 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as an independent during the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Dave Roberts, the Hilltoppers compiled a 7–4. The team earned the school's first NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoff berth; their previous playoff appearances had been at the NCAA Division II level. Western Kentucky played their home games at L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Lights were installed prior to the season, and Western Kentucky hosted their first night game on September 19, a victory over rival Murray State. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked No. 11 in final NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll.Final Division I-AA poll Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi November 24, 1987 D1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11021220/poll_1987_1124_i_aa_final/ Newspapers.com May 15, 2017 Western Kentucky's roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Tony Brown, Malcolm Darden, James Edwards, Glenn Holt, David Smith, Steve Walsh, Harold Wright, Xavier Jordan, and Dean Tiebout. Edwards, Walsh, and Dewayne Penn were named to the AP All American team. WKU Football 2021 Media Guide https://wkusports.com/documents/2021/8/2/2021_Media_Guide.pdf Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky 179 December 20, 2021 Schedule 1987 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee September 5 l 1987 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs Gardner–Webb L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 24–28 5,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-gardnerwebb-takes-op/160529615/ The Salisbury Post Gardner–Webb takes opener September 6, 1987 December 8, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 w Murray State 3 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY Battle for the Red Belt 21–17 19,250 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-western-gets-21/160529709/ Lexington Herald-Leader Western gets 21–17 win over Murray September 20, 1987 December 8, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 w Middle Tennessee 12 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 28–16 16,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-raiders-blow-firs/160529781/ The Daily News-Journal Raiders blow first-half lead September 27, 1987 December 8, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 l y Eastern Kentucky 12 Hanger Field Richmond, KY Battle of the Bluegrass 10–20 20,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leaf-chronicle-eastern-downs-western/143971027/ The Leaf-Chronicle Eastern downs Western October 4, 1987 March 23, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 w y Chattanooga 12 Chamberlain Field Chattanooga, TN 20–17 8,377 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-westerns-big-second/160464300/ The Courier-Journal Western's big second half topples UT–Chattanooga October 11, 1987 December 8, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 w 14 y 1987 Livingston Tigers Livingston L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 21–14 14,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-14th-ranked-we/160529853/ The Montgomery Advertiser 14th-ranked Western Kentucky whips Tigers October 18, 1987 December 8, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 w y 11 Austin Peay Municipal Stadium Clarksville, TN 27–0 5,833 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-western-kentucky-no/160529938/ The Courier-Journal Western Kentucky, no longer a doormat, clobbers Austin Peay 27–0 October 25, 1987 December 8, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 l y 8 Georgia Southern 14 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 20–23 13,066 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-city-daily-news-western-falls-2/160530020/ The Park City Daily News Western falls 23–20 November 1, 1987 December 8, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 w 14 Eastern Illinois L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 30–15 8,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-wku-warms-up-to-winni/160530112/ Messenger-Inquirer WKU warms up to winning season November 15, 1987 December 8, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 w y 12 North Carolina A&T Aggie Stadium Greensboro, NC 45–27 2,500 Green Tony W. Kentucky tops Aggies in Hooker's finale Greensboro News & Record 22 November 1987 31 May 2024 C3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-w-kentucky-tops-aggies/148472840/ Newspapers.com November 28 l y 11 Eastern Kentucky 7 Hanger Field Richmond, KY NCAA Division I-AA First Round 17–40 4,050 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-eastern-thrashes-western/143973426/ The Paducah Sun Eastern thrashes Western, 40–17 November 29, 1987 March 23, 2024 Newspapers.com References Western Kentucky Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football seasons Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football Western Kentucky