2000 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 2000 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png 175 Ohio Valley Conference OVC 5 11–2 7–0 Jack Harbaugh 12th Don Martindale L. T. Smith Stadium OVC champion NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 14–17 vs. Appalachian State The 2000 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2000 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by veteran head coach Jack Harbaugh. They won their first conference championship since 1980, going undefeated in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in just their second year after rejoining as a football-only member; the school was a football independent from 1982 through 1998.2017 OVC Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020 The Hilltoppers received the OVC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division I-AA playoff, making it to the quarterfinals. Prior to the start of the season, the OVC gave Western Kentucky an ultimatum, join the conference for all sports or leave. The administration decided to leave and joined the Gateway Football Conference.Toppers search for haven, By Justin Willis,, The Daily News, Jun 13, 2000, retrieved 6 April 2020. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked No. 5 in final national poll by The Sports Network.I-AA poll The Greenville News Greenville, South Carolina December 19, 2000 4C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11125819/poll_2000_1219_i_aa_final/ Newspapers.com May 20, 2017 Western Kentucky was ranked first in pass efficiency, scoring defense, and turnover margin out of all NCAA Division I-AA teams. The team's roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Joseph Jefferson, Mel Mitchell, Sherrod Coates, and Bobby Sippio, and NFL coach Jason Michael.Pro Football Reference, retrieved 30 April 2020 Sippio and Melvin Wisham were named to the AP All-American team and Harbaugh was OVC Coach of The Year. The All-Conference team included DeWayne Gallishaw, Peter Martinez, Chris Price, Sippio, Wisham, Coates, Jefferson, and Mitchell.WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020. Schedule 2000 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network September 9 w 2000 Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks Tennessee–Martin L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 71–0 7,800 September 16 w y y 2000 Elon Phoenix Elon 24 Rhodes Stadium Elon, NC 23–0 5,081 September 23 w y 24 2000 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks Southeast Missouri State Houck Stadium Cape Girardeau, MO 38–14 10,222 September 30 w y 24 2000 Murray State Racers Murray State Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY Battle for the Red Belt 48–38 8,266 October 7 w 20 2000 Eastern Kentucky Colonels Eastern Kentucky 18 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY Battle of the Bluegrass 6–3 10,500 October 14 w y 14 2000 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Tennessee Tech L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 17–14 12,200 October 21 w y 12 Tennessee State Adelphia Coliseum Nashville, TN 52–14 6,932 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-western-rolls-5214/142556612/ Western rolls 52–14, turns focus to title showdown The Courier-Journal October 22, 2000 March 2, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 w 9 Eastern Illinois 19 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 34–12 11,300 November 4 l y y 6 South Florida Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL 24–30 31,104 November 11 w y 10 2000 Indiana State Sycamores Indiana State L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 28–3 5,800 November 18 w y 7 Southern Illinois L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 22–0 5,200 Sippio, Western crush S. Illinois 22-0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92644814/the-courier-journal/ January 15, 2022 The Courier-Journal November 19, 2000 C12 Newspapers.com November 25 w y 7 Florida A&M 13 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY NCAA Division I-AA First Round 27–0 3,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-western-kentucky-rat/173617119/ The Courier-Journal Western Kentucky rattles the Rattlers in 27–0 thumping November 26, 2000 June 1, 2025 Newspapers.com December 6 l y 7 Appalachian State 14 L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 14–17 5,100 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89841596/western-kentucky-snowed-under-1714/ The Courier-Journal Western Kentucky snowed under, 17–14 December 3, 2000 November 30, 2021 Newspapers.com References Western Kentucky Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football seasons Category:Ohio Valley Conference football champion seasons Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football Western Kentucky