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{{short description|American college football season}}
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
{{Infobox college sports team season
⚫
| mode = football
| year = 1987
| year = 1987
| team= Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
| team = Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
⚫
| sport = football
| image = WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png
| image_size= 175
| image =
| image_size =
| conference= Independent
| conference = Independent
| division=
| short_conf=
| STATSRank =
| FCSCoachRank = 11
| record = 7–4
| record = 7–4
⚫
| head_coach = [[Dave Roberts (American football)|Dave Roberts]]
| conf_record =
| hc_year = 4th
⚫
| head_coach= [[Dave Roberts (American football)|Dave Roberts]]
| hc_year =4th
| off_coach =
| off_coach=
| oc_year =
| oc_year =
| def_coach=
| off_scheme =
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| dc_year =
| off_scheme=
| def_scheme =
| def_scheme=
| captain =
| stadium= [[Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium]]
| stadium = [[Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium|L. T. Smith Stadium]]
| bowl = [[1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|NCAA Division I-AA First Round]]
| champion =
| bowl = [[1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season |Division I-AA Playoffs]]
| bowl_result = L 17–40 at [[1987 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team|Eastern Kentucky]]
| bowl_result = Lost First Round
}}
}}
{{1987 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings}}
{{1987 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings}}
The '''1987 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team''' represented [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football|Western Kentucky University]] in the [[1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season]] and were led by head coach [[Dave Roberts (American football)|Dave Roberts]]. The team earned the school’s first NCAA Division 1-AA Playoff berth, their previous playoff appearances had been at the NCAA Division 2 level. Lights were installed at L. T. Smith Stadium prior to the season and Western Kentucky hosted their first night game this season, a victory over rival Murray State. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked 11th in final 1AA national poll. <ref>{{cite news|title=Final Division I-AA poll|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger|location=Jackson, Mississippi|date=November 24, 1987|page=D1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11021220/poll_1987_1124_i_aa_final/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=May 15, 2017}}{{Open access}}</ref>
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 (American football)|Dave Roberts]], the Hilltoppers compiled a 7–4. The team earned the school's first [[NCAA Division I Football Championship|NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship]] playoff berth; their previous playoff appearances had been at the [[NCAA Division II Football Championship|NCAA Division II level]]. Western Kentucky played their home games at [[Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium|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 {{cfb link|year=1987|team=Murray State Racers|title=Murray State}}. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked No. 11 in final [[1987 NCAA Division I-AA football rankings|NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Final Division I-AA poll|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger|location=Jackson, Mississippi|date=November 24, 1987|page=D1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11021220/poll_1987_1124_i_aa_final/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=May 15, 2017}}{{Open access}}</ref>
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.<ref>[https://wkusports.com/documents/2019/7/17/2019_WKU_Football_Media_Guide.pdf WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.]</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=WKU Football 2021 Media Guide |url=https://wkusports.com/documents/2021/8/2/2021_Media_Guide.pdf |publisher=[[Western Kentucky University]] |location=[[Bowling Green, Kentucky]] |page=179 |access-date=December 20, 2021}}</ref>


==Schedule==
==Schedule==
{{CFB schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1987
| rankyear = 1987
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA
| poll = NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee


|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 5
| date = September 5
| w/l = l
| w/l = l
⚫
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1987|team=Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs|title=Gardner–Webb}}
| rank =
⚫
| site_stadium = [[Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium|L. T. Smith Stadium]]
⚫
| opponent = [[Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football|Gardner–Webb]]
⚫
| site_cityst = [[Bowling Green, Kentucky|Bowling Green, KY]]
⚫
| opprank =
⚫
| site_stadium = [[L. T. Smith Stadium]]
⚫
| site_cityst = [[Bowling Green, KY]]
| score = 24–28
| score = 24–28
| attend = 5,500
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
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| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1987|team=Murray State Racers|title=Murray State}}
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1987|team=Murray State Racers|title=Murray State}}
| opprank = 3
| opprank = 3
⚫
| gamename = [[Battle for the Red Belt]]
| site_stadium = L. T. Smith Stadium
| site_stadium = L. T. Smith Stadium
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
⚫
| gamename = [[Battle for the Red Belt]]
| score = 21–17
| score = 21–17
| attend = 19,250
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| date = September 26
| w/l = w
| w/l = w
⚫
| opponent = [[1987 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team|Middle Tennessee]]
| rank =
⚫
| opprank = 12
⚫
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1987|team=Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders|title=Middle Tennessee}}
⚫
| opprank =
| site_stadium = L. T. Smith Stadium
| site_stadium = L. T. Smith Stadium
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| score = 28–16
| score = 28–16
| attend = 16,500
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
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| w/l = l
| w/l = l
| away = y
| away = y
⚫
| opponent = [[1987 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team|Eastern Kentucky]]
| rank =
⚫
| opponent = [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels football|Eastern Kentucky]]
| opprank = 12
| opprank = 12
⚫
| gamename = [[Battle of the Bluegrass]]
| site_stadium = [[Hanger Field]]
| site_stadium = [[Hanger Field]]
| site_cityst = [[Richmond, KY]]
| site_cityst = [[Richmond, Kentucky|Richmond, KY]]
⚫
| gamename = [[Battle of the Bluegrass]]
| score = 10–20
| score = 10–20
| attend = 20,200
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leaf-chronicle-eastern-downs-western/143971027/|work=The Leaf-Chronicle|title=Eastern downs Western|date=October 4, 1987|accessdate=March 23, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
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| w/l = w
| w/l = w
| away = y
| away = y
⚫
| opponent = [[1987 Chattanooga Moccasins football team|Chattanooga]]
| rank =
⚫
| opprank = 12
⚫
| opponent = [[Chattanooga Mocs football|UT Chattanooga]]
| site_stadium = [[Chamberlain Field]]
| site_stadium = [[Chamberlain Field]]
| site_cityst = [[Chattanooga, TN]]
| site_cityst = [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga, TN]]
| score = 20–17
| score = 20–17
| attend = 8,377
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
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| rank = 14
| rank = 14
| homecoming = y
| homecoming = y
| opponent = [[West Alabama Tigers football|West Alabama]]
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1987|team=Livingston Tigers|title=Livingston}}
| site_stadium = L. T. Smith Stadium
| site_stadium = L. T. Smith Stadium
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| score = 21–14
| score = 21–14
| attend = 14,000
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
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| rank = 11
| rank = 11
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1987|team=Austin Peay Governors|title=Austin Peay}}
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1987|team=Austin Peay Governors|title=Austin Peay}}
| site_stadium = [[Fortera Stadium]]
| site_stadium = [[Fortera Stadium|Municipal Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Clarksville, TN]]
| site_cityst = [[Clarksville, TN]]
| score = 27–0
| score = 27–0
| attend = 5,833
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
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| opprank = 14
| opprank = 14
| site_stadium = [[Paulson Stadium]]
| site_stadium = [[Paulson Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Statesboro, Georgia]]
| site_cityst = [[Statesboro, Georgia|Statesboro, GA]]
| score = 20–23
| score = 20–23
| attend = 13,066
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
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| w/l = w
| w/l = w
| rank = 14
| rank = 14
| opponent = [[Eastern Illinois Panthers football|Eastern Illinois]]
| opponent = [[1987 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team|Eastern Illinois]]
| site_stadium = L. T. Smith Stadium
| site_stadium = L. T. Smith Stadium
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| score = 30–15
| score = 30–15
| attend = 8,000
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
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| away = y
| away = y
| rank = 12
| rank = 12
| opponent = [[North Carolina A&T Aggies football|North Carolina A&T]]
| opponent = [[1987 North Carolina A&T Aggies football team|North Carolina A&T]]
| site_stadium = [[BB&T Stadium]]
| site_stadium = [[Truist Stadium (North Carolina A&T)|Aggie Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Greensboro, North Carolina]]
| site_cityst = [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro, NC]]
| score = 45–27
| score = 45–27
| attend = 2,500
| source = <ref>{{cite news|last1=Green|first1=Tony|title=W. Kentucky tops Aggies in Hooker's finale|work=Greensboro News & Record|date=22 November 1987|access-date=31 May 2024|pages=C3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-w-kentucky-tops-aggies/148472840/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
|{{CFB schedule entry
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| opponent = Eastern Kentucky
| opponent = Eastern Kentucky
| opprank = 7
| opprank = 7
| gamename = I-AA Playoffs First Round
| site_stadium = Hanger Field
| site_stadium = Hanger Field
| site_cityst = Richmond, KY
| site_cityst = Richmond, KY
| gamename = [[1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|NCAA Division I-AA First Round]]
| score = 17–40
| score = 17–40
| attend = 4,050
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-eastern-thrashes-western/143973426/|work=The Paducah Sun|title=Eastern thrashes Western, 40–17|date=November 29, 1987|accessdate=March 23, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
}}
}}
}}
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{{1987 Division I-AA football playoff navbox}}
{{1987 Division I-AA football playoff navbox}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:1987 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Football Team}}
[[Category:1987 NCAA Division I-AA independents football season|Western Kentucky]]
[[Category:1987 NCAA Division I-AA independents football season|Western Kentucky]]
[[Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football seasons]]
[[Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football seasons]]
[[Category:1987 in sports in Kentucky|Western Kentucky Football]]
[[Category:1987 in sports in Kentucky|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football]]



{{collegefootball-1980s-season-stub}}
{{collegefootball-1980s-season-stub}}

Latest revision as of 01:52, 12 June 2024

1987 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record7–4
Head coach
Home stadiumL. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
← 1986
1988 →
1987 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Georgia Southern ^   –   9 – 4 – 0
No. 8 James Madison ^   –   9 – 3 – 0
No. 12 Arkansas State ^   –   8 – 4 – 1
No. 11 Western Kentucky ^   –   7 – 4 – 0
Villanova   –   6 – 4 – 0
Northeastern   –   6 – 5 – 0
Nicholls State   –   5 – 5 – 1
William & Mary   –   5 – 6 – 0
Towson   –   4 – 6 – 0
Tennessee State   –   3 – 7 – 1
Lamar   –   3 – 8 – 0
Louisiana Tech   –   3 – 8 – 0
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

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.[1] 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.[2]

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 5Gardner–Webb
L 24–285,500
September 19No. 3 Murray State
W 21–1719,250
September 26No. 12 Middle Tennessee
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 28–1616,500
October 3at No. 12 Eastern Kentucky
L 10–2020,200[3]
October 10at No. 12 Chattanooga
W 20–178,377
October 17LivingstondaggerNo. 14
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 21–1414,000
October 24at Austin PeayNo. 11
W 27–05,833
October 31at No. 14 Georgia SouthernNo. 8
L 20–2313,066
November 14Eastern IllinoisNo. 14
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 30–158,000
November 21at North Carolina A&TNo. 12
W 45–272,500[4]
November 28at No. 7 Eastern KentuckyNo. 11
L 17–404,050[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Final Division I-AA poll". Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. November 24, 1987. p. D1. Retrieved May 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ "WKU Football 2021 Media Guide" (PDF). Bowling Green, Kentucky: Western Kentucky University. p. 179. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Eastern downs Western". The Leaf-Chronicle. October 4, 1987. Retrieved March 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Green, Tony (November 22, 1987). "W. Kentucky tops Aggies in Hooker's finale". Greensboro News & Record. pp. C3. Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Eastern thrashes Western, 40–17". The Paducah Sun. November 29, 1987. Retrieved March 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.


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