The 2002 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by head coach Jack Harbaugh in his 14th and final season as head coach. They claimed a share of the Gateway Football Conference championship and made the school's third straight appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020 After a rocky start, the team rallied to win their last 10 games including the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game, beating McNeese State, 34–14, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked number 1 in both final 1AA postseason national polls.
This team won the school's first NCAA team championship and tied the program record for victories in a season set by the 1973 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team. Their roster included future National Football League (NFL) players Sherrod Coates, Jeremi Johnson, and Brian Claybourn, and future NFL coach Jason Michael. Coates, Chris Price, and Buster Ashley were named to the AP All American team and Harbuagh was named AFCA Coach of the Year Award. The All Conference team included Ashley, Coates, Price, Jeremy Chandler, Erik Dandy, Jon Frazier, and Daniel Withrow.WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries At Kansas State
Statistics WKUKSU First downs 12 23 Total yards 183 412 Rushing yards 110 240 Passing yards 73 172 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 31:55 27:14 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Jason Michael 7/11, 73 yards, INT Rushing Maurice Bradley 19 rushes, 64 yards Receiving Casey Rooney 2 receptions, 28 yardsKansas State Passing Ell Roberson 4/8, 108 yards Rushing Darren Sproles 19 rushes, 135 yards, TD Receiving Derrick Evans 3 receptions, 74 yards
Kentucky State
Statistics KSUWKU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsKentucky State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
Western Illinois
Statistics WIUWKU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
No. 11 Youngstown State
Statistics YSUWKU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsYoungstown State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
At No. 2 McNeese State
Statistics WKUMCN First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving McNeese State Passing Rushing Receiving
At No. 6 Northern Iowa
Statistics WKUUNI First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving
FIU
Statistics FIUWKU First downs 7 28 Total yards 65 498 Rushing yards -7 401 Passing yards 72 97 Turnovers 5 3 Time of possession 23:13 36:47 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Jamie Burke 5/14, 75 yards, 4 INT Rushing Rashod Smith 6 rushes, 21 yards Receiving Harold Leath 2 receptions, 38 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Jason Michael 6/10, 97 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jon Frazier 15 rushes, 126 yards, TD Receiving Jeremi Johnson 2 receptions, 45 yards
At Southwest Missouri State
Statistics WKUSMS First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Southwest Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving
Indiana State
Statistics INSWKU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
Illinois State
Statistics ILSWKU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
At Southern Illinois
Statistics WKUSIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
No. 23 Murray State (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)
Statistics MURWKU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMurray State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
At No. 3 Western Illinois (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)
Statistics WKUWIU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
At No. 2 Georgia Southern (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal)
Statistics WKUGSO First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia Southern Passing Rushing Receiving
Vs No. 1 McNeese State (NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game)
Statistics WKUMCN First downs 13 26 Total yards 380 405 Rushing yards 195 137 Passing yards 185 268 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 30:18 29:42 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Jason Michael 6/10, 185 yards, TD Rushing Jon Frazier 27 rushes, 159 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jeremi Johnson 3 receptions, 90 yards, TDMcNeese State Passing Scott Pendarvis 21/38, 244 yards, TD, INT Rushing Marcus Trahan 12 rushes, 82 yards Receiving B. J. Sams 7 receptions, 69 yards
References