1998 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 19
Record7–4
Head coach
Home stadiumL. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons
← 1997
1999 →
1998 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Morehead State   –     9 – 2  
Davidson   –     8 – 2  
No. 20 Hofstra   –     8 – 3  
No. 22 South Florida   –     8 – 3  
No. 19 Western Kentucky   –     7 – 4  
Samford   –     6 – 5  
Liberty   –     5 – 6  
Southern Utah   –     5 – 6  
Austin Peay   –     4 – 7  
Buffalo   –     4 – 7  
Jacksonville   –     4 – 5  
La Salle   –     3 – 6  
Cal Poly   –     3 – 8  
Charleston Southern   –     3 – 8  
Saint Mary's   –     2 – 8  
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1998 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by All-American quarterback Willie Taggart and head coach Jack Harbaugh. This would be the team's last year as an independent, the next year they would rejoin the Ohio Valley Conference as a football only member.[1] The Hilltoppers primarily ran an option offense and were ranked 3rd in rush offense for NCAA Division I-AA. They missed returning to the NCAA Playoffs and finished the season ranked 19th in final 1AA postseason national poll.[2]

Western Kentucky's roster included future NFL players Joseph Jefferson, Rod “He Hate Me” Smart, and Ben Wittman. Patrick Goodman, Andy Hape, and Taggart were named to the AP All American team and Taggart was also named I-AA Independent Offensive Player of the Year. The I-AA Independent All-Star Team included Goodman, Hape, Taggart, Delvechio Walls, Bryan Daniel, and Trae Hackett.[3]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 3Tennessee–MartinNo. 8
W 49–79,000
September 12at No. 16 Murray StateNo. 7
L 31–3612,198
September 19No. 16 Eastern KentuckyNo. 15
L 16–2714,200
September 26at Austin PeayNo. 24
W 56–147,600
October 3New HavenNo. 22
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 24–214,600
October 17at No. 12 South FloridaNo. 19
W 31–2430,083
October 24ElondaggerNo. 12
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 41–38 OT9,000
October 31at LouisvilleNo. 11
L 34–6332,649
November 7Southern IllinoisNo. 18
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 48–284,400[4]
November 14Indiana StateNo. 15
  • L. T. Smith Stadium
  • Bowling Green, KY
W 42–144,100
November 21at Southwestern LouisianaNo. 13
L 24–385,224

References

  1. ^ 2017 OVC Football Media Guide, retrieved 30 April 2020
  2. ^ "Final Div. I-AA poll". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. December 22, 1998. p. 7C. Retrieved May 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
  4. ^ Cunningham, Steve (November 8, 1998). "Hilltoppers spare Salukis some heartbreak". The Southern Illinoisan. p. 1C. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.


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