2004 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

The 2004 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season and were led by second-year head coach David Elson. The team contended for Gateway Football Conference championship but finished 2nd.^[1] They made the school's fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs; it would end up being WKU's last playoff appearance, as they would initiate transitioning to NCAA Division I-A/FBS in 2006. The Hilltoppers finished the season ranked 11th in final I-AA postseason national poll.^[2]

2004 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 24–54 at Sam Houston State
Conference	Gateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 11
Record	9–3 (6–1 Gateway)
Head coach	David Elson (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	T. J. Weist (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Mike Dietzel (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	L. T. Smith Stadium
Seasons ← 2003 2005 →

2004 Gateway Football Conference standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 9 Southern Illinois $^		7	–	0					10	–	2
No. 11 Western Kentucky ^		6	–	1					9	–	3
No. 25 Northern Iowa		5	–	2					7	–	4
Southwest Missouri State		3	–	4					6	–	5
Western Illinois		2	–	5					4	–	7
Illinois State		2	–	5					4	–	7
Youngstown State		2	–	5					4	–	7
Indiana State		1	–	6					4	–	7
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

This team included future National Football League (NFL) players Curtis Hamilton, Brian Claybourn, Dan Cline, and Greg Ryan. Claybourn and Buster Ashley were named to the AP All American team. The All-Conference team included Ashley, Claybourn, Deonté Smith, Charles Thompson, Antonio Thomas, Justin Haddix, Erik Losey, Lerron Moore, and Joe Woolridge.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 4	at No. 13 (I-A) Kansas State*	No. 13	KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS	L 13–27	46,740
September 11	Concord*	No. 11	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 58–0	10,390
September 18	at No. 20 Eastern Kentucky*	No. 11	Roy Kidd Stadium Richmond, KY (Battle of the Bluegrass)	W 21–8	22,700
October 2	Youngstown State	No. 6	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 44–19	11,619
October 9	at No. 22 Northern Iowa	No. 6	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	W 17–10	12,184
October 16	at No. 1 Southern Illinois	No. 4	Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	L 10–38	10,143	[4]
October 23	Indiana State	No. 10	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 31–9	7,390
October 30	Illinois State	No. 7	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 24–21	7,126	[5]
November 6	at Southwest Missouri State	No. 5	Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	W 28–24	8,942	[6]
November 13	Western Illinois	No. 5	L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	W 45–3	7,318	[7]
November 20	at FIU*	No. 3	Riccardo Silva Stadium Miami, FL	W 35–14	3,108
November 27	at No. 4 Sam Houston State*	No. 11	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	L 24–54	9,554	[8]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

1. 2019 MVC Football Records, retrieved 30 April 2020
2. "Final Div. I-AA poll". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. December 21, 2004. p. 6B. Retrieved May 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
3. WKU Football Media Guide retrieved 31 March 2020.
4. "No. 1 SIU rolls over No. 4 Western". Messenger-Inquirer. October 17, 2004. p. 4B. Retrieved December 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Haddix leads Hilltoppers past Illinois State, 24-21". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. October 31, 2004. p. C9. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Hilltoppers rally past Bears". Messenger-Inquirer. November 7, 2004. Retrieved June 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Grant, Michael (November 14, 2004). "Hilltoppers run, run, run over Western Illinois, 45-3". The Courier-Journal. p. C9. Retrieved January 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Hilltoppers fall hard in I-AA playoffs, 54–24". The Courier-Journal. November 28, 2004. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.