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1976 UA19/17/1/4 1976 Hilltopper Football WKU Athletic Media Relations

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This Article is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in WKU Archives Records by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1976 SCHEDULE COACH JIMMY FEIX 1976 OUTLOOK The 1976 season will be DATE OPPONENT SITE/TIME (Central) Jimmy Feix's ninth year as head Western Kentucky went into the 197 5 football season Sept. 11 Troy (Ala.) State .Bowling Green, Ky., 1 :00 p.m. coach of the Hilltoppers, but his virtually assured of a quality defensive unit because of a Sept. 18 UT-Chattanooga . Chattanooga, Tn., 6:30 p.m. name has been closely connected quantity of starters returning, but with a number of question *Sept. 25 Austin Peay .Bowling Green, Ky., 1 :00 p.m. with winning football at Western marks surrounding its offensive prowess because graduation *Oct. 2 East Tennessee . Johnson City, Tn., 6:30 p.m. Kentucky for much longer than had taken a rather heavy toll there. Oct. 9 Open Date that. That situation is almost entirely reversed as the Hilltoppers His association with Western head into the 1976 campaign. Head Coach Jimmy Feix lost 8 *Oct. 16 Tennessee Tech Cookeville, Tn., 1 :30 p .m. gridiron successes began in •Oct. 23 Eastern Kentucky of 11 starters from the '75 defensive unit that led the charge ..Bowling Green, Ky., 1 :00 p.m. September, 1949, when he came toward last year's tie for the Ohio Valley Conference title, an *Oct. 30 Morehead State . Morehead, Ky., 12:30 p.m. to the campus as a freshman overall 11·2·0 record and the team's second NCAA Division ll *Nov. 6 Middle Tennessee. Bowling Green, Ky., 1:00 p.m. quarterback from Henderson, national runner-up trophy in three years. (Homecoming) Kentucky. As a player, he led "We've never had one unit decimated like that in any Nov. 13 Akron ...... Bowling Green, Ky., 1 :00 p.m. Western to some of its greatest seasons ever. In his senior year, previous year," Feix said. "We've got some pretty good young *Nov. 20 Murray State Murray, Ky., 1:30 p.m. 1952, he and his Hilltopper teammates won almost everything people coming along to fill those defensive spots, but they *Ohio Valley Conference game in sight. They tied for the Ohio Valley Conference need a lot of work." championship and added a Refrigerator Bowl win over The only regulars returning to the defensive unit are 1975 RESULTS Arkansas State to finish with a 9-1 record. All-Ohio Valley Conference end Keith Tandy, who was shifted At the same time Feix was earning Little All-America to linebacker during spring practice, cornerback Roy Overall Record: 11·2·0 OVC Record: 6-1-0 (1st, Tie) honors for himself. When his collegiate playing days were over, Kesterson and deep back James Jones. the New York Giants of the National Football League drafted OPPONENT (Crowd) WKU·Opp. Biff Madon, a 6-3, 205-pound junior, is heir-apparent to the him, expecting him to become the back-up quarterback for other linebacking spot and cornerback Nute Haire has been at Dayton (11,300) 27-7 All-Pro Charlie Conerly. Feix was impressive in pre-season shifted to one of the deep back slots, where Fred Kixmiller at Louisville (34,700) 21-17 drills with the Giants, but a serious injury early that fall ended also returns after logging considerable playing time last fall. Illinois State (15,300) ...... 24-14 his pro career. Myron Greenfield, a 6-2, 197-pound sophomore, looks to * at Austin Peay (6,800) 30-3 In 1952 Feix set Western and OVC records with 1,546 move into one of t he defensive end slots and sophomore • East Tennessee (14,400) ...... 17-0 yards total offense and 1,581 yards passing. His conference Lonnie Hardin (6·1, 200) could man the other. • Tennessee Tech (9,000) ...... 20-7 total offense record was unbroken until 1964 and his passing Offensively, the li ne is strong, with center and All-America • at Eastern Kentucky (24,200) 7-13 mark stood until the 1965 season. candidate Dave Carter (6-2, 250), All-OVC guard Chip • Morehead State (20,100) ...... 14-10 Feix returned to Western in 1957 after four years of service Carpenter (6-2, 255 ), guard Nate Huggins (6·2, 230) and tackle • at Middle Tennessee (11,300) . 24-10 in the U.S. Air Force. He served as a graduate assistant that Bill Murphree (6-3, 255) all back. Biggest problem could be first year while completing the requirements/or the Master of •Murray State (15,300) ...... 19-0 finding a replacement for graduated All-OVC Sheroid Barrett Arts degree, then became a full-time member of the Western at strong tackle. Attendance -162,400 (Home 74,100; Avg. 14,820) Total 203-81 staff the following season. Billy Linville (6-1, 210) is another experienced lineman •Ohio Valley Conference game Feix was named head coach in December, 1967, when the who could break into the lineup, perhaps moving Carpenter or late retired from active coaching. In 1968, his Huggins to tackle. NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS "rookie" season as head coach, Feix led Western to seven wins Last year's tailback, Lawrence Jefferson, was tried at split against only two losses and a tie with nationally ranked-and end for a time in spring practice, but was shifted back to his First Round bowl-bound- Akron. old spot later. Freshman Eddie Preston was then moved from (at Cedar Falls, Iowa) In eight seasons, Feix's teams have never suffered more the running back post to split end. Other tailbacks will include Western 14, Northern Iowa 12 than three losses in a single season and have never finished sophomore Jimmy Woods, who pushed Jefferson for the lower t han second place in an OVC race. His Hilltoppers have starting role last season, junior Mike Hayes and rookie William Semifinals won or shared the coveted league championship four times, in Brown. (; Baton Rouge, La.) 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1975. Fullback could be one of t he strongest positions on the Western 14, New Hampshire 3 His 197 3 team was the first undefeated, untied team in team. Arnold Snardon (5-11, 200), Pat Malone (5-11, 200) and Finals Western history, finishing the regular season with a perfect Greg Hines ( 5-11, 205) all provide excellent running and (Camellia Bowl; Sacramento, Calif.) 10·0 record while leading the nation's Division II teams in blocking there. Western 14, Northern Michigan 16 scoring at 37. 7 points per game. At quarterback, both of last season's starters will be back: The '73 Hilltoppers entered the first-ever NCAA Division II Bill Smith, a junior who completed 62 of 139 passes for 661 national championship playoffs and finished second. They yards and five touchdowns before being sidelined for knee UNIVERSITY INFORMATION defeated Lehigh and Grambling before losing to Louisiana surgery in the seventh game of t he season, and Steve Larimore, Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky Tech in the national title game in the Camellia Bowl at who came on as a freshman to ease .the pain of Smith's Conference: Ohio Valley, NCAA Sacramento, Calif., winding up the season with an overall departure. Larimore led the Hilltoppers to five wins in their Nickname: Hilltoppers Colors: Red and White 12-1-0 record. final six games. Western went to the NCAA playoffs again in 1975 and Doug Davis, a senior who returned from knee surgery o nly President: Dr. Dero G. Downing Enrollment: 13,314 again finished as the No. 2 team in the nation, dumping Chairman, University Athletic Committee: Dr. John D. Minton during the late stages of the '75 season, also will be back. Athletic Director : Northern Iowa and New Hampshire before being edged by Another talented passer in the picture is Doug Bartholomew, a Northern Michigan in the finals at Sacramento and finishing Head Football Coach: Jimmy Feix sophomore transfer from Nort hern Michigan, the team that 11·2·0. edged the Hilltoppers for the NCAA Division II title last Assistants: Sam Clark, Clarence Baker, Butch Gilbert, Feix was named Kodak College Division Coach-of-the-Year Bill Hape, Lee Murray December. Football Office Phone: Area 502 745-3347 for Division Four in both 1973 and 1975. He also won OVC The punting game should be in excellent shape, with Athletic Office Phone: Area 502 745·3542 Coach-of-the-Year honors and was honored similarly by the All-League kicker Walt Herod returning. Barry Henry is back Louisville Courier-Journal and Inside Kentucky Sports to give assurance of a dependable PAT kicker, but the - FOR INFORMATION ON ALL SPORTS­ magazine in.1973. coaching staff hopes Henry or another of several available Assistant Public Relations Director: Ed Given Feix goes into the 197 6 campaign with a career coaching prospects develops into a long-range kicker for kickoff and Phone: 745-4295 record of 66 wins against only 17 losses and 3 ties, for a field goal purposes. winning percentage of .785. His eight Hillto pper teams have 6/76/1.2M/PA-The cost of printing this publication by Western Kentuc ky University was paid from state funds KRS 57 .37 5. won 44, lost 11 and tied 1 in Ohio Valley Conference competition, a .795 percentage. WESTERN KENTUCKY~ FANS JAM 19,250-SEAT L. T. SMITH STADIUM COLLEGE DIVISION A LL-AMERICANS 1975 COLLEGE DIVISION A LL-AMERICAN SELECTIONS

FIRST TEAM (Asoociated Press) Player Ht. Wt. '75 Class Position Rick Green 6·0 210 Senior Linebacker

FIRST TEAM (Kodak-American Football Coaches Asoociation) Rick Green 6-0 210 Senior Linebacker Jimmy Feix Jim Hardin John Mutchler QB· 1952 G · 1957 E · 1963 HI LL TOPPERS' 1975 A LL-OVC SE LECTIONS

Player Ht. Wt. '76 Class Position Sheroid Barrett 6-2 210 Senior Off. Tackle Chip Carpenter 6-1 215 Sophomore Off. Guard Rick Green 6-0 210 Senior Linebacker Walt Herod 5-11 190 Junior Punter John Leathers 5-11 185 Senior Def. Back Keith Tandy 6-3 195 Junior Def. End

Dale Lindsey Jim Burt Lawrence Brame FB - 1964 HB · 1964 E · 1970

NATIONA L CO LLEGE DIVISION LEADERS IN A LL-TIME WINNING PERCENTAGE From a Total of More Than 300 Schools WITH THE PROS Rank/School Won • Lost • Tied Percentage 1. Florida A&M ...... 304 88 13 .767 2. Tennessee State...... 295 87 21 .758 3. Grambling ...... 246 83 11 .740 4. West Chester ...... 338 116 18 .736 5. Morgan State ...... 302 114 27 .712 6. Southern University ...... 310 157 21 .657 Jimmy Barber Mike McCoy Porter Williams 7. Central Oklahoma...... 381 193 40 .653 LB· 1971 DB· 1973 E · 1973 8. Tuskegee Institute ...... 383 196 48 .649 9. UMd. · Eastern Shore ...... 148 78 9 .649 10. WESTERN KENTUCKY.. 312 166 26 .645 11. Virginia State...... 317 167 43 .642 12. Gustavus Adolphus...... 280 155 20 .637 LAWREN CE BRAME JOHN BUSHONG CLARENCE JACKSON VIRGIL LIVERS BRAD WATSON 13. Southern Connecticut ...... 153 86 8 .636 Linebacker - Defensive End Defensive End Running Back Defensive Back Defensive End 14. Northeast Missouri ...... 334 187 33 .633 Hamilton Tiger-Cats Dallas Cowboys New York Jets Chicago Bears Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15. Fordham ...... 332 189 48 .626 16. Indiana (Pa.) State ...... 226 137 19 .616 17. East Stroudsburg...... 231 141 16 .616 OVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR 18. Middle Tennessee ...... 311 191 26 .614 19. Jackson State...... 169 108 7 .607 Offense 20. Santa Clara ...... 252 Dickie Moore, Fullback - 1967 162 24 .603 '75 HILLTO PPER DRAFT PICKS John Bushong Virgil Livers Rick Green (Courtesy of National Collegiate Sports Services) Defense DT · 1974 DB-1974 LB - 1975 John Mutchler, End -1963 Lonnie Schuster, Tackle -1973 Rick Caswell, Defensive Back - New York Giants Lawrence Brame, End -1969 Virgil Livers, Back - 1974 Lawrence Brame, End - 1970 Rick Green, Linebacker - 1975