Nov. 19, 2000
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The NCAA announced Sunday that the Western Kentucky University football team will be the fifth seed in the 2000 I-AA playoffs set to begin Saturday, Nov. 25.
The Hilltoppers, undefeated Ohio Valley Conference champions with a 7-0 league record and 10-1 overall, will play host to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Florida A&M (9-2), with kickoff set for 11 a.m. (CST) at L.T. Smith Stadium/Jimmy Feix Field. The game will be televised live on the Sunshine Network, College Sports Southeast and Home Team Sports.
"First, it's been a tremendous year," said 12th-year head coach Jack Harbaugh. "The people that have made it fantastic are the players.
"We've also been able to draw from a veteran, experienced coaching staff and the people of Bowling Green. The support they have given this team has made the last three to four years very exciting.
"All I know about this game right now is it will be our Florida guys against their Florida guys."
This will be the Toppers fourth appearance in the I-AA playoffs (WKU is 2-3 since the division's inception in 1978) and sixth appearance in the NCAA playoffs -- Western reached the Division II national championship game in 1973 and '75. The Hilltoppers are 8-5 all-time in postseason play, with a pair of bowl victories over Arkansas State and the Coast Guard Academy included.
The defense, which posted its third shutout of the year in the regular-season finale, is led by linebacker Melvin Wisham, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top defensive player in I-AA football. The St. Louis, Mo., native recorded career highs of 146 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and six sacks in the regular season, while recovering a fumble and intercepting the first pass of his career. Behind the senior captain's efforts, the Hilltoppers lead the nation in scoring defense (11.6 points per game), and also rank ninth in rushing defense (100.1 ypg), 17th in pass efficiency defense (96.08 points) and 26th in total defense (290.82 ypg).
Junior college transfer Jason Johnson leads an offense that ranks in the top 10 in the nation in rushing for the 10th consecutive year, gaining an average of 268.45 yards per game on the ground to stand ninth, and is also ranked 25th in the country in scoring at 33.0 points per contest. A quarterback from Palmetto, Fla., Johnson ranks fourth in the OVC with 143.27 yards per game of total offense and is one of three Toppers gaining more than 50 yards per game rushing -- running backs DeWayne Gallishaw, who is fourth in the league at 79.45 yards per game, and Keith Brooks are the others.
WKU, which was ranked seventh in the three major polls prior to Saturday's 22-0 victory over Southern Illinois in its regular-season finale, is 6-0 at home this season and 2-0 all-time in postseason play at Smith Stadium. This year's senior class has won 33 games in their Western careers.
Ticket prices for the contest are as follows: $15 for Red Towel/chairback seats, $10 reserved, $6 for general admission and $5 for student tickets. WKU season-ticket holders can purchase their same seats for the playoffs if they place their order by the end of the business day Tuesday. Following the game, Western men's basketball will play host to Tennessee State at 4 p.m., with football ticket-stub holders able to purchase a general admission ticket for $1.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the WKU Athletic Ticket Office at (270) 745-5222 or 1-800-5-BIG-RED. In addition to regular business hours Monday (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), the office will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets can also be purchased at halftime of WKU's men's basketball game Tuesday and women's basketball contest Friday.
-- WKU --
