Â
Coached by Hilltopper legend Jimmy Feix, the 1975 Hilltoppers were 11-2 overall and 6-1 in Ohio Valley Conference action, good enough for co-championships honors in the league. In the three-game NCAA D-II national championship playoffs, the Hilltoppers scored just 44 points, but that was enough to earn WKU its second national runner-up trophy in three years.Â
- A 14-12 win at Northern Iowa in what came to be known as the "Mud Bowl" – a win preserved when a complaint from Coach Feix forced the Panthers to try a late in the game without a dry towel on the muddy surface and the Hilltoppers advance.
- A 14-3 triumph over New Hampshire in the Grantland Rice Bowl in Tiger Stadium at LSU and a ticket to the Camellia Bowl in Sacramento, Calif.
- Another close one that goes down to the final minute before WKU's field goal attempt is "ruled" wide.
Â
Often overlooked was the play of third string quarterback Steve Larimore who came off the bench in the Homecoming game – with no game experience – to lead the Hilltoppers to that win and four more, leading WKU to the national championship game.
Â
Here, on the 50th anniversary of that memorable season, the '75 Hilltopper Football team is still listed in more than 30 stat categories in the WKU Football Record Book.
Â
For all the latest on WKU Football, follow @WKUFootball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the WKU Football Facebook page.Â
