One down, one to go. With Western’s first year of transition into the Football Bowl Subdivision over, the Toppers (7-5) head into their final bowl-ineligible season in 2008. They take with them the momentum of Western’s 12th consecutive winning season. Athletics Director Wood Selig said it was huge for the football program to continue its winning tradition, especially in the first year of transition to the FBS.

Call the jeweler.
Western secured its 11th consecutive winning season with its 52-12 home-victory over Morehead State Saturday evening.
The players will receive rings for attaining their goal of at least seven victories in their first season as a transitional Football Bowl Subdivision team.

During this year’s preseason camp, the players came up with a “smart” goal for this year: If they won seven games, they would all receive rings for their achievement of a winning record in their first season as a transition Football Bowl Subdivision team.
If the Toppers are able to emerge victorious this Saturday, then a call to the jeweler will have to be made.

Western secured a winning season with its 52-12 victory over Morehead State Saturday evening at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

The Toppers (7-4) collected 383 yards and seven touchdowns with 192 yards passing and 190 yards on the ground.

There was a solemn atmosphere in Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.
Two Western turnovers became two Troy touchdowns within a minute and a half span, giving the Trojans a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter.

Western overcame three early turnovers with a score in each of the final three quarters, but eventually fell short in its 21-17 loss against Troy Saturday evening. The Toppers (6-4) had a chance for the victory with less than a minute to play in the contest.

Teams typically schedule weaker opponents for Homecoming games.
But for Western, this will not just be another typical Homecoming game.
This game will mark the first time a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent has ever traveled to Bowling Green.

Junior running back Stephen Willis said he and the rest of the team waited in the locker room at halftime, not knowing how coach David Elson was going to react to their lackluster first-half performance.
“We didn’t know if he was going to come in and start yelling,” Willis said.

The last time the Western football team walked out of Finely Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn., they walked out as national champions. It was Dec. 20, 2002, and the Toppers had defeated McNeese State 34-14 in the NCAA Division I-AA title game. “That was such a great experience,” coach David Elson said.

Western scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to pull off a 28-21 victory at Chattanooga Saturday afternoon. The Toppers (6-3) collected 484 yards of total offense compared to the Mocs’ (2-7) 401. Four turnovers plagued Western’s offense over the contest.