Willie Taggart

Ten Years After I-AA National Title, WKU President Pleased to Step Up in Class

Joseph Lord — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Outwardly, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers' 34-14 victory over McNeese State was a cause for big-time celebration for WKU President Gary Ransdell.

The Toppers won the 2002 Division I-AA national championship.

Inwardly, the championship stirred another reaction. The playoffs for the I-AA division -- now known as the Football Championship Subdivision -- had cost WKU money. The first-round playoff game drew just 3,300 people to Bowling Green's Smith Stadium. The title game had no payout.

Sportswriters Offer Mixed Opinions on Petrino's Move to Western Kentucky

Joseph Lord — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:49:09 +0000

Bobby Petrino is back in the college football coaching ranks, on the familiar turf of Kentucky. The newly hired Western Kentucky Hilltoppers coach was already among the sport's most divisive figures before he was fired from the University of Arkansas for misleading administrators about an extramarital affair with a staff member.

Report: WKU Football Coach Willie Taggart Leaving for South Florida

Joseph Lord — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 02:43:50 +0000

Western Kentucky football coach Willie Taggart has accepted the same job at South Florida, just weeks before the Hilltoppers' first bowl appearance since becoming a member of college football's top level in 2008, ESPN.com is reporting Friday night.

Taggart, a Florida native, has coached the Hilltoppers for three season. Western Kentucky was winless the season before he arrived and won just two games his first season.

Report: Charlie Strong Sticking with the Louisville Cardinals

Joseph Lord — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:59:04 +0000

Update: Louisville Cardinals football coach Charlie Strong turned down an offer from the Tennessee Volunteers and is staying at UofL, according to a report from Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel.

Citing an unnamed source, Thamel reported that Strong is negotiating a contract extension with Louisville.