Published: September 06, 2008 01:14 am      

Rivalry takes on a new meaning

RICHMOND — When he arrived at Eastern Kentucky University, Dean Hood admittedly knew very little about the heated, historic in-state rivalry between the Colonels and the Hilltoppers.

However, it didn’t take long for him to realize the importance of the yearly showdown.

“As soon as (legendary EKU coach Roy Kidd) walked in the office, you could tell there was something different,” Hood said of the week leading up to the Western game. “You could just tell. You could feel it. It’s kind of hard to explain if you weren’t around him.”

And years later, the oldest college football rivalry in the state still stirs those same intense passions.

But, as the 24th-ranked Colonels (0-1) and Hilltoppers prepare to meet for the 84th time, there is a heightened sense of urgency surrounding this rivalry.

When the two teams take the field at 6 p.m. today at Roy Kidd Stadium, it could very well be the last-ever meeting in a series that dates back to 1914.

The game will mark the end of the current four-year contract between the two schools and with WKU (0-1) moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, its not likely the old rivals will play again any time soon.

“There is no doubt that adds hype to this thing,” Hood said. “I wouldn’t say it is the last time we are ever going to play, but I will say that this will be the last time these two teams play at Roy Kidd Stadium. You are going to have a lot of guys who played here sitting up in the stands.”

The Hilltoppers are in the second year of a two-year transition to the FBS and next season will become full members of the Sun Belt Conference. According to league rules, Sun Belt teams are not allowed to play at Football Championship Subdivision teams, like EKU.

That would mean that any future game between the schools would have to be played in Bowling Green or at a neutral site — and EKU officials have not embraced those options, at least not publicly.

That leaves the rivalry in a precarious situation.

And everyone associated with either program understands that very well.

“It would be great to go out on top,” EKU senior quarterback Allan Holland said. “Especially knowing that we could be the last EKU team to ever beat them. But, it can work the other way too.”

After opening with a 40-7 loss to Cincinnati last week, EKU officials are expecting an overflow crowd at Roy Kidd Stadium today. The last time the two teams played in Richmond, a crowd of 20,000 was on hand to see the Colonels defeat WKU, 26-21.

“They’re going to be sky-high and their fans are going to be into it,” WKU coach David Elson said. “It’s the longest-standing rivalry in the commonwealth of Kentucky and with that comes a lot of passion, a lot of animosity between the schools and I think that’s good.”

Both teams opened the season with losses last week.

WKU had just 63 yards on the ground in a 31-13 loss at Indiana, while EKU trailed 26-0 at the half and never really presented a challenge to a team which finished the 2007 season ranked 17th in the country.

The Colonels finished with just eight first downs and had only 195 yards while turning the ball over twice. But, there were bright spots, including a 61-yard TD pass from Holland to sophomore receiver Cody Watts.

“We moved the ball and that was a big thing,” senior tight end Stephen Sizemore said. “They have a really good defense and I don’t think we will see speed like that for the rest of the year. We should have scored more points.”

The Colonels also should have scored more points against WKU last season. EKU drove into Hilltopper territory on its first three possessions and came away with just a field goal.

WKU eventually went on to pick up a 26-6 win at L.T. Smith Stadium.

“They’ve got a good defense, but we just can’t beat ourselves,” Holland said of Western. “I think that’s the biggest thing. Last year, we got into the red zone plenty of times and we didn’t get any points. We’ve to get points whenever we can.”

With the win, the Hilltoppers took a 46-34-3 lead in the all-time series with EKU.

WKU posted a 7-5 record last season playing a mish-mash schedule that featured FCS, FBS and NAIA schools. The Hilltoppers return 40 letterwinners and 14 starters, including leading rusher Tyrell Hayden, leading passer K.J. Black, second leading receiver Jake Gaebler and second leading tackler Marcus Minor.

EKU, the defending OVC champion, has lost four of the past five meetings with the Hilltoppers, but still holds a 23-15-3 lead in games played in Richmond.

The Colonels’ last victory came two years ago and following that win, fans charged the field and tore down one of the goal posts.

“We definitely expect to win and we definitely expect to have that kind of celebration again,” EKU senior safety Brandon Gathof said. “It was almost like we won the national championship.”