1st, let me say I'm glad to find this site. I'm a long time WKU fan, going back to growing up in Louisville. I'm sort of becoming a little more interested these days since the football program is going 1-A and you are expanding your stadium.

Hope you guys "tear it up" in the 1-A division!

But I'm also wondering about Hilltopper Haven. I'd like to post on their as well but cant.

I took out a username and the message said the admin would approve it shortly and I would be able to post. Well, I waited several days and still couldnt post.

So I emailed the admin and explained that I'm a big Topper fan and am waiting for the promised approval. Well, its been over a week and no email back.

THEN I went and clicked on the "members list" and found out that there have been many new member usernames added since early June, but every one of them...from early June until now...are still listed as having ZERO posts.

Which means that none of them have recieved the admins approval either.

It seems to me now that their is NOBODY at that site running things since early June. Has the admin resigned or something???

How can anyone join???

Thanks

First of all, WELCOME D28!!!

Second, I tried to register at the haven a few years ago and had similar problems. From what I have heard usually you can get in with a little persistence (although I kind of gave it up).

I can't speak for haven, but from what I have read the haven was intended as exactly that... he doesn't want fans from another school in there talking smack etc. I think that the haven is an extremely powerful marketing tool for WKU athletics (the haven is part of the reason why I am no longer a UK fan. )

That said, a few of us have tried getting this board going as an alternative and whether you get on the haven or not I think we all hope that you will continue to post here.

Unfortunately our membership here is not that great yet. There seems to be periods of time where we get spurts of activity going and during football and basketball season things pick up quite a bit. There are a few posters here though, and just in the last few months we got the nice skin and banner that makes "TopperTown" more than just a generic board. We hope that this is the season that TopperTown really takes off. It seems that if any new posters come around then they just move on because of lack of activity. I am hoping that this board will hit "critical mass" this fall where there is enough activity that new posters will want to come back and post regularly.

So anyway, I don't know if I answered your question, but we're glad to have you and hope that you post soon and often. Most of us are game to talk football, basketball, other sports or anything off topic.

Happy posting!


PS: You said in your post that you are a "big topper fan" but in the first line you said "you guys". I was wondering if you care to explain that? Are you an alumnus? Are you a new Topper fan? Have you ever been to a game? Not picking on you because I am all in favor of expanding the fan base, I was just wondering.

Hilltopper2K,

Thanks for the welcome! I'm glad to be here and plan on posting. I think it'll be great having 3 division 1-A football programs here in Kentucky. Is this year the "transitional" year...with next year being the 1st one as an official 1-A program, or is there 2 more years to go?

I guess I'll take your advice and send a couple more emails to the admin at the other site. I dont know why the admin there is so hesitant to grant permission to post. If someone flames all he has to do is ban them after they do.

I didnt realise the "skin" here is new, but it looks good.

Regarding my saying "you guys" its probably because my favorite program is the Louisville Cardinals. I was born and raised in Louisville.

But the Hilltoppers have always been my 2nd favorite program in Kentucky, going back to when I was a kid . Actually, WKU has a sizable fan base in Louisville. There are lots of Hilltopper fans there. I believe its the closest to Louisville of all the regional state universities.

I became a fan during the late 60's, and particularly the Jim McDaniels period, when they made their last Final 4...the one the NCAA unfortunetly took away from them.

Anyway, I've been following the Toppers my whole life. I was thrilled with the success coaches like Clem Haskins and Ralph Willard had, only to be disapointed when those coaches left for "greener pastures". I'm hoping that the upgrade going on now will eventually enable WKU to be more of a "destination" job, rather than a "stepping stone."

And I still have a VCR tape around here somewhere of the game where Western beat UK in basketball in UK's home opener a few years ago. Gotta LOVE IT!

Needless to say, I'm not a huge UK fan, although I dont "hate" them. I just dont have any interest in UK.

Go Toppers!

Quote:I think it'll be great having 3 division 1-A football programs here in Kentucky.

I would like for there to eventually be a day when UK, WKU, and UofL play home and home every year. That will probably be a while, but it's a nice thought.

Quote:Is this year the "transitional" year...with next year being the 1st one as an official 1-A program, or is there 2 more years to go?

This is the first (of two) transitional year. We will be full 1A in 2009.

Quote:I guess I'll take your advice and send a couple more emails to the admin at the other site. I dont know why the admin there is so hesitant to grant permission to post. If someone flames all he has to do is ban them after they do.

Its his board, he pays for it, I guess he can run it anyway he wants. But anyone is welcome here.

Quote:I didnt realise the "skin" here is new, but it looks good.

Galojay made the banner and did quite a job. For years the board was just gray and said NCAABBS.com (like most of the team boards). Very generic. Now it feels more like an actual WKU board.

Quote:Regarding my saying "you guys" its probably because my favorite program is the Louisville Cardinals. I was born and raised in Louisville.

Nobody is perfect.

Quote:But the Hilltoppers have always been my 2nd favorite program in Kentucky, going back to when I was a kid . Actually, WKU has a sizable fan base in Louisville. There are lots of Hilltopper fans there. I believe its the closest to Louisville of all the regional state universities.

I've always heard that there are a lot of WKU fans in Louisville. How many would you say there are?

Quote:I became a fan during the late 60's, and particularly the Jim McDaniels period, when they made their last Final 4...the one the NCAA unfortunetly took away from them.

Well, that's before my time, my dad told me stories growing up about McDaniels. Who knows... maybe what was can be again.

Quote:Anyway, I've been following the Toppers my whole life. I was thrilled with the success coaches like Clem Haskins and Ralph Willard had, only to be disapointed when those coaches left for "greener pastures". I'm hoping that the upgrade going on now will eventually enable WKU to be more of a "destination" job, rather than a "stepping stone."

That's WKU's whole problem. What if... just what if Ralph Willard had stayed? We'll never know what might have been.

Well their are over 10K alumni in Louisville.

Quote:I believe its the closest to Louisville of all the regional state universities.

CRINGE! I understand that is the perception from the outside, but among alumni and the administration, WKU (notice you will see WKU and not Western Kentucky University going forward) is reaching beyond that. Anytime you hear President Ransdell speak, you will hear him say WKU is "A Leading American University with International Reach." We are achieving successes and recognition that is elevating us beyond just a "regional" university. Of course we still do take educating the future of the Commonwealth very serious.

BTW- with the new skin, I will have a new banner soon.

Yeah, D28guy, if you're going to be a Topper fan with us (and I'm glad you are) then you have to get the lingo down. Never refer to WKU as "regional" or "_ _ _ - major". BTW if you do get onto the haven that will get you into a lot of trouble over there.

Galo-- looking forward to the new banner, man. I know it will be great.

Hilltopper2K...

Quote:"Nobody is perfect."

Hey, we Cardinal fans are good people. We are like Hilltopper fans!

Quote:"I've always heard that there are a lot of WKU fans in Louisville. How many would you say there are?"

Thousands. Lots and lots. I seem to remember there were times when the Western broadcast network included Louisville.

Quote:"Well, that's before my time, my dad told me stories growing up about McDaniels. Who knows... maybe what was can be again."

Oh, it was wonderful. That team was special. Made the Final 4. I couldnt care less what the NCAA says, I will always tell people about WKU making the Final 4 that year. And if I recall correctly I didnt think the violations were the kind that should have warranted the Final 4 appearance being disallowed and stricken for the record books.

Quote:"CRINGE! I understand that is the perception from the outside, but among alumni and the administration, WKU (notice you will see WKU and not Western Kentucky University going forward) is reaching beyond that."

Well. I sincerely apologize if I ruffled yours, or anyone elses, feathers. That would be the LAST thing I would do, as I am a 35 year Hilltopper fan.

I meant that comment in a 100% benign way, with 0% malicious intent. All I meant is universities that have "western", "eastern", "northern" and "southern" in their names. That seems to imply a primary emphasis towards that "region". As a matter of fact, I include the University of Louisville in the same category of "regional" school. U of L's primary emphasis is their "region"...the city of Louisville. Just about every state has one very large "land grant" university, and then a bunch of smaller regional universities.

I said all of that just to explain how I meant that comment, and that I would NEVER want to insult anyone here. And I will GLADLY refrain from using that term here from now on. .

Quote:"Anytime you hear President Ransdell speak, you will hear him say WKU is "A Leading American University with International Reach." We are achieving successes and recognition that is elevating us beyond just a "regional" university. Of course we still do take educating the future of the Commonwealth very serious."

And I have no doubt whatsoever that everything you just posted is 100% true, and I am certain that WKU is doing what they should be doing, and that is to "shoot for the stars", as the old saying goes.

Peace.

Hilltopper2K,

Quote:"Yeah, D28guy, if you're going to be a Topper fan with us (and I'm glad you are) then you have to get the lingo down. Never refer to WKU as "regional" or "_ _ _ - major". BTW if you do get onto the haven that will get you into a lot of trouble over there."

By now you have probably read my post to Galojay. My apology to him is exended to you as well.

I meant no harm!

Quote:I meant no harm!

No harm is done.

But if our own fans think of us as "small time" then why should anyone else think of us differant?

Hilltopper2K

Quote:"But if our own fans think of us as "small time" then why should anyone else think of us differant?"

Thats why I'm so glad the WKU is going 1-A in football. I wish it could happen in the snap of a finger, rather than another 2 years.

I have a question. I'm excited about the LT Smith stadium expansion, but what is the expanded stadium going to look like? I've heard they are adding seats and enclosed suites on the opposite side from where the seats are now. Is the new seating going to pretty much be the same size as the current double decked side?

Is there an "artists rendering" that will show what it will look like?

Thanks.

Here is the link to the architectural renderings:
http://www.wkusports.com/sports2.cgi?spo...ithstadium

The new West Grandstand will have approximately 5,000 seats added. They will be all chair-back seats. As you can see it will have a lower level of seats and then the upper level will be a club level. The "Topper Club" club level will seat 800. The new side will also include new locker rooms, coaches' offices, training rooms, and a Hall of Fame.

On the University Blvd. end zone their will be a berm built up that will seat about 1,000. On top of the berm will be a huge video replay board.

Also new lights are being installed this summer.

You beat me to it Galo. Also here are some current pictures of the progress:

http://www.wkusports.com/photo.cgi?sports=5&article=5-1

Hilltopper2k,

I've seen the "in progress" pics you posted, but I was interested in what it would look like when completed.

The pics galojay posted are what I was interested in. That stadium is going to be (((AWESOME!)))

Thanks!

So D28, you should get Galojay to hook you up with some season tickets... just under 50 bucks for a pair for the whole season.

You said that there were tens of thousands of WKU fans in Louisville, I wish we could get just half of them to buy season tickets. I mean 50 bucks! Come on!

50 dollars for season tickets??? Thats an absolute bargain if I've ever seen one. It's tempting, but unfortunetly my work requires me to work weekends. The only way I can "attend" sporting events these days is through the TV.

Here something I found on the internet....

Sports Illustrated, 1971 Final 4

Check out WKU's Clarence Glovers quote. Sounds like he had a great sense of humor, doesnt it?

Haha, I'll see Clarence next weekend, I'll have to remind him of that.

$25 season tickets is a bargin! D28, if you cannot attend all the games, it would still really help the program to buy some tickets. A donation to HAF for $50 would be a great help to the program.

galojay,

You know, that (donating to HAF) is not a bad idea. It would kinda make me feel like I'm part of the program, as opposed to just a fan. Thanks for bringing that up!