WKU Sports: Favorite Photos of the Decade
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and over the past decade, WKU has had several iconic photos taken from an array of all the…
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and over the past decade, WKU has had several iconic photos taken from an array of all the sports on the Hill. Today, we want to showcase some of the many incredible pictures that were taken this decade. Let’s start with football first.
***If you’re a photographer for any of the pictures posted without proper mention please message us immediately for credit***
This photo taken by our own Hunter Peay is one I’d use to summarize the 2019 season. With the surprising 8–4 debut of head coach Tyson Helton on the Hill, part of that was credited to Arkansas grad transfer Ty Storey. Storey had an amazing senior season at WKU and I love how this picture shows the toughness (the torn jersey) as he has his back turned toward the sideline.
This will always be one of the most memorable WKU football pictures of this decade to me. Cam Echols-Luper grabbing a specular touchdown catch at Old Dominion in 2017 after losing his helmet with the “are you not entertained?!” celebration is forever iconic.
While this is more of a meme-able pic than it is a historic sports moment, it is definitely iconic. Joshua Samuel standing next to Lucky Jackson at Ball State in 2018 was so simple yet effective whether it was planned or not. I hope Samuel L. Jackson appreciates it.
What else can you say? This was a legendary moment in WKU history has the Tops beat the Wildcats in overtime in 2012. Still respect Willie Taggart a ton for that play call.
Wide receiver Willie McNeal with the game winning catch in overtime in the inaugural Moonshine Throwdown in 2014 is legendary. Both teams had over 700 total yards a piece in a final outcome that looks like it came from a video game. This Black Friday game where WKU beat #19 ranked Marshall, 67–66 will live on in history for a long time.
In 2010 WKU Football was in the middle of a 26 game losing streak, that streak would be broken with a 54–21 victory over Louisiana Lafayette. Willie Taggart’s Toppers returned to Bowling Green, WKU fans met the team at the Bowling Green Airport and on campus near the stadium. It is neat to see how the community came out to embrace the team after it went through soo much.
Harpermania was one of the wildest experiences of this decade for hoops. In 2012 and 2013, the Tops went to the NCAA Tournament as Sun Belt Tournament champions and this photo from the celebration in 2012 is special.
Ah yes, the hoops version of the Moonshine Throwdown in 2018 had some nice moments but especially this one. Josh Anderson getting a huge dunk on Marshall star Jon Elmore as the Tops scored 15 straight points and beat the Thundering Herd in Diddle Arena, 85–74.
Here’s another angle of that monumental dunk
The 2014-2015 was a special year. Not only was it WKU’s first year in C-USA, but Hilltopper legend Courtney Lee got his #32 jersey retired at a home game against a strong UTEP team. This picture of him looking up at his jersey in the rafters with now former WKU President Gary Ransdell captured a special moment for Lee.
The NIT run in 2017–2018 helped WKU reestablish their dominance under head coach Rick Stansbury as they went all the went to the NIT final four in Madison Square Garden and finished the season 27–11 overall. This picture of Taveion Hollingsworth after not only winning in a hostile Oklahoma State environment but after dropping 30 points in the contest says a lot.
After enduring a 5–11 start that resulted in Ken McDonald’s firing as WKU Basketball coach, fans quickly embraced interim coach Ray Harper in a phenomena that would later be called Harpermania. Fans responded to the change in leadership by packing Diddle with over 5,172 fans during his first game as coach. As he finished 6–4 down the stretch, WKU responded by bringing more “Harper Heads” to the games. He would reward fans with back to back Sun Belt Tournament Titles in 2012 and 2013.
The Lady Toppers Basketball team had a successful decade making the postseason eight times in ten years. Here is Michelle Clark-Heard’s last championship team celebrating a 72–57 over UAB in the Conference USA Tournament Finals in Frisco, Texas.
The 2010s were the decade of WKU Volleyball and their coach Travis Hudson. This photo encapsulates the love for his players and WKU that led to massive success throughout the decade.
One of the highlights of the decade would be Miranda Kramer’s remarkable 2015 campaign that led WKU within one game of the super regionals. Here is a picture from a 2–1 Win over Georgia in the Athens Regional that encapsulates how great she was.
Our favorite pictures would be incomplete without a few pictures of Big Red. Back in 2014, America’s favorite mascot was helping with the Humane Society’s Adopt-a-thon and proceeded to eat a puppy. This photo was widely circulated around the internet at the time.
Here’s one last photo that we couldn’t find a source but still worth showing non the less
Do you have a photo that we missed? Please share with a twitter or facebook comment and we’ll add them to our gallery.