Western Kentucky University Football Program Breaks 26 Game LOSING Streak, Thanks To Louisiana Lafayette.

Faithful fans rejoice as Hilltoppers break their 26-game losing streak
Hundreds turn out at airport as football team returns from Louisiana
By MICHEAL COMPTON

Bowling Green’s Lisa King had attended every Western Kentucky football game this season - home and away - supporting her son, senior lineman Preston King.

Until Saturday.

Lisa King’s streak wasn’t the only one to fall, with WKU snapping its 26-game losing streak with a 54-21 win at Louisiana-Lafayette.

While Lisa King didn’t get to experience the joy of the victory in person, she did the next best thing - greeting the team as it arrived back from Lafayette late Saturday night.

Lisa King was one of several hundred people waiting to meet the team when it landed at the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport. As Lisa King waited for the team plane to arrive, she said she was still feeling the joy of the victory.

“I don’t even know what my reaction was,” Lisa King said. “Crying was first. Jumping up and down was second. I’m just so excited for the boys. I’m happy watching them come out every game, telling them, ‘Go get them next time.’ They go and get beat up every Saturday. I know winning isn’t everything, but tonight it is.”

Saturday’s impromptu celebration had a little of everything - with everyone from friends, family, students and even WKU women’s basketball coach Mary Taylor Cowles there to show their support for the Hilltoppers.

Kaylee Egerer, a junior from Rochester, Mich., who works for WKU athletic marketing, said she decided to come after getting a bunch of messages from friends on Facebook.

“I’ve been to almost all the home games,” Egerer said. “It is a huge sense of relief and excitement.”

Fans loudly roared their approval as coaches and players got off the plane, breaking into cheers and the school fight song - with many waving red towels.

“This is big time,” WKU football coach Willie Taggart said. “This is how it should be. I’m happy for our fans. It’s been a while since it’s been like this. I’m happy for the fans and the players that have been around all 26 losses. I’ve only been here for six and that was six too long. I’m happy for our fans, our players and our whole entire community. They deserve it.”

Taggart added Saturday’s turnout showed how great the WKU fan base is.

“I told the guys after the last game that all those fans had our backs and we had to go out and show them we had their backs too,” Taggart said. “It’s exciting to come home and see all these people here.”

With one streak now history, fans were already talking about possibly starting a new streak - one of a more positive nature. Louisville freshman Will Owens said he’s ready to celebrate another win Saturday when WKU hosts North Texas for homecoming.

“It gives us hope,” Owens said. “Maybe we can win a home game now.”