Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Kawaun Jakes (6) is upended by Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles defensive back Martez Thompson (2) in the first half of a college football game at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012. (Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)

Not only did the Hilltoppers put together a dominant performance on the field Saturday night, they did so in front of their forefathers.

Members of the 1992 and 2002 teams took it all in at Houchens-Smith Stadium, as did legendary coach Jack Harbaugh.

The 1992 squad was recognized for keeping the program alive during the spring of that year, the 2002 team was recognized for winning the I-AA national title, and Harbaugh and his wife, Jackie, had the stadium’s club level officially named in their honor.

“He gave us a good, motivational speech,” junior running back Antonio Andrews said of Harbaugh. “What better way than to come out here and play for those guys? (Harbaugh) gave us a Muhammad Ali speech. Just motivated the team and got us going.”

The Harbaughs were also given a video message by their sons – Jim and John – before the start of the contest. Jim, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, called WKU coach Willie Taggart his “brother” during the message, and John, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, said he and former WKU running back Bobby Rainey have conversations about the Hilltoppers “every day.”

    

Big night, big crowd

The 23,252 fans who packed Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday night were the most to ever see the Tops play in Bowling Green.

That crowd broke the record of the 22,297 who saw WKU beat Murray State on Sept. 20, 2008.

“That atmosphere, with those fans packing our building, I really felt like our guys drew strength from our fans,” Taggart said. “I saw it when we got off the bus for Topper Walk, the excitement on our guys’ face to see so many people out there.”

The extra fans who lined the end zone concourses and packed onto the bern underneath the scoreboard meant a little more to the team’s seniors, who suffered through a winless season three years ago and a two-win season two years ago.

“It was a good feeling,” senior defensive lineman Jamarcus Allen said. “That’s a lot of love I wasn’t used to seeing when I first got here. It’s good to see the community come out and support us – not only because of the big win (over Kentucky) last week, I feel like they see us on the rise and we’re on our way to do big things this season.”

Dowling ejected

With WKU up 42-3 in the third quarter, Southern Mississippi quarterback Ricky Lloyd completed a 13-yard touchdown to Tyre Bracken.

Western Kentucky sophomore safety Jonathan Dowling lowered his shoulder and hit Bracken in the head on the play, drawing a 15-yard personal foul penalty and ejection.

Sun Belt Conference rule states that a player ejected must miss the team’s following game, meaning Dowling will not be available this week at Arkansas State.

Although Taggart said afterward that Dowling will not be suspended, that ruling is not official. The Hilltoppers can also appeal any decision rendered by the league.