Jim Ivey still remembers the ups and downs of his career at Western Kentucky University — injuries, position changes, and a pair of national championship runs that shaped the rest of his life.
Now, nearly 50 years later, the retired Owensboro Catholic High School coach and educator has been honored for his part in that history.
Ivey, along with the rest of the 1975 football squad, was officially inducted into WKU’s Hall of Fame during a luncheon this weekend, joining the 1973 Hilltopper team that was previously recognized.
Owensboro’s Myron Greenfield and Lawrence Jefferson were also on the team, while Henry Kukendall was a student assistant.
“I’m humbled and thankful and feel blessed,” Ivey said. “It’s kind of surreal to think here you are, 50 years later. You didn’t know you were making history as you were doing it. We were just a bunch of youngins trying to win ball games. What a great experience, though. Just great teammates.”
Ivey, a 1971 recruit, initially worked his way into contention for a starting spot on defense before a knee injury sidelined him. When he returned, the coaching staff asked if he would move to offense. He didn’t hesitate.
“I said, ‘Coach, am I going to get a chance to play?’ He goes, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘Where’s the huddle?’ So I played,” Ivey said. “I got to play that position for three years, ’73, ’74, ’75.”
The 1973 Hilltopper team went undefeated in the regular season, the only one in program history to do so. They beat Lehigh in the playoffs and shocked Grambling — led by legendary coach Eddie Robinson — on the road before falling to Louisiana Tech in the national championship.
Two years later, Ivey and the Hilltoppers were back in the title game despite a wave of injuries that forced a walk-on quarterback, Steve Larimore, into the starting role late in the year.
“We lost our starter. The second guy goes down. Coach tells Larimore, ‘Just take care of the ball, don’t force anything, and we’ll be okay.’ That’s what Larry did,” Ivey said. “The defense was really good, exceptional, and we ended up back in the national championship game.”
Western fell short again, but Ivey said both the ’73 and ’75 teams left a permanent mark on the program.
“I got to tell Coach Jimmy Feix and Butch Gilbert both that I loved them before they passed,” he said. “Thank them for the positive influence they had on my life.”
Ivey said he also used the occasion to honor several late teammates, including Rick Green, Keith Tandy, Dave Carter, Darryl Drake, and Walt Herod.
“We ordered some Hall of Fame gear, but I’m wearing my Houston Oiler T-shirt for Dave Carter,” Ivey said, noting Carter went on to play professionally with Houston.
