2002 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team

2002 Southwest Missouri State Bears football
Conference	Gateway Football Conference
Record	4–7 (1–6 GFC)
Head coach	Randy Ball (4th season)
Home stadium	Plaster Sports Complex

2002 Gateway Football Conference standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 Western Kentucky +^		6	–	1					12	–	3
No. 5 Western Illinois +^		6	–	1					11	–	2
Youngstown State		4	–	3					7	–	4
Illinois State		4	–	3					6	–	5
Indiana State		3	–	4					5	–	7
Northern Iowa		2	–	5					5	–	6
Southern Illinois		2	–	5					4	–	8
Southwest Missouri State		1	–	6					4	–	7
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2002 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team represented Southwest Missouri State University (now known as Missouri State University) as a member of the Gateway Football Conference (GFC) during the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Randy Ball, the Bears compiled an overall record of 4–7, with a mark of 1–6 in conference play, and finished eighth in the GFC.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 29	East Central*	Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	W 26–14	11,254	[1]
September 7	at No. 25 Hampton*	Armstrong Stadium Hampton, VA	W 28–26	4,207	[2]
September 14	at Kansas*	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	L 24–44	40,500	[3]
September 21	Southeast Missouri State*	Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	W 28–21	12,575	[4]
September 28	No. 21 Youngstown State	Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	L 17–24	12,599	[5]
October 5	at Illinois State	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	L 20–30	10,283	[6]
October 12	at Indiana State	Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN	L 20–23 ^OT		[7]
October 19	No. 24 Western Kentucky	Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	L 7–31	13,002	[8]
October 26	Southern Illinois	Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	W 38–28	3,283	[9]
November 2	No. 8 Western Illinois	Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	L 23–28	1,885	[10]
November 16	at Northern Iowa	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	L 24–25		[11]
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "ECU gives up late scores, falls to SW Missouri State". The Daily Oklahoman. August 30, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Mistakes cost Pirates". Daily Press. September 8, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Heaggans' returns send Jayhawks soaring". The Kansas City Star. September 15, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Dechant shines for SMS". The Springfield News-Leader. September 22, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "SMS rally falls short in loss to Youngstown". The Springfield News-Leader. September 29, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "ISU rides second-quarter surge". The Pantagraph. October 6, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "ISU wins on Dede's 10-yard run in OT". The Indianapolis Star. October 13, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Michael leads Western's 31–7 rout". The Courier-Journal. October 20, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Not again! SIU loses Abdulqaadir for the season loss to SMS". Southern Illinoisan. October 27, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Western Illinois pulls out win over Bears". Southern Illinoisan. November 3, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Hoambrecker field goal gives UNI season-ending win, 25–24". The Sioux City Journal. November 17, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.