1996 Western Michigan Broncos football team

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1996 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record2–9 (2–6 MAC)
Head coach
MVPTony Knox
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 1995
1997 →
1996 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Ball State $   7 – 1     8 – 4  
Toledo   6 – 2     7 – 4  
Miami (OH)   6 – 2     6 – 5  
Ohio   5 – 3     6 – 6  
Central Michigan   4 – 4     5 – 6  
Akron   3 – 5     4 – 7  
Bowling Green   3 – 5     4 – 7  
Eastern Michigan   3 – 5     3 – 8  
Western Michigan   2 – 6     2 – 9  
Kent State   1 – 7     2 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1996 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their tenth and final season under head coach Al Molde, the Broncos compiled a 2–9 record (2–6 against MAC opponents), finished in ninth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 304 to 208.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]

The team's statistical leaders included freshman quarterback Tim Lester with 2,189 passing yards, Bruno Heppell with 700 rushing yards, and Tony Knox with 754 receiving yards.[5] Lester was named the MAC freshman of the year.[6]

Molde was fired as the school's head football coach on November 20, 1996. In 10 years as head coach, he compiled a 62-47-2 record. The firing followed a public dispute with athletic director Jim Weaver over Molde's contract.[7]

Schedule[edit]

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 29 No. 25 Eastern Illinois*
L 20–28
September 7at West Virginia*
L 9–3447,938[8]
September 14Eastern Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 12–19
September 21at Central Michigan
L 28–38
September 28at Akron
L 7–27
October 5Ball State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 5–28
October 12at Wyoming*
L 28–4222,813
October 26at Toledo
L 7–10 OT
November 2Ohio
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 0–38
November 9at Bowling Green
W 16–13 OT
November 16Kent State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 76–27

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1990 - 99". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  3. ^ "1996 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  4. ^ "Waldo Stadium". Western Michigan University. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  5. ^ "1996 Western Michigan Broncos Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "Football History: Conference Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  7. ^ Mick McCabe (November 21, 1996). "WMU fires Molde; contract debate cited". Detroit Free Press. p. 1D, 2D.
  8. ^ "West Virginia rushes past Western Michigan". Detroit Free Press. September 8, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.


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