1997 Western Michigan Broncos football team

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1997 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record8–3 (6–2 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Cubit (1st season)
MVPTarrence McEvans
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Marshall x$   7 – 1     10 – 3  
Miami (OH)   6 – 2     8 – 3  
Ohio   6 – 2     8 – 3  
Bowling Green   3 – 5     3 – 8  
Kent State   3 – 5     3 – 8  
Akron   2 – 7     2 – 9  
West Division
Toledo x   7 – 1     9 – 3  
Western Michigan   6 – 2     8 – 3  
Ball State   4 – 4     5 – 6  
Eastern Michigan   4 – 5     4 – 7  
Central Michigan   1 – 7     2 – 9  
Northern Illinois   0 – 8     0 – 11  
Championship: Marshall 34, Toledo 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions

The 1997 Western Michigan Broncos football team was an American football team that represented Western Michigan University during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first season under head coach Gary Darnell, the Broncos compiled an 8–3 record and finished in second place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). In non-conference games, they defeated Temple (34–14) and Louisiana–Monroe (32–19) and lost to Michigan State (42–10).[1]

The team's statistical leaders were Tim Lester with 2,160 passing yards, Robert Sanford with 1,033 rushing yards, and Corey Alston with 32 catches for 761 receiving yards.[2] Sanford was named the MAC freshman of the year.[3]

Gary Darnell was hired as Western's head football coach on December 14, 1996. He had been an assistant coach at Texas since 1992, including three years as defensive coordinator.[4]

Schedule[edit]

DateOpponentSiteResult
August 28Temple*
W 34–14
September 6at Michigan State*
L 10–42
September 13at Northern Illinois
W 21–13
September 20Toledo
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 13–23
September 27at Ohio
L 7–31
October 4Ball State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 21–13
October 11at Bowling Green
W 34–21
October 18Kent State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 50–27
November 1at Eastern Michigan
W 41–38
November 8Central Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI (rivalry)
W 38–24
November 15at Northeast Louisiana*
W 32–19
  • *Non-conference game

References[edit]

  1. ^ "1997 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  2. ^ "1997 Western Michigan Broncos Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  3. ^ "Football History: Conference Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  4. ^ Don Vander Veen (December 15, 1996). "WMU tabs Darnell new head coach: Texas assistant was Broncos' first choice". Detroit Free Press. p. 3E.


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