The 1979 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth season under head coach Elliot Uzelac, the Broncos compiled a 6–5 record (5–4 against MAC opponents), finished in third place in the MAC, and outscored their opponents, 186 to 120.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]
| 1979 Western Michigan Broncos football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Record | 6–5 (5–4 MAC) |
| Head coach |
|
| MVP | Matt Murphy |
| Captain | Tom Henry, Matt Murphy |
| Home stadium | Waldo Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Michigan $ | 8 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 0 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toledo | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ball State | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | 3 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miami (OH) | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Michigan | 1 | – | 6 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent State | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The team's statistical leaders included Albert Little with 342 passing yards, Larry Caper with 844 rushing yards, and Tim Clysdale with 207 receiving yards.[5] Tight end Tom Henry and defensive tackle Matt Murphy were the team captains.[6] Murphy also received the team's most outstanding player award.[7]
Schedule
edit| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8 | at Central Michigan | L 0–10 | 21,980 | [8] | |||
| September 15 | at South Carolina* | L 7–24 | 50,137 | [9] | |||
| September 22 | Northern Illinois | W 45–17 | [10] | ||||
| September 29 | Bowling Green |
| L 3–15 | [11] | |||
| October 6 | Kent State |
| L 13–18 | [12] | |||
| October 13 | at Toledo | L 0–17 | [13] | ||||
| October 20 | Grand Valley State* |
| W 37–0 | [14] | |||
| October 27 | at Ohio | W 20–6 | [15] | ||||
| November 3 | Miami (OH) |
| W 24–3 | [16] | |||
| November 10 | Ball State |
| W 20–10 | 8,500 | [17] | ||
| November 17 | at Eastern Michigan | W 17–7 | [18] | ||||
| |||||||
References
edit- ^ "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1970 - 79". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ "1979 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ "Waldo Stadium". Western Michigan University. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ "1979 Western Michigan Broncos Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ "Football History: All-Time Captains". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ "Football History: Team Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ "CMU stops Broncos, 10–0". Detroit Free Press. September 9, 1979. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "South Carolina rallies to top Western Michigan". Winston-Salem Journal. September 16, 1979. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Quarterback's four TDs pace Western Michigan". The Courier-Journal. September 23, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kicking game carries Bowling Green past WMU". The South Bend Tribune. September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Morrow's TD pass rallies Kent State to 18–13 victory". The Courier-Journal. October 7, 1979. Retrieved October 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Toledo now 4–0 in MAC". Dayton Daily News. October 14, 1979. Retrieved October 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Grand Valley gives Western a much-needed win". The Grand Rapids Press. October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Western Michigan spills Ohio U., 20–6". The Des Moines Register. October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Subs spark Western Michigan win over Miami". The Grand Rapids Press. November 4, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ball State falls to Broncos, 20–10". The Muncie Star. November 11, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Broncos dump Hurons 17–7". The Muskegon Chronicle. November 18, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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