Western Michigan Broncos football
Encyclopedia
The Western Michigan Broncos football program represents Western Michigan University
in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference
(MAC). Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season. In 1927, WMU joined four other schools (Central Michigan University
, Eastern Michigan University
, Ferris State University
, and Wayne State University
) to form the Michigan Collegiate Conference
. Western Michigan then moved to its present conference in 1946. Prior to 1939, Western Michigan's athletic teams were known as the Hilltoppers.
Western Michigan's football team has had 14 head coaches in its history, with the current head coach, Bill Cubit
, taking the job in 2005. WMU had a huge turnaround in Cubit's first season, going from 1–10 in 2004 to 7–4 in 2005. The 54.5% increase marked the highest in Division I-A between the two seasons and garnered Cubit the 2005 MAC Coach of the Year Award. Cubit was also the only first-year Division I-A head coach to take their team to a negative point differential in 2004 to a positive one the following year (–188 to +12). WMU was also one of eight football teams that was bowl eligible
but did not go to a bowl game
.
WMU's main rival is the Central Michigan University Chippewas
. As of 2011, the Broncos own a 44–36–2 advantage in the series. In 2002, Western Michigan won the rivalry game at Central Michigan for the first time since 1973, snapping a 12 game winless streak (0–11–1).
Western Michigan University played in the inaugural International Bowl
in 2007 in Toronto, Canada.
The early dominance of the Hilltoppers was led by quarterback
Walt Olsen and running back
Scott Dunlap. In 1916, Olsen led the country in scoring with 17 touchdown
s and 36 extra point
s. Olsen set a school-record with 8 TDs in a single game that season. Dunlap also set a team-record with 19 TDs. The only loss in 1916 was to Notre Dame
when George Gipp
completed a 62 yard drop kick
, the longest in football history.
In 1939, WMU began playing at Waldo Stadium
. Coinciding with the opening of the new stadium, the Hilltoppers changed their name to avoid confusion with athletic teams at Western Kentucky University
and Marquette University
. A contest was held to come up with a new name and assistant football coach John Gill suggested "broncos." In support of the decision, the W Club's semi-annual publication, The Hilltopper, was renamed, The Bronco.
, Ohio University
, University of Cincinnati
, Western Reserve University and Butler University
. The Broncos won their first conference game 26–0 over Western Reserve and finished with a 6–3 record, good for second place. However, WMU would finish second or higher only 4 times in the next 39 years, compiling a 102–141–8 (.422) conference record in that stretch.
In 1961, Western Michigan finished second in the MAC with a 4–1–1 record, one-half game behind Bowling Green State University
. Despite the second place finish, WMU was invited to the Aviation Bowl
in Dayton, OH. In freezing rain and snow, the Broncos lost to University of New Mexico
28–12.
1966 saw a 7–3 season and WMU's first MAC football championship, which it shared with Miami. That season, tackle Bob Rowe
won his second MAC Lineman of the Year Award. Rowe would go on to a 10 year National Football League
Several players from the 1980's also played professionally including Duane Wilson USFL, John Offerdahl and Tom Toth for the Miami Dolphins, and Mark Garylchk. Tom Nutten won a super bowl ring with the St. Louis Rams. Jack Harbaugh's first team went 7-2-2 and were second in the MAC. The defense that year was among the best in the nation.
was hired to replace Jack Harbaugh
. Molde had spent the previous four seasons as head coach at Eastern Illinois University
where he led the Panthers to two playoff appearances (1983 and 1986) and a top 5 national ranking in 1986 (his 1986 squad was led by quarterback Sean Payton
, current head coach of the NFL's
New Orleans Saints
).
The hiring paid immediate dividends, as Molde's first WMU squad finished the 1987 season 4–4 in the MAC (5–6 overall) and was much more competitive than recent WMU squads had been. Molde's first notable win came in the MAC opener, a 34–27 win at Bowling Green State University
which was only two seasons removed from an 11–1 season.
In only his second year, Molde orchestrated the single greatest season in WMU history, leading the Broncos to a postseason bowl game for the first time since 1961. The 1988 season began with five consecutive dominating wins over the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, the University of Toledo
, Illinois State University
, Bowling Green and Miami University
by a cumulative score of 177–65. The win over Wisconsin in Madison was WMU's first ever over a Big Ten team. After a midseason home loss to pre-season MAC favorite Kent State University
, WMU found itself with little margin for error during the season's home stretch as they faced in-state rivals Eastern Michigan University
and Central Michigan University
in back-to-back contests. In the 31–24 win over EMU, the Bronco defense managed a goal line stand, stopping EMU on the 1 yard line on the last play of the game, to preserve the win. The following week against CMU, a then-record crowd of more than 32,000 jammed Waldo Stadium to see WMU rout the rival Chippewas 42–24, which stopped an 11-game winless streak in the heated rivalry dating back to 1976. That win set up a winner-take-all showdown in Muncie against Ball State University
the following week. The winner would claim the outright MAC title and a berth in the California Bowl
to face Big West champion Fresno State University. The game was played in soggy conditions and was a defensive struggle. Three field goals by John Creek along with an opportunistic defense carried WMU to the 16–13 win, locking up the school's first, and only, outright MAC football championship. In the locker room after the game, Molde credited his players, coaches and the Kalamazoo community for playing a part in helping to turn one of the MAC's worst programs into a champion in two short seasons. With the MAC title in hand, WMU played two more meaningless regular season games (losing at Northern Illinois University
and winning the home finale against Ohio University
) before heading to California for the bowl game.
On December 10, 1988, WMU faced Fresno State in the California Bowl (the game was played at Bulldog Stadium
in Fresno, which provided a huge home field advantage for Jim Sweeney's
team). The Broncos entered as significant underdogs, and after falling behind 14–0 early, it appeared that WMU was outgunned. However, WMU reeled off 17 straight points to take a 17–14 lead at halftime and the game remained close throughout, as Fresno State had to rally for a 35–30 win. WMU wrapped up the 1988 season at 9–3, and the 1988 team remains the only outright MAC champion in WMU history. Several members of the 1988 team went on to play professionally at some level, including quarterback Tony Kimbrough, offensive lineman Kevin Haverdink, defensive lineman Joel Smeenge
, wide receiver Robert Oliver
and running back Robert Davis.
Graduation losses hit the 1989 team hard, and the team was one of the youngest in the MAC. WMU set an NCAA record with four losses by a single point (to Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Toledo and Bowling Green), and finished the 1989 season at 3–5 in the MAC and 5–6 overall.
The 1990 team bounced back to post a solid 7–4 campaign (5–3 in the MAC), and paved the way for a series of winning seasons in years to come. The 1991 and 1992 teams finished 6–5 and 7–3–1, respectively, setting the stage for two of the best teams Molde produced during his tenure.
The 1993 season started off with a humiliating home loss to I-AA Youngstown State University
. It was followed by a tough road loss to Purdue University
, which left WMU at 0–2 and facing the prospect of a long season. However, the Broncos righted the ship and reeled off wins in seven in their last nine games (with one tie) to finish the year at 7–3–1 (6–1–1 in the MAC). Following the 1993 loss to Purdue, WMU embarked on its most successful run during the Molde era. In its next 14 games, a stretch that covered the remainder of the 1993 season and the first half of 1994, WMU posted a 12–1–1 mark and firmly established itself as one of the MAC's best programs. Due to a quirk in the MAC schedule, WMU and Ball State did not play head-to-head in 1993, which denied Molde's Broncos the chance to earn a second outright MAC title. Instead, Ball State finished 7–0–1 in the conference, won the title, and received the subsequent automatic berth in the Las Vegas Bowl
. Following his team's 14–14 tie with WMU, then-Bowling Green head coach Gary Blackney
(whose team had played both WMU and Ball State during the season), remarked, "Western Michigan is by far the best team we've played in the conference."
With nearly all of the starters returning from the 1993 team, the 1994 Broncos entered the season as MAC favorites. Early on, they did nothing to disappoint as they raced to a 5–0 mark with wins over Miami, Western Illinois University
, Iowa State University
, the University of Akron
and Kent State University
. In October, WMU traveled to Mt Pleasant to face arch-rival Central Michigan. This game was a turning point for the WMU program, and many believe that this game was the first step in what turned out to be a controversial ending to the Molde era a few years later. WMU jumped out to a 14–0 lead, but CMU fought back and eventually held off the Broncos in a 35–28 win. The loss crushed WMU's momentum, as they had been knocking on the door of the Top 25 national rankings, and highlighted the one glaring weakness on Molde's resume. This loss dropped his record vs. CMU to 2–6, and he would end his career 3–7 vs. CMU. The following week, WMU's hopes of a MAC title ended with a 16–13 loss to Ball State. Around this time, team chemistry problems became public, providing a distraction to the team and putting additional stress on the already lukewarm relationship between Molde and WMU's administration, most notably then-WMU president Diether Haenicke
. WMU finished up the 1994 season a disappointing 7–4 (5–3 in the MAC).
The 1995 season provided a fresh start after many of the disgruntled players from the 1994 team were kicked off the team or graduated. Following a 1–3 start, WMU rebounded to win six of its last seven games, with the lone loss at 16th-ranked Auburn University
. The season was highlighted by a 48–31 demolition of CMU. Following the 1995 season, Molde was promised a contract extension by the WMU administration. By this point, Molde was working for his 4th different athletic director since coming to WMU.
Molde entered the 1996 campaign with an overall record of 60–38–2, and was the longest-tenured (but among the lowest-paid) coaches in the MAC, but still no contract extension. After a loss to a nationally-ranked University of Wyoming
team (led by current Purdue head coach Joe Tiller
) dropped the young WMU team to 0–7, the WMU administration announced that Molde's contract would not be renewed following the season. The announcement ignited a controversy among many Bronco fans who were unhappy with the way Molde was treated by WMU, particularly by Haenicke, who was ultimately responsible for making the decision. The Broncos closed out the season with back-to-back wins over Bowling Green and Kent State (with the players making a statement against Kent State by winning 76–27) to finish 2–9 (2–6 in the MAC).
Molde finished his WMU career with an overall mark of 62–47–2, having won WMU's only outright MAC title, finishing 3rd or better four times and in the top 4 in the conference in 6 of his 10 seasons. At the time of his departure, he was among the top 10 in career wins (168) for active NCAA Division I-A coaches. Molde remains WMU's all-time leader for wins, tied with Bill Spaulding.
Initially the Broncos' fortunes turned around immediately under Gary Darnell
, who led WMU to an eight win season in 1997. The program had a seven-win season in 1998, including a surprising road victory over Vanderbilt
, but also had a disappointing loss to Central Michigan
.
Building on the initial success of the Molde-era recruits, Darnell took the Broncos to back-to-back 1999 and 2000 MAC West Division Championships, falling both years to host Marshall University
in Huntington, West Virginia
. Because of the loss in the MAC Championship game, the program failed to become bowl eligible and see further post-season play. However, the disappointment wasn't enough to keep Darnell off the scouting list of BCS
schools such as North Carolina
, Rutgers
, Missouri
, Oklahoma State
and Virginia Tech
. Some say the constant overtures from BCS programs to Darnell led to the program's progressive decline.
The 2001 season saw the momentum of the program slowing, with a five-win season and a loss to Central Michigan. Failing further in 2002, the program won four games, managing to defeat both Central Michigan
in Mount Pleasant
and Eastern Michigan University
in the same season. Some optimism was felt in Kalamazoo for the 2003 season, with high expectations for the program dashed quickly, after a blowout by Virginia
, and losses began mounting after losing to Ball State
, Northern Illinois, Marshall and Toledo
.
The 2004 season was a complete disaster, after a blowout of Division I-AA Tennessee–Martin
, the Broncos piled up nine uninspiring losses, only being competitive against Illinois
and Eastern Michigan. But it wasn't enough, the team lost 10 straight games and didn't beat a single Division I-A team. Despite a slight minority of fans and alumni who wanted to give Darnell one more season, the majority, including the administration, wanted change. The program's attendance in 2004 was abysmal and the program was deep in red ink, ultimately leading to Darnell's termination due to the losing season as well as an aggressive bid for the job by the current Bronco coach, Bill Cubit. Regardless, Coach Darnell will go down as one of the best coaches to come through the Western Michigan programs storied history.
The following are team NCAA records:
that also played for WMU.
or by paying a fixed monthly or yearly subscription fee.
TV-64 on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and repeat each Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
ESPN
also offers coverage of some MAC football and basketball games, as well as Comcast Local
which is a regional network available to Comcast
cable subscribers in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio which is where most MAC schools are located.
Print media coverage is offered by the Kalamazoo Gazette
and The Grand Rapids Press, as well as the school's daily newspaper, the Western Herald
and http://mlive.com.
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
(MAC). Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season. In 1927, WMU joined four other schools (Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
, Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
, Ferris State University
Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where...
, and Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
) to form the Michigan Collegiate Conference
Michigan Collegiate Conference
The Michigan Collegiate Conference was an athletic conference that existed in the United States for six years, from 1927 through 1932.Formed in December 1926, the members were Michigan State Normal , Western State Teachers College , Central State Teachers College , and the College of the...
. Western Michigan then moved to its present conference in 1946. Prior to 1939, Western Michigan's athletic teams were known as the Hilltoppers.
Western Michigan's football team has had 14 head coaches in its history, with the current head coach, Bill Cubit
Bill Cubit
-External links:*...
, taking the job in 2005. WMU had a huge turnaround in Cubit's first season, going from 1–10 in 2004 to 7–4 in 2005. The 54.5% increase marked the highest in Division I-A between the two seasons and garnered Cubit the 2005 MAC Coach of the Year Award. Cubit was also the only first-year Division I-A head coach to take their team to a negative point differential in 2004 to a positive one the following year (–188 to +12). WMU was also one of eight football teams that was bowl eligible
Bowl eligible
Bowl eligibility in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision College Football is the standard through which teams become available for selection to participate in postseason bowl games. When a team achieves this state, it is described as "bowl-eligible"...
but did not go to a bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
.
WMU's main rival is the Central Michigan University Chippewas
Central Michigan Chippewas football
The Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences...
. As of 2011, the Broncos own a 44–36–2 advantage in the series. In 2002, Western Michigan won the rivalry game at Central Michigan for the first time since 1973, snapping a 12 game winless streak (0–11–1).
Western Michigan University played in the inaugural International Bowl
International Bowl
The International Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association collegiate American football bowl game played in Toronto from 2007 through 2010...
in 2007 in Toronto, Canada.
Coaching staff
- Bill CubitBill Cubit-External links:*...
– Head coach - Dave CohenDave CohenDave Cohen is the current defensive coordinator for the Western Michigan Broncos football team. He was the final head coach of Hofstra University's football program. He coached from 2006 through 2009, but days after the 2009 season ended, Hofstra announced that it was dropping its football program...
– Defensive coordinator, linebackers - Ryan Cubit – Quarterbacks
- Amp Campbell – Cornerbacks
- Josh GattisJosh GattisJosh Gattis is an American football safety who is currently a free agent.Gattis was born in Durham, North Carolina. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wake Forest. He has also played for the Chicago Bears.-External...
– Wide receivers - Rich Nagy – Safeties
- Lou Esposito – Defensive line
- Jake MorelandJake MorelandJake Moreland is a former player in the National Football League for the New York Jets andCleveland Browns in 2000 and 2001. Moreland currently serves as tight ends coach of the Western Michigan Broncos football team at his alma mater Western Michigan University.-References:...
– Tight ends - Mike Sabock – Running backs, special teams
- AJ Ricker – Offensive line
- Tim Knox – Director of football operations
- Steve Casula – Graduate assistant
- Richard Riechert – Graduate assistant
Early dominance (1906–47)
From Western Michigan's first season of football in 1906 until they joined the MAC in 1949, WMU compiled a 187–87–12 (.675) record, going undefeated six times, in 1909, 1913, 1914, 1922, 1932, and 1941. During that stretch, Western Michigan had only seven losing seasons, and only once had back-to-back losing records. In 1922, the team finished 6–0 while outscoring their opponents 160–0.The early dominance of the Hilltoppers was led by quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Walt Olsen and running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Scott Dunlap. In 1916, Olsen led the country in scoring with 17 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s and 36 extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
s. Olsen set a school-record with 8 TDs in a single game that season. Dunlap also set a team-record with 19 TDs. The only loss in 1916 was to Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
when George Gipp
George Gipp
George "The Gipper" Gipp was a college football player who played for the University of Notre Dame. Gipp was selected as Notre Dame's first All-American and is Notre Dame's second consensus All-American , after Gus Dorais. Gipp played multiple positions, most notably halfback, quarterback, and...
completed a 62 yard drop kick
Drop kick
A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of football. It involves a player dropping the ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground. It contrasts to a punt, wherein the player kicks the ball without letting it hit the ground first....
, the longest in football history.
In 1939, WMU began playing at Waldo Stadium
Waldo Stadium
Waldo Stadium is a stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Opened in 1939, it now has a capacity of 30,200 spectators.-History:...
. Coinciding with the opening of the new stadium, the Hilltoppers changed their name to avoid confusion with athletic teams at Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
and Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
. A contest was held to come up with a new name and assistant football coach John Gill suggested "broncos." In support of the decision, the W Club's semi-annual publication, The Hilltopper, was renamed, The Bronco.
Struggling in the MAC (1948–86)
Western Michigan joined the MAC in 1948. At that time, the MAC consisted of Miami UniversityMiami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, Western Reserve University and Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
. The Broncos won their first conference game 26–0 over Western Reserve and finished with a 6–3 record, good for second place. However, WMU would finish second or higher only 4 times in the next 39 years, compiling a 102–141–8 (.422) conference record in that stretch.
In 1961, Western Michigan finished second in the MAC with a 4–1–1 record, one-half game behind Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
. Despite the second place finish, WMU was invited to the Aviation Bowl
Aviation Bowl
The Aviation Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played at Welcome Stadium in Dayton, Ohio, on December 9, 1961. The University of New Mexico and Western Michigan University met in front of just over 3,500 fans. It should also be noted that it was unusually cold and miserable in...
in Dayton, OH. In freezing rain and snow, the Broncos lost to University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
28–12.
1966 saw a 7–3 season and WMU's first MAC football championship, which it shared with Miami. That season, tackle Bob Rowe
Bob Rowe
Robert J. “Bob” Rowe is a noted musical performer and recording artist. He is also well known as a crusader for residents of long term care facilities....
won his second MAC Lineman of the Year Award. Rowe would go on to a 10 year National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Several players from the 1980's also played professionally including Duane Wilson USFL, John Offerdahl and Tom Toth for the Miami Dolphins, and Mark Garylchk. Tom Nutten won a super bowl ring with the St. Louis Rams. Jack Harbaugh's first team went 7-2-2 and were second in the MAC. The defense that year was among the best in the nation.
The Golden Years: The Molde era (1987–96)
In December 1986, Al MoldeAl Molde
Al Molde is a college athletics administrator and former American football coach in the United States. He is currently the Director of Athletics at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, having held this position since 1997...
was hired to replace Jack Harbaugh
Jack Harbaugh
Jack Harbaugh is a former college football player and coach, and the father of NFL coaches Jim and John Harbaugh.-Playing career:...
. Molde had spent the previous four seasons as head coach at Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
where he led the Panthers to two playoff appearances (1983 and 1986) and a top 5 national ranking in 1986 (his 1986 squad was led by quarterback Sean Payton
Sean Payton
Patrick Sean Payton is the current head coach of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School and Eastern Illinois University and played professionally in 1987 and 1988...
, current head coach of the NFL's
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
).
The hiring paid immediate dividends, as Molde's first WMU squad finished the 1987 season 4–4 in the MAC (5–6 overall) and was much more competitive than recent WMU squads had been. Molde's first notable win came in the MAC opener, a 34–27 win at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
which was only two seasons removed from an 11–1 season.
In only his second year, Molde orchestrated the single greatest season in WMU history, leading the Broncos to a postseason bowl game for the first time since 1961. The 1988 season began with five consecutive dominating wins over the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
, Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
, Bowling Green and Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
by a cumulative score of 177–65. The win over Wisconsin in Madison was WMU's first ever over a Big Ten team. After a midseason home loss to pre-season MAC favorite Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
, WMU found itself with little margin for error during the season's home stretch as they faced in-state rivals Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
and Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
in back-to-back contests. In the 31–24 win over EMU, the Bronco defense managed a goal line stand, stopping EMU on the 1 yard line on the last play of the game, to preserve the win. The following week against CMU, a then-record crowd of more than 32,000 jammed Waldo Stadium to see WMU rout the rival Chippewas 42–24, which stopped an 11-game winless streak in the heated rivalry dating back to 1976. That win set up a winner-take-all showdown in Muncie against Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
the following week. The winner would claim the outright MAC title and a berth in the California Bowl
California Bowl
The California Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played annually at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. The games matched the championship teams from the Big West Conference with teams from the Mid-American Conference...
to face Big West champion Fresno State University. The game was played in soggy conditions and was a defensive struggle. Three field goals by John Creek along with an opportunistic defense carried WMU to the 16–13 win, locking up the school's first, and only, outright MAC football championship. In the locker room after the game, Molde credited his players, coaches and the Kalamazoo community for playing a part in helping to turn one of the MAC's worst programs into a champion in two short seasons. With the MAC title in hand, WMU played two more meaningless regular season games (losing at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
and winning the home finale against Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
) before heading to California for the bowl game.
On December 10, 1988, WMU faced Fresno State in the California Bowl (the game was played at Bulldog Stadium
Bulldog Stadium
Bulldog Stadium at Jim Sweeney Field is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of California State University, Fresno in Fresno, California. It is the home field of the Fresno State Bulldogs of the Western Athletic Conference. The stadium opened in 1980 with a capacity of 30,000 and has a...
in Fresno, which provided a huge home field advantage for Jim Sweeney's
Jim Sweeney (coach)
Jim Sweeney is a former American football coach. He served as the head coach at Montana State University , Washington State University , and California State University, Fresno . Sweeney's 143 wins as the head coach at Fresno State are the most in the history of the program...
team). The Broncos entered as significant underdogs, and after falling behind 14–0 early, it appeared that WMU was outgunned. However, WMU reeled off 17 straight points to take a 17–14 lead at halftime and the game remained close throughout, as Fresno State had to rally for a 35–30 win. WMU wrapped up the 1988 season at 9–3, and the 1988 team remains the only outright MAC champion in WMU history. Several members of the 1988 team went on to play professionally at some level, including quarterback Tony Kimbrough, offensive lineman Kevin Haverdink, defensive lineman Joel Smeenge
Joel Smeenge
Joel Andrew Smeenge is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played 11 seasons in the NFL from 1990-2000. He played college football at Western Michigan University...
, wide receiver Robert Oliver
Robert Oliver
Robert Gordon Oliver is a former road and track cyclist from New Zealand, who represented his native country in two disciplines at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany: the men's individual road race and the men's team pursuit .-References:*...
and running back Robert Davis.
Graduation losses hit the 1989 team hard, and the team was one of the youngest in the MAC. WMU set an NCAA record with four losses by a single point (to Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Toledo and Bowling Green), and finished the 1989 season at 3–5 in the MAC and 5–6 overall.
The 1990 team bounced back to post a solid 7–4 campaign (5–3 in the MAC), and paved the way for a series of winning seasons in years to come. The 1991 and 1992 teams finished 6–5 and 7–3–1, respectively, setting the stage for two of the best teams Molde produced during his tenure.
The 1993 season started off with a humiliating home loss to I-AA Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
. It was followed by a tough road loss to Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, which left WMU at 0–2 and facing the prospect of a long season. However, the Broncos righted the ship and reeled off wins in seven in their last nine games (with one tie) to finish the year at 7–3–1 (6–1–1 in the MAC). Following the 1993 loss to Purdue, WMU embarked on its most successful run during the Molde era. In its next 14 games, a stretch that covered the remainder of the 1993 season and the first half of 1994, WMU posted a 12–1–1 mark and firmly established itself as one of the MAC's best programs. Due to a quirk in the MAC schedule, WMU and Ball State did not play head-to-head in 1993, which denied Molde's Broncos the chance to earn a second outright MAC title. Instead, Ball State finished 7–0–1 in the conference, won the title, and received the subsequent automatic berth in the Las Vegas Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl
The Maaco Bowl Las Vegas is an NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually at 40,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. since 1992. From 1992 to 1996, matchups featured the champion teams from the Big West and Mid-American...
. Following his team's 14–14 tie with WMU, then-Bowling Green head coach Gary Blackney
Gary Blackney
-External links:* *...
(whose team had played both WMU and Ball State during the season), remarked, "Western Michigan is by far the best team we've played in the conference."
With nearly all of the starters returning from the 1993 team, the 1994 Broncos entered the season as MAC favorites. Early on, they did nothing to disappoint as they raced to a 5–0 mark with wins over Miami, Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
, Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
and Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
. In October, WMU traveled to Mt Pleasant to face arch-rival Central Michigan. This game was a turning point for the WMU program, and many believe that this game was the first step in what turned out to be a controversial ending to the Molde era a few years later. WMU jumped out to a 14–0 lead, but CMU fought back and eventually held off the Broncos in a 35–28 win. The loss crushed WMU's momentum, as they had been knocking on the door of the Top 25 national rankings, and highlighted the one glaring weakness on Molde's resume. This loss dropped his record vs. CMU to 2–6, and he would end his career 3–7 vs. CMU. The following week, WMU's hopes of a MAC title ended with a 16–13 loss to Ball State. Around this time, team chemistry problems became public, providing a distraction to the team and putting additional stress on the already lukewarm relationship between Molde and WMU's administration, most notably then-WMU president Diether Haenicke
Diether Haenicke
Dr. Diether H. Haenicke was a president of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Haenicke had previously served as president from 1985–1998 and as an interim president from 2006–2007....
. WMU finished up the 1994 season a disappointing 7–4 (5–3 in the MAC).
The 1995 season provided a fresh start after many of the disgruntled players from the 1994 team were kicked off the team or graduated. Following a 1–3 start, WMU rebounded to win six of its last seven games, with the lone loss at 16th-ranked Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
. The season was highlighted by a 48–31 demolition of CMU. Following the 1995 season, Molde was promised a contract extension by the WMU administration. By this point, Molde was working for his 4th different athletic director since coming to WMU.
Molde entered the 1996 campaign with an overall record of 60–38–2, and was the longest-tenured (but among the lowest-paid) coaches in the MAC, but still no contract extension. After a loss to a nationally-ranked University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
team (led by current Purdue head coach Joe Tiller
Joe Tiller
Joe Tiller is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1991 to 1996 and Purdue University from 1997 to 2008, compliling a career college football record of 126–92–1...
) dropped the young WMU team to 0–7, the WMU administration announced that Molde's contract would not be renewed following the season. The announcement ignited a controversy among many Bronco fans who were unhappy with the way Molde was treated by WMU, particularly by Haenicke, who was ultimately responsible for making the decision. The Broncos closed out the season with back-to-back wins over Bowling Green and Kent State (with the players making a statement against Kent State by winning 76–27) to finish 2–9 (2–6 in the MAC).
Molde finished his WMU career with an overall mark of 62–47–2, having won WMU's only outright MAC title, finishing 3rd or better four times and in the top 4 in the conference in 6 of his 10 seasons. At the time of his departure, he was among the top 10 in career wins (168) for active NCAA Division I-A coaches. Molde remains WMU's all-time leader for wins, tied with Bill Spaulding.
Up and down under Darnell (1997–2004)
Gary Darnell
Gary Brent Darnell is a former American college football player and coach. Darnell is native of Arkansas and an alumnus of Oklahoma State University, where he played college football...
, who led WMU to an eight win season in 1997. The program had a seven-win season in 1998, including a surprising road victory over Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
, but also had a disappointing loss to Central Michigan
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
.
Building on the initial success of the Molde-era recruits, Darnell took the Broncos to back-to-back 1999 and 2000 MAC West Division Championships, falling both years to host Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
in Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
. Because of the loss in the MAC Championship game, the program failed to become bowl eligible and see further post-season play. However, the disappointment wasn't enough to keep Darnell off the scouting list of BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
schools such as North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater is a land-grant, sun-grant, coeducational public research university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. OSU was founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act...
and Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
. Some say the constant overtures from BCS programs to Darnell led to the program's progressive decline.
The 2001 season saw the momentum of the program slowing, with a five-win season and a loss to Central Michigan. Failing further in 2002, the program won four games, managing to defeat both Central Michigan
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Mount Pleasant is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Isabella County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,946. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 26,675....
and Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
in the same season. Some optimism was felt in Kalamazoo for the 2003 season, with high expectations for the program dashed quickly, after a blowout by Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, and losses began mounting after losing to Ball State
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
, Northern Illinois, Marshall and Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
.
The 2004 season was a complete disaster, after a blowout of Division I-AA Tennessee–Martin
University of Tennessee at Martin
The University of Tennessee at Martin is a campus in the University of Tennessee system. Other campuses include the flagship campus in Knoxville, the Chattanooga campus, the Center for the Health Sciences in Memphis, and the Space Institute in Tullahoma...
, the Broncos piled up nine uninspiring losses, only being competitive against Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and Eastern Michigan. But it wasn't enough, the team lost 10 straight games and didn't beat a single Division I-A team. Despite a slight minority of fans and alumni who wanted to give Darnell one more season, the majority, including the administration, wanted change. The program's attendance in 2004 was abysmal and the program was deep in red ink, ultimately leading to Darnell's termination due to the losing season as well as an aggressive bid for the job by the current Bronco coach, Bill Cubit. Regardless, Coach Darnell will go down as one of the best coaches to come through the Western Michigan programs storied history.
All-time win-loss record
Bowl games
- AviationAviation BowlThe Aviation Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played at Welcome Stadium in Dayton, Ohio, on December 9, 1961. The University of New Mexico and Western Michigan University met in front of just over 3,500 fans. It should also be noted that it was unusually cold and miserable in...
– 1961 vs. New MexicoUniversity of New MexicoThe University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, L 28–12 - CaliforniaCalifornia BowlThe California Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played annually at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. The games matched the championship teams from the Big West Conference with teams from the Mid-American Conference...
– 1988 vs. Fresno State, L 35–30 - InternationalInternational BowlThe International Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association collegiate American football bowl game played in Toronto from 2007 through 2010...
– 20072007 International BowlThe 2007 International Bowl, held on January 6, 2007 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, was one of the college American football bowl games that ended the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The game pitted the University of Cincinnati against Western Michigan University...
(2006 season) vs. CincinnatiUniversity of CincinnatiThe University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, L 27–24 - TexasTexas BowlThe Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, formerly known as the Texas Bowl, is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS college football bowl game that was held for the first time in 2006 in Houston, Texas. The bowl replaced the now-defunct Houston Bowl, which was played annually from 2000 to 2005...
– 20082008 Texas BowlThe 2008 Texas Bowl was the third edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The game was played at 7:00 PM US CST on Tuesday, December 30, 2008. The game, telecast on NFL Network, featured the hometown Rice Owls against the Western Michigan...
vs. RiceRice UniversityWilliam Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, L 38–14
Trophy games
- CMU–WMU Rivalry TrophyCMU–WMU Rivalry TrophyThe CMU–WMU Rivalry Trophy, also known as the Victory Cannon, is a trophy awarded to the winner of the annual college football game between Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University...
– Central Michigan ChippewasCentral Michigan Chippewas footballThe Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences... - Michigan MAC TrophyMichigan MAC TrophyThe Michigan MAC Trophy is given to the Michigan Mid-American Conference university – Central Michigan University , Eastern Michigan University and Western Michigan University – which defeats the other two schools in the same sport in the same regular season.There are two separate...
– Central Michigan ChippewasCentral Michigan Chippewas footballThe Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences...
and Eastern Michigan EaglesEastern Michigan Eagles footballThe Eastern Michigan Eagles are a college football program at Eastern Michigan University. They compete in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mid-American Conference...
NCAA records
The following players hold individual NCAA records:- Corey Alston, most yards gained by a freshman in a game, 263 yards on nine catches vs. Eastern Michigan, November 1, 1997
- Jason BabinJason Babin-Houston Texans:Babin was drafted by Houston Texans in first round of 2004 NFL Draft. The Texans traded 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th round pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 1st and 5th pick, In order to draft Babin. He was signed to a five-year $6 million contract by Texans on June 26, 2004...
- Most tackles for loss in a season, 32 tackles (31 solo and 2 assisted in 12 games), 2003
- Most tackles for loss in a career, 75 tackles (73 solo and 4 assisted in 47 games), 2000–03
- Cory Flom, most blocked field goals in a game, 2 blocked kicks vs. Indiana, September 2, 2006
- Tim HillerTim HillerTim Hiller is a American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Western Michigan. Hiller is now head football coach at Gull Lake High School in Richland, Michigan.-Early...
- Most plays by a freshman in a game, 80 plays vs. Ball State, October 8, 2005
- Most touchdown passes thrown on consecutive plays, 3 touchdowns vs. Central Michigan, November 12, 2005 (76, 7 and 40 yards in 1:59 of playing time overlapping first and second quarters)
- Ameer Ismail
- Most sacks in a game, 6 sacks vs Ball State, October 21, 2006
- Most tackles for loss in 2006, 25.5 tackles
- Most sacks in 2006, 17 sacks
- Greg JenningsGreg JenningsGregory Jennings, Jr. is a professional American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
- Most 1,000 yard receiving seasons, 3 seasons, 2003: 1,050 yards, 2004: 1,092 yards, 2005: 1,259 yards
- Most receptions per game in 2005, 8.9/game
- Tim Lester, most seasons gaining 2,000 or more yards passing, 4 seasons, 1996: 2,189 yards, 1997: 2,160 yards, 1998: 3,311 yards, 1999: 3,639 yards
- Mike PrindleMike PrindleMichael John Prindle is a former National Football League placekicker. Prindle played one season for the Detroit Lions in 1987.-High school:Prindle was a kicker and quarterback for Grand Rapids Union High School...
- Most points scored by kicking in a game, 24 points (seven field goals and three point after touchdowns) vs. Marshall, September 29, 1984
- Most field goals attempted in a game, 9 attempts vs. Marshall, September 29, 1984
- Most field goals made in a game, 7 field goals vs. Marshall, September 29, 1984
The following are team NCAA records:
- Jordan WhiteJordan WhiteJordan Neil White is a professional Scottish footballer who is currently out of contract as the League of Ireland season finished on 28th October 2011.-Dunfermline:...
(1,378 yards on 94 catches) and Juan Nunez (1,032 yards on 91 catches), two or more players on the same team each gaining at least 1,000 yards receiving, 2010 - Team led NCAA in passing defense in 1976, 78.5 yards/game
- Team led NCAA in passing defense in 1992, 83.2 yards/game
- NCAA Most improved team in 1997, 6 wins more than in 1996
Former and current NFL players
The following list is players that have played in the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
that also played for WMU.
- Jason BabinJason Babin-Houston Texans:Babin was drafted by Houston Texans in first round of 2004 NFL Draft. The Texans traded 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th round pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 1st and 5th pick, In order to draft Babin. He was signed to a five-year $6 million contract by Texans on June 26, 2004...
– LBLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, Drafted 1st round (27th overall) of 2004 NFL Draft2004 NFL DraftThe 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden... - E. J. BiggersE. J. BiggersEdjaun Cinclair "E. J." Biggers is an American football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Biggers played college football at Western Michigan University.-Early years:...
- CBCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, Drafted 7th round (217th overall) of 2009 NFL Draft - James Blair – OGGuard (American football)In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
, Undrafted - Ray BrayRay BrayRay Robert Bray was a defensive lineman who played eleven seasons in the National Football League. He was in the Navy from 1943-1945. If he had played those years many believe that he would be in the Canton Ohio Pro Football Hall of Fame. He received more nominations for the Hall of Fame than...
– G-DG, Drafted 9th round (76th overall) of 1939 NFL Draft1939 NFL DraftThe 1939 National Football League Draft was held on December 9, 1938.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round Two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:... - Charley Carr – B, Undrafted
- Ed ChlebekEd Chlebek-External links:...
– QB, Undrafted - Jerald Collins – LB, Undrafted
- Terry CrewsTerry CrewsTerrence Alan "Terry" Crews is an American actor, comedian, voice artist and a former player in the National Football League....
– LB, Drafted 11th round (281st overall of 1991 NFL Draft1991 NFL DraftThe 1991 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York... - Vern Davis – DB, Undrafted
- Louis DelmasLouis DelmasLouis Delmas is an American Football safety that plays for the Detroit Lions.-Early life and high school career:Delmas played high school football at North Miami Beach High School in North Miami Beach, Florida....
- DB, Drafted 2nd round (33rd Overall) by Detroit Lions of 2009 NFL Draft2009 NFL DraftThe 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00... - Tyson DeVreeTyson DeVreeTyson DeVree is an American football tight end who is currently under contract with the Indianapolis Colts. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
– TETight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
, Undrafted, DeVree played at WMU his freshman and sophomore years before transferring - Mark Garalczyk – DT-DE, Drafted 6th round (146th overall) of 1987 NFL Draft1987 NFL DraftThe 1987 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1987...
- Gene HamlinGene HamlinEugene Robert Hamlin is a former American football center in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Bears, and the Detroit Lions. He played college football at Western Michigan University....
– C, Undrafted - Kevin Haverdink – T, Drafted 5th round (133rd overall) of 1989 NFL Draft1989 NFL DraftThe 1989 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24 , 1989...
- Steve Hawkins – WR, Drafted 6th round (166th overall) of 1994 NFL Draft1994 NFL DraftThe 1994 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 1994. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
- Paul HutchinsPaul HutchinsPaul Hutchins was a British tennis player.-Biography:Paul Hutchins was educated at Millfield School, in Street, Somerset, and started playing tennis at Bristol Lawn Tennis Club aged 11. During his playing career , he represented Great Britain in two Davis Cup ties in 1968...
– T, Drafted 6th round (152nd overall) of 1993 NFL Draft1993 NFL DraftThe 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993... - Greg JenningsGreg JenningsGregory Jennings, Jr. is a professional American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
– WRWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, Drafted 2nd round (52nd overall) of 2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL DraftThe 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by... - Jeff Kacmarek – NT, Undrafted
- Roger Lawson – RB, Drafted 15th round (377th overall) of 1972 NFL Draft1972 NFL DraftThe 1972 National Football League Draft was held on February 1–2, 1972.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
- Jermaine LewisJermaine Lewis (Arena football)Jermaine Lewis is an arena football wide receiver / linebacker who is currently plays for the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of the Arena Football League and a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions in 2003...
, WRWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
-DBDefensive backIn American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, Undrafted - Dale LivingstonDale LivingstonDale Roger Livingston was an American football kicker who became the starting kicker on the first season Cincinnati Bengals team in 1968. Livingston played college football at Western Michigan University. He played on the 1966 Mid-American Conference Championship team and was selected to play in...
– K, Drafted 3rd round (83rd overall) of 1968 NFL Draft1968 NFL DraftThe 1968 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft, in the second year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on January 30–31.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:... - John Lomakoski – T, Drafted 4th round (48th overall) of 1962 NFL Draft1962 NFL DraftThe 1962 National Football League Draft was held on December 4, 1961.-Player selections:-Round one:* HOF: Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:...
- Bob LurtsemaBob LurtsemaRobert Ross Lurtsema is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Seattle Seahawks. He played in two Super Bowls with Vikings...
– DT-DE, Undrafted - Art MacioszczykArt MacioszczykArthur A. Macioszczyk was an American football fullback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Western Michigan University and was drafted in the 27th round of the 1943 NFL Draft by the Steagles....
– FB, Drafted 27th round (252nd pick) of 1943 NFL Draft1943 NFL DraftThe 1943 National Football League Draft was held on April 8, 1943.This draft is the first and oldest NFL Draft not to produce a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:... - Joel MasonJoel MasonJoel Gregory Mason was a player in the National Football League.-Career:Mason played with the Chicago Cardinals during the 1939 NFL season. After two seasons away from the NFL, he would play four seasons with the Green Bay Packers...
– E, Undrafted - Jack MathesonJack MathesonJohn "Jack" Matheson was a Canadian sports journalist known for his wide coverage of sports for the Winnipeg Tribune from 1946 to 1980....
– E-G, Undrafted - Rocco Moore – G-T, Drafted 11th round (283rd overall) of 1977 NFL Draft1977 NFL DraftThe 1977 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1977...
- Jake MorelandJake MorelandJake Moreland is a former player in the National Football League for the New York Jets andCleveland Browns in 2000 and 2001. Moreland currently serves as tight ends coach of the Western Michigan Broncos football team at his alma mater Western Michigan University.-References:...
– FB-TE, Undrafted - Kendrick MosleyKendrick MosleyKendrick Mosley is an American football wide receiver who is on the injured reserve list with the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League...
– WR, Undrafted - Tom NüttenTom NüttenTom Nütten is a former American football guard who played eight seasons in the National Football League with the St. Louis Rams. He was raised in Oelde, Germany and played high school football in ]]Champlain CEGEP, Lennoxville, Quebec and at Bishop's College School in Lennoxville, Quebec...
– G-C, Drafted 7th round (221st overall) of 1995 NFL Draft1995 NFL DraftThe 1995 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1995 at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City... - John OfferdahlJohn OfferdahlJohn Offerdahl is an American former professional football player who played his entire eight year career with the Miami Dolphins from 1986 to 1993...
– LB, Drafted 2nd round (52nd overall) of 1986 NFL Draft1986 NFL DraftThe 1986 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1986... - Mike PrindleMike PrindleMichael John Prindle is a former National Football League placekicker. Prindle played one season for the Detroit Lions in 1987.-High school:Prindle was a kicker and quarterback for Grand Rapids Union High School...
– K, Undrafted - John RapaczJohn RapaczJohn Joseph Rapacz was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He also played in the All-America Football Conference for the Chicago Rockets/Hornets...
– C-LB, Drafted 3rd round (15th overall) of 1947 NFL Draft1947 NFL DraftThe 1947 National Football League Draft was held on December 16, 1946.The National Football League in this draft made the first overall pick a bonus pick determined by lottery. The Chicago Bears won the first lottery... - Joe ReitzJoe ReitzJoseph David Reitz is an American football offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
– OT, Undrafted free agent, Reitz only played college basketball at WMU - Rudy RosattiRudy RosattiRudoph F. "Rudy" or "Rosy" Rosatti was an American football player. Rosatti was a native of Norway in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He played football at North Dakota State University and Western Michigan University before enrolling at the University of Michigan. In 1922, he played tackle for the...
– T, Undrafted - Bob Rowe – DT-DE, Drafted 2nd round (43rd overall) of 1967 NFL Draft1967 NFL DraftThe 1967 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft in the first year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on March 14–15.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
- Tony SchefflerTony Scheffler-Denver Broncos:Scheffler was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After seeing limited playing time early in the season, Scheffler saw increased playing time and production after Jay Cutler was inserted as the Broncos starting quarterback on December 3, 2006,...
– TETight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
, Drafted second round (61st overall) of 2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL DraftThe 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by... - Herman Seborg – G-B, Undrafted
- Tom Sims – DT-NT, Drafted 6th round (152nd overall) of 1990 NFL Draft1990 NFL DraftThe 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
- Mike Siwek – DT, Drafted 11th round (267th overall) of 1970 NFL Draft1970 NFL DraftThe 1970 National Football League Draft was held on January 27–28, 1970.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
- Joel SmeengeJoel SmeengeJoel Andrew Smeenge is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played 11 seasons in the NFL from 1990-2000. He played college football at Western Michigan University...
– DE-LB, Drafted 3rd round (71st overall) of 1990 NFL Draft1990 NFL DraftThe 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990... - Warren SmithWarren Smith (American football)Warren Smith is a former guard in the National Football League. He played with the Green Bay Packers during the 1921 NFL season.-References:...
– G, Undrafted - Tom Toth – G-T, Drafted 4th round (102nd overall) of 1985 NFL Draft1985 NFL DraftThe 1985 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 30 and May 1, 1985...
- Pete WysockiPete WysockiPeter Joseph Wysocki is a former American football linebacker who played his entire six year career with the Washington Redskins from 1975 to 1980 in the National Football League. Wysocki previously played four seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts...
– LB, Undrafted
Media
Live coverage of Western Michigan University athletics are covered mostly by Bronco Insider through the school's athletics website, http://www.wmubroncos.com, or occasionally on http://www.mac-sports.com, the MAC's official website. Video is provided online for most WMU home football, basketball (men's and women's), baseball and hockey games, as well as some away games. Games can be viewed by purchasing them a la carteÀ la carte
À la carte is a French language loan phrase meaning "according to the menu", and used in* A reference to a menu of items priced and ordered separately, i.e. the usual operation of restaurants * To order an item from the menu on its own, e.g...
or by paying a fixed monthly or yearly subscription fee.
Bronco Radio Network
The Bronco Radio Network (BRN) covers football, hockey and men's and women's basketball in various southwestern Michigan markets. In addition to video, the BRN audio feed is also available through the Bronco Insider service offered by WMU athletics.- 94.1 FM WVICWVICWVIC is a radio station broadcasting a modern rock format. Licensed to Jackson, Michigan, it first began broadcasting on July 14, 1958 as WMKZ-FM simulcasting WIBM-AM. The station broadcasts from a tower near Springport, Michigan. The station can be heard from Kalamazoo to Ypsilanti, and from...
: LansingLansing, MichiganLansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, Battle CreekBattle Creek, MichiganBattle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, JacksonJackson, MichiganJackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, (football, men's basketball) - 96.1 FM WMAXWMAX-FMWMAX-FM are the call letters of a radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, transmitting on a frequency of 96.1 MHz....
: Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, MuskegonMuskegon, MichiganMuskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
, HollandHolland, MichiganHolland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
, Grand HavenGrand Haven, MichiganGrand Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Ottawa County. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. As of the 2010 census, Grand Haven had a population of 10,412. It is part of the...
(football, men's basketball) - 96.5 FM WKZO-FM: PortagePortage, MichiganPortage is a city in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 46,292 at the 2010 census. It is the smaller of the two main cities included in the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 326,589 as of 2010.Portage is adjacent to the...
, KalamazooKalamazoo, MichiganThe area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
(flagship station: football, men's basketball, hockey) - 100.1 FM WBCHWBCH-FMWBCH-FM is a radio station licensed to Hastings, Michigan broadcasting a country music format.-Bronco Radio Network:WBCH is an affiliate of the Western Michigan University "Broncos Radio Network" and carries all of the Broncos football and men's hockey games....
: HastingsHastings, MichiganHastings is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, the county seat of Barry County as well as the county's only city. The population was 7,095 at the 2000 census. The city borders Hastings Charter Township on the north, east, and south, and Rutland Charter Township on the west...
(football, hockey) - 1660 AM WQLRWQLRWVFM, known simply as FM 106.5 and formerly WQLR, is a Classic Hits-leaning Adult Contemporary outlet serving the Kalamazoo, Michigan radio market. The station's frequency is 106.5 MHz on the FM dial with an ERP of 33 kW. They are owned by Midwest Communications. WVFM 106.5 is located on...
: KalamazooKalamazoo, MichiganThe area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
(flagship station: women's basketball)
Radio
Bronco Review is a weekly radio show that reviews the recent ongoings of the Western Michigan University athletic programs.- 1660 AM WQLRWQLRWVFM, known simply as FM 106.5 and formerly WQLR, is a Classic Hits-leaning Adult Contemporary outlet serving the Kalamazoo, Michigan radio market. The station's frequency is 106.5 MHz on the FM dial with an ERP of 33 kW. They are owned by Midwest Communications. WVFM 106.5 is located on...
: KalamazooKalamazoo, MichiganThe area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
TV
Bronco Review featuring the voice of the Broncos, Robin Hook, and head football coach Bill Cubit, includes highlights and post-game comments after every WMU football game. The 30-minute show airs weekly on WLLAWLLA
WLLA-DT is a Christian television station broadcasting in Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Michigan, broadcasting in digital on channel 45, tuned to channel 64 using PSIP. It is owned by Christian Faith Broadcast, Inc., who also owns WGGN-TV in Sandusky, Ohio. Recently, the station entered a revenue...
TV-64 on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and repeat each Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Bronco Update
Bronco Update is a daily update on issues that are immediately impacting the Western Michigan University athletic programs.- 92.5 FM WZUUWZUUWZUU is a radio station broadcasting a rock music format which leans towards arena rock styled artists from the 1980s until current times. Licensed to Mattawan, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1990 under the WKGH call sign. During the first few years of the radio station, it broadcast...
: MattawanMattawan, MichiganMattawan is a village suburb of Kalamazoo, in Antwerp Township, Van Buren County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,536.-History:...
, KalamazooKalamazoo, MichiganThe area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to... - 92.7 FM WYVNWYVNFor the West Virginia television station that carried this callsign, please see WWPX.WYVN is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format licensed to Saugatuck, Michigan, with studios in Holland, Michigan and is owned along with WHTC by Midwest Communications.The station began operations on...
: HollandHolland, MichiganHolland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
, SaugatuckSaugatuck, MichiganSaugatuck is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 925 at the 2010 census. The city is within Saugatuck Township, but is administratively autonomous....
, South HavenSouth Haven, MichiganSouth Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
, Grand HavenGrand Haven, MichiganGrand Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Ottawa County. Grand Haven is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Grand River, for which it is named. As of the 2010 census, Grand Haven had a population of 10,412. It is part of the... - 100.9 FM WQXCWQXC-FMWQXC-FM is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Allegan, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1981 under the WAOP call sign....
: AlleganAllegan, MichiganAllegan is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,838. It is the county seat of Allegan County. The city lies within Allegan Township, but is administratively autonomous....
, KalamazooKalamazoo, MichiganThe area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to... - 590 AM WKZO: KalamazooKalamazoo, MichiganThe area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
- 1400 AM WBFNWBFNWBFN is a radio station in Battle Creek, Michigan, that broadcasts an adult contemporary Christian music and religious teaching format at 1400 kHz....
: Battle CreekBattle Creek, MichiganBattle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county... - 1590 AM WTVBWTVBWTVB, AM 1590, is a regional radio station located in Coldwater, Michigan. It carries largely oldies music and local news and sports, with the ABC Radio Network as its source for national news, and carries Dial Global's "Kool Gold" oldies format...
: ColdwaterColdwater, MichiganColdwater is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,945. It is the county seat of Branch County.... - 1660 AM WQLRWQLRWVFM, known simply as FM 106.5 and formerly WQLR, is a Classic Hits-leaning Adult Contemporary outlet serving the Kalamazoo, Michigan radio market. The station's frequency is 106.5 MHz on the FM dial with an ERP of 33 kW. They are owned by Midwest Communications. WVFM 106.5 is located on...
: KalamazooKalamazoo, MichiganThe area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
also offers coverage of some MAC football and basketball games, as well as Comcast Local
Comcast Local
Comcast Television and Comcast Television 2 are two Comcast owned and operated digital cable television channels, available to Comcast subscribers in Michigan on channels 900 and 901 . They are used mostly for infomercials and classified ads...
which is a regional network available to Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
cable subscribers in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio which is where most MAC schools are located.
Print media coverage is offered by the Kalamazoo Gazette
Kalamazoo Gazette
The Kalamazoo Gazette is the daily newspaper in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. The Gazette is owned by Booth Newspapers which is owned by Advance Publications....
and The Grand Rapids Press, as well as the school's daily newspaper, the Western Herald
Western Herald
The Western Herald is the student newspaper of Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It began printing in 1916.The Western Herald is different from many student newspapers because it does not receive university funding...
and http://mlive.com.