1971 Western Michigan Broncos football team

1971 Western Michigan Broncos football
1971 Western Michigan Broncos football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	7–3 (2–3 MAC)
Head coach	Bill Doolittle (8th season);
MVP	Tom Elias
Captain	Ted Grignon, Tom Elias
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium
	Seasons ← 1970 1972 →

1971 Mid-American Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 14 Toledo $	5	–	0	–	0	12	–	0	–	0
Bowling Green	4	–	1	–	0	6	–	4	–	0
Western Michigan	2	–	3	–	0	7	–	3	–	0
Miami (OH)	2	–	3	–	0	7	–	3	–	0
Ohio	2	–	3	–	0	5	–	5	–	0
Kent State	0	–	5	–	0	3	–	8	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1971 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their eighth season under head coach Bill Doolittle, the Broncos compiled a 7–3 record (2–3 against MAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the MAC, and outscored their opponents, 228 to 124.^[1]^[2]^[3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.^[4]

The team's statistical leaders included Ted Grignon with 912 passing yards, Larry Cates with 819 rushing yards, and Keith Pretty with 352 receiving yards.^[5] Quarterback Ted Grignon and linebacker Tom Elias were the team captains.^[6] Elias also received the team's most outstanding player award.^[7]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	Illinois State*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 35–7
September 18	at Ball State*	Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN	W 9–0
September 25	Northern Illinois*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 27–17
October 2	at Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH	L 6–23
October 9	Kent State	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 31–0	17,200	^[8]
October 16	at No. 17 Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	L 24–35
October 23	Marshall*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 37–0
October 30	at Ohio	Peden Stadium Athens, OH	W 28–14
November 6	Miami (OH)	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 6–7
November 13	Pacific (CA)*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 25–21
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

^ "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.
^ "1971 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.
^ "1971 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.
^ Olg Olson (October 10, 1971). "Western Michigan back on beam 31-0". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com.