1988 Western Michigan Broncos football team

1988 Western Michigan Broncos football
MAC champion
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record9–3 (7–1 MAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 1987
1989 →
1988 Mid-American football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Western Michigan $ 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Eastern Michigan 5 – 2 – 1 6 – 3 – 1
Ball State 5 – 3 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
Central Michigan 5 – 3 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Ohio 4 – 3 – 1 4 – 6 – 1
Toledo 4 – 4 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Kent State 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Bowling Green 1 – 6 – 1 2 – 8 – 1
Miami (OH) 0 – 7 – 1 0 – 10 – 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1988 Western Michigan Broncos football team was an American football team that represented Western Michigan University during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Al Molde, the Broncos compiled a 9–3 record, won the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship, and lost to Fresno State in the 1988 California Bowl.[1]

The win over Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium was Western Michigan's first ever over a Big Ten opponent in 12 attempts. Western Michigan had previously defeated Michigan Agricultural College (Michigan State) in 1917 and 1919, however those victories came prior to Michigan State's university status (1955) and Big Ten Conference membership (1953).[2][3]

The team's statistical leaders were Tony Kimbrough with 2,831 passing yards, Robert Davis with 1,125 rushing yards, and Robert Oliver with 42 catches for 831 receiving yards.[4] Kimbrough was selected as the MAC's most valuable player and the offensive player of the year.[5] Offensive lineman Kevin Haverdink was selected by the Associated Press as a third-team All-American.[6] Al Molde was named the MAC Coach of the Year.[7]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
September 3at Wisconsin*
W 24–14
September 10at Toledo
W 31–9
September 27Illinois State*
W 44–14
October 1Bowling Green
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 37–10
October 8at Miami (OH)
W 41–18
October 15Kent State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 28–45
October 22at Eastern Michigan
W 31–24
October 29Central Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI (rivalry)
W 42–24
November 5at Ball State
W 16–13
November 12at Northern Illinois*
L 7–15
November 19Ohio
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 23–16
December 10at Fresno State*
L 30–35
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. ^ "1988 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  2. ^ "Big 10 Roundup : Wisconsin Stunned by Western Michigan". Los Angeles Times. September 4, 1988.
  3. ^ "Western Michigan's 1988, 2016 teams linked by MAC titles, matchups with Wisconsin". December 23, 2016.
  4. ^ "1988 Western Michigan Broncos Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  5. ^ "Football History: Conference Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  6. ^ "Football History: National Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  7. ^ "Football History: Conference Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 6, 2016.


Stub icon

This college football 1980s season article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.