The 1966 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. In their third season under head coach Bill Doolittle, the Broncos compiled a 7–3 record (5–1 against MAC opponents), finished in a tie for first place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 194 to 175.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]
| 1966 Western Michigan Broncos football | |
|---|---|
MAC co-champion | |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Record | 7–3 (5–1 MAC) |
| Head coach |
|
| MVP | Bob Rowe |
| Captains |
|
| Home stadium | Waldo Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miami (OH) + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan + | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent State | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toledo | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marshall | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The team's statistical leaders included Jim Boreland with 756 passing yards, Tim Majerle with 731 rushing yards, and Gary Crain with 450 receiving yards.[5] Defensive tackle Bob Rowe and halfback Gary Crain were the team captains.[6] For the second consecutive year, Bob Rowe received the team's most outstanding player award.[7] Bill Doolittle was named the MAC coach of the year.[8]
Schedule
edit| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 17 | Lamar Tech* | W 16–14 | 14,000–16,000 | [9][10] | |||
| September 24 | Central Michigan |
| W 31–14 | 17,000–17,500 | [11] | ||
| October 1 | at Miami (OH) | L 9–26 | 13,581 | [12] | |||
| October 8 | Bowling Green |
| W 16–14 | 15,500 | [13] | ||
| October 15 | at Kent State | W 23–20 | 17,481 | [14] | |||
| October 22 | Toledo |
| W 14–13 | 20,500 | [15] | ||
| October 29 | at Marshall | W 35–29 | 4,100 | [16] | |||
| November 5 | Ohio |
| W 20–13 | 17,000 | [17] | ||
| November 12 | at Xavier* | L 6–21 | 8,412 | [18] | |||
| November 19 | at West Texas State* | L 7–30 | 10,500 | [19] | |||
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References
edit- ↑ "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ↑ "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1960 - 69". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ↑ "1966 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.
- ↑ "1966 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.
- ↑ "Football History: Conference Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Broncos win opener in last 30 seconds". Battle Creek Enquirer. September 18, 1966. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1966 Lamar Tech)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ↑ "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1966 Central Michigan)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
- ↑ "Miami muscles bunch up on W. Michigan, 26–7". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 2, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "WMU jolts Bowling Green, 16–14". The Battle Creek Enquirer & News. October 9, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Broncos beat Kent, 23–20". Detroit Free Press. October 16, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Western tops Toledo, wind, 14–13". The Grand Rapids Press. October 23, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Broncos tie for top spot". The Bay City Times. October 30, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "WMU gains share". The Flint Journal. November 6, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Xavier trips WMU by 21–6". The South Bend Tribune. November 13, 1966. Retrieved May 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "West Texas clobbers W. Michigan". The Arizona Republic. November 20, 1966. Retrieved November 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Schedule/Results (1966 Western Michigan)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
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