The 1973 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. In their 10th season under head coach Bill Doolittle, the Broncos compiled a 6–5 record (1–4 against MAC opponents), finished in a tie for fifth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 218 to 190.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]
| 1973 Western Michigan Broncos football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Record | 6–5 (1–4 MAC) |
| Head coach |
|
| MVP | Dominic Riggio |
| Captains |
|
| Home stadium | Waldo Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15 Miami (OH) $ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent State | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toledo | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The team's statistical leaders included Paul Jorgensen with 718 passing yards and 476 rushing yards and Ted Forrest with 282 receiving yards.[5] Fullback Larry Cates and linebacker Dominic Riggio were the team captains.[6] For the second consecutive year, Riggio received the team's most outstanding player award.[7]
Schedule
edit| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 8 | 1:30 p.m. | at Central Michigan | W 18–13 | 17,417 | [8] | |||
| September 15 | 1:30 p.m. | Long Beach State* | W 13–8 | 20,050–20,700 | [9] | |||
| September 22 | 1:30 p.m. | Northern Illinois* |
| W 28–14 | 19,400 | [10] | ||
| September 29 | 1:30 p.m. | at Bowling Green | L 20–31 | 14,231 | [11] | |||
| October 6 | 1:30 p.m. | Kent State |
| L 15–39 | 19,300 | [12] | ||
| October 13 | 7:30 p.m. | at Toledo | W 24–22 | 12,284 | [13] | |||
| October 20 | 1:30 p.m. | Marshall* |
| W 21–7 | 21,750 | [14] | ||
| October 27 | 1:30 p.m. | at Ohio | L 0–16 | 14,000 | [15] | |||
| November 3 | 1:30 p.m. | Miami (OH) |
| L 9–24 | 18,800 | [16] | ||
| November 10 | 1:30 p.m. | Ball State* |
| W 30–13 | 16,100 | [17] | ||
| November 17 | 3:00 p.m. | at UT Arlington* | L 12–31 | 3,200 | [18] | |||
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References
edit- ↑ "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ↑ "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1970 - 79". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ↑ "1973 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.
- ↑ "1973 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.
- ↑ "Opening-game success continues for Western". The Flint Journal. September 9, 1973. Retrieved September 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Coulson Leads Cal Poly SLO to Runaway Victory, 65–20". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 16, 1973. p. III-14. Retrieved February 8, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Jorgensen again key to Western triumph". The Grand Rapids Press. September 23, 1973. Retrieved September 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Bowling Green miles ahead of W. Michigan". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 30, 1973. Retrieved September 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Carl Olson (October 7, 1973). "Kent State tough on Broncos 39–15". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Western Michigan stops Rockets, 24–22". The Blade. October 14, 1973. Retrieved September 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Cates brothers lead WMU win". Battle Creek Enquirer & News. October 21, 1973. Retrieved September 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Bobcats' booter brands Broncos". The Plain Dealer. October 28, 1973. Retrieved September 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Miami-Kent Showdown Assured". Dayton Daily News. November 4, 1973. pp. 1D, 4D – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Broncos get a kick out of sixth victory". The Kalamazoo Gazette. November 11, 1973. Retrieved September 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "UTA 31–12". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. November 18, 1973. p. 12D. Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Schedule/Results (1973 Western Michigan)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
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