Wikipedia

1985 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 1985 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth season under head coach Jack Harbaugh, the Broncos compiled a 4–6–1 record (4–4–1 against MAC opponents), finished in a tie for fourth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 212 to 182.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]

1985 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record4–6–1 (4–4–1 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDan Ferrigno (1st season)
MVPJohn Offerdahl
Captains
  • Chris Conklin
  • Sam Culbert
  • John Offerdahl
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 1984
1986 →
1985 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Bowling Green $9–0–011–1–0
Miami (OH)7–1–18–2–1
Central Michigan6–3–07–3–0
Western Michigan4–4–14–6–1
Northern Illinois4–4–04–7–0
Ball State3–6–04–7–0
Eastern Michigan3–6–04–7–0
Toledo3–6–04–7–0
Kent State2–6–03–8–0
Ohio2–7–02–9–0
  • $ – Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included Chris Conklin with 1,574 passing yards, Lewis Howard with 819 rushing yards, and Paul Sorce with 567 receiving yards.[5] Quarterback Chris Conklin, safety Sam Culbert, and linebacker John Offerdahl were the team captains.[6] For the second consecutive year, Offerdahl received the team's most outstanding player award;[7] he was also selected as the MAC defensive player of the year.[8]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 7at Northern Illinois
L 0–1721,362[9]
September 14at Army*
L 6–4828,620[10]
September 28at Michigan State*
L 3–763,829[11]
October 5Bowling Green
L 7–4812,000[12]
October 12Central Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI (rivalry)
L 17–2418,072[13]
October 19at Miami (OH)
T 10–10[14]
October 26Ball State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 34–0[15]
November 2Toledo
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 18–13[16]
November 9at Ohio
L 15–2112,900[17]
November 16at Kent State
W 34–33,579[18]
November 23Eastern Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 38–213,405[19]
  • *Non-conference game

References

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  1. ↑ "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1980 - 89". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  3. ↑ "1985 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Waldo Stadium". Western Michigan University. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ "1985 Western Michigan Broncos Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Football History: All-Time Captains". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Football History: Team Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  8. ↑ "College football". Detroit Free Press. November 29, 1985. p. 2E.
  9. ↑ "Northern Illinois' defense shuts down Broncos". The Kalamazoo Gazette. September 8, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Army crushes W. Michigan, 48–6". The Reporter Dispatch. September 15, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "MSU rallies late to beat WMU, 7–3". Detroit Free Press. September 29, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Generous Broncos lose to powerful Bowling Green, 48–7". The Grand Rapids Press. October 6, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Down 17–0, CMU lands of feet with 24–17 victory over Broncos". Detroit Free Press. October 13, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Struggling Broncos earn tie". Battle Creek Enquirer. October 20, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "W. Michigan blanks Ball St". Lansing State Journal. October 27, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Western feasts on Toledo errors". Jackson Citizen Patriot. November 3, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Road woes continue to plague Western Michigan". The Kalamazoo Gazette. November 10, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "WMU routs Kent State". The Muskegon Chronicle. November 17, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Only 3,405 fans show up to see Western finish on upbeat note". The Grand Rapids Press. November 24, 1985. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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