1981 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 1981 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their seventh and final season under head coach Elliot Uzelac, the Broncos compiled a 6–5 record (5–4 against MAC opponents), finished in a tie for fifth place in the MAC, and outscored their opponents, 206 to 170.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]

1981 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
1981 record6–5 (5–4 MAC)
Head coach
MVPBob Phillips
CaptainReggie Hinton, John Schuster
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
1981 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Toledo $ 8 1 0  9 3 0
Miami 6 1 1  8 2 1
Central Michigan 7 2 0  7 4 0
Bowling Green 5 3 1  5 5 1
Western Michigan 5 4 0  6 5 0
Ohio 5 4 0  5 6 0
Kent State 3 6 0  4 7 0
Ball State 2 6 0  4 7 0
Northern Illinois 2 7 0  3 8 0
Eastern Michigan 0 9 0  0 11 0
  • $ Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included Tom George with 1,419 passing yards, Shawn Faulkner with 701 rushing yards, and Bob Phillips with 809 receiving yards.[5] Reggie Hinton and linebacker John Schuster were the team captains.[6] Split end Bob Phillips received the team's most outstanding player award.[7]

On November 24, 1981, coach Uzelac was fired as the Broncos' head football coach. Athletic director Tom Wonderling said at the time: "The program has progressed tremendously under Elliot, but I think at the present time we need a change."[8] Wonderling was also critical of Uzelac's conservative offense, saying: "We're not like the Big Ten; we have to have something more."[8] In seven years at Western, Uzelac compiled a 38–39 record.[8]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
September 12at Kent StateW 20–17
September 19MarshallW 14–3
September 26at WisconsinL 10–21
October 3at Bowling GreenW 21–7
October 10Central MichiganL 13–15
October 17at MiamiL 19–20
October 24Ball StateW 14–3
October 31at Northern IllinoisW 23–12
November 7ToledoL 14–28
November 14at OhioL 20–37
November 21Eastern MichiganW 38–7

References

  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. "1981 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. "1981 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 5, 2016.
  7. "Football History: Team Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  8. Mick McCabe (November 25, 1981). "WMU fires grid coach Uzelac after seven years". Detroit Free Press.
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