2014 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 2014 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University (WMU) in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach P. J. Fleck and played their home games at Waldo Stadium as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They finished the season 8–5, 6–2 in MAC play to finish in third place in the West Division. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they lost to Air Force.

2014 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
2014 record8–5 (6–2 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKirk Ciarrocca (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorEd Pinkham (2nd season)
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
(Capacity: 30,200)
2014 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
Bowling Green x  5 –3     8 –6  
Ohio  4 –4     6 –6  
Buffalo  3 –4     5 –6  
Akron  3 –5     5 –7  
UMass  3 –5     3 –9  
Miami  2 –6     2 –10  
Kent State  1 –6     2 –9  
West Division
Northern Illinois xy$  7 –1     11 –3  
Toledo x  7 –1     9 –4  
Western Michigan  6 –2     8 –5  
Central Michigan  5 –3     7 –6  
Ball State  4 –4     5 –7  
Eastern Michigan  1 –7     2 –10  
Championship: Northern Illinois 51, Bowling Green 17
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

WMU lost its season opener against Purdue, 43–34. Freshman running back Jarvion Franklin rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. The 163 yards were the third-highest by a freshman in the NCAA. He was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week.[1]

At the end of the 2014 season, head coach P. J. Fleck was awarded with the Mid American Conference Head Coach of the Year award. Jarvion Franklin was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first freshman to ever receive the honor.[2]

Previous season

In 2013, the Broncos finished at 1–11 (1–7 MAC), tied for fifth place in the MAC West division. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jaime Wilson, the 2012 MAC Freshman of the Year, transferred in the offseason to be closer to home.[3]

Recruiting class

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 30Noonat Purdue*
ESPNUL 34–4337,031[4]
September 135:00 pmat Idaho*
ESPN3W 45–3314,721
September 207:00 pmMurray State*
ESPN3W 45–1422,226[5]
September 2712:30 pmat Virginia Tech*
ESPN3L 17–3559,625[6]
October 47:00 pmToledo
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
ESPN3L 19–20 OT11,493
October 113:00 pmat Ball State
ESPN3W 42–3811,237
October 182:00 pmat Bowling Green
BCSN[7]W 26–1415,201
October 252:00 pmOhio
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
ESPN3W 42–2120,225
November 12:30 pmat Miami (OH)
ESPN3[8]W 41–109,045
November 152:00 pmEastern Michigan
ESPN3W 51–712,985
November 221:00 pmat Central Michigan
ESPN3W 32–2017,265[9]
November 2811:00 amNorthern Illinois
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
ESPNUL 21–3111,195
December 205:45 pmvs. Air Force*
ESPNL 24–3818,223
Schedule source:[10][11]

Coaching staff
NamePositionYear at
WMU		Alma mater
P. J. FleckHead coach2ndNorthern Illinois (2004)
Kirk CiarroccaOffensive coordinator2ndTemple (1990)
Ed PinkhamDefensive coordinator, Defensive backs2ndAllegheny (1975)
Mike HartRunning backs1stMichigan (2008)
Bill KenneyTight ends2ndNorwich (1982)
Tim McGarigleLinebackers3rdNorthwestern (2006)
Vinson ReynoldsDefensive line2ndNorthern Illinois (2004)
Matt SimonWide receivers1stNorthern Illinois (2004)
Rob WengerSpecial teams2ndColgate (2008)
Brian CallahanOffensive line2ndEastern Illinois (1992)
Reference:[12]

References
  1. "MAC announces week one football players of the week". Mid-American Conference. September 1, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  2. Drew, David (December 3, 2014). "WMU football coach P.J. Fleck named MAC Coach of the Year". MLive.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  3. Rickman, Martin (February 10, 2014). "Western Michigan wide receiver Jaime Wilson to transfer 'closer to home'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  4. "Etling, Purdue hold off Western Michigan 43–34". espn.com. Associated Press. August 30, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  5. "Western Michigan runs past Murray State 45–14". espn.com. Associated Press. September 20, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  6. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Virginia Tech Hokies - Box Score - September 27, 2014 - ESPN". Scores.espn.go.com. September 27, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  7. "Week 8". Mattsarzsports.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  8. "Week 10". Mattsarzsports.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  9. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Central Michigan Chippewas - Box Score - November 22, 2014 - ESPN". Scores.espn.go.com. November 22, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  10. "2014 Western Michigan Broncos Football Schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  11. "2014-15 College Football Bowl Schedule - 2015 Playoff". Fbschedules.com. November 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  12. "Football –Coaches". Retrieved November 28, 2014.
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