1973 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record6–5 (1–4 MAC)
Head coach
MVPDominic Riggio
Captains
  • Larry Cates
  • Dominic Riggio
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 1972
1974 →
1973 Mid-American Conference football standings
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
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

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]

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

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 8at Central Michigan
W 18–1317,417[8]
September 15Long Beach State*
W 13–820,050[9]
September 22Northern Illinois*
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 28–14
September 29at Bowling Green
L 20–31
October 6Kent State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 15–39
October 13at Toledo
W 24–22
October 20Marshall*
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 21–7
October 27at Ohio
L 0–16
November 3Miami (OH)
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 9–24[10]
November 10Ball State*
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 30–13
November 17at Texas–Arlington*
L 12–313,200[11]
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. ^ "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1970 - 79". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  3. ^ "1973 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. ^ "1973 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. ^ "Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "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.Open access icon
  10. ^ "Miami-Kent Showdown Assured". Dayton Daily News. November 4, 1973. pp. 1D, 4D – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "UTA 31–12". The Atlanta Constitution. November 18, 1973. p. 12D. Retrieved January 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon


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