1981 Western Michigan Broncos football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1981 Western Michigan Broncos football Mid-American Conference MAC 6–5 5–4 Elliot Uzelac 7th Bob Phillips Reggie Hinton John Schuster Waldo Stadium 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.Football Records: Annual Results Western Michigan University July 5, 2016 http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204948424Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1980 - 89 Western Michigan University July 5, 2016 http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=2049481681981 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 5, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/1981.html The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.Waldo Stadium Western Michigan University July 5, 2016 http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=120527 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165153/http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=120527 March 3, 2016 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.1981 Western Michigan Broncos Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 5, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/1981.html Reggie Hinton and linebacker John Schuster were the team captains.Football History: All-Time Captains Western Michigan University July 5, 2016 http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204948804 Split end Bob Phillips received the team's most outstanding player award.Football History: Team Awards Western Michigan University July 5, 2016 http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204950513 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."WMU fires grid coach Uzelac after seven years Detroit Free Press Mick McCabe November 25, 1981 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5796696/wmu_fires_grid_coach_uzelac_after_seven/ Wonderling was also critical of Uzelac's conservative offense, saying: "We're not like the Big Ten; we have to have something more." In seven years at Western, Uzelac compiled a 38–39 record. Schedule y y September 12 @ Kent State Dix Stadium Kent, OH W 20–17 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-western-michigan-20-ken/158362015/ St. Petersburg Times Western Michigan 20, Kent State 17 September 13, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 Marshall<ncg> Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 14–3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107795415/capers-carries-key-wmu-win/ Lansing State Journal Caper's carries key WMU win September 20, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 @ Wisconsin<ncg> Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI L 10–21 67,195 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-badgers-plod-to-2110-win/158362161/ The Reporter Badgers plod to 21–10 win September 27, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 @ Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH W 21–7 20,325 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-george-passes-wmu/158361212/ The Grand Rapids Press George passes WMU to second MAC win October 4, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 Central Michigan (rivalry) Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI L 13–15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-central-michigan-squeezes-b/158360377/ Star Tribune Central Michigan squeezes by Western Michgan [sic] 15–13 October 11, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 @ Miami (OH) Miami Field Oxford, OH L 19–20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-freshman-edges-foe/158359634/ The Lima News Freshman edges foe October 18, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 Ball State Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 14–3 14,027 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-broncos-rally-to/158362305/ The Muskegon Chronicle Broncos rally to stay in race October 25, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 @ Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL W 23–12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-chronicle-wmu-army-destroys/158362421/ The Daily Chronicle WMU 'army' destroys Huskies November 1, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 Toledo Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI L 14–28 17,784 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-toledo-knocks-wmu-from/158358979/ The Flint Journal Toledo knocks WMU from race November 8, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 @ Ohio Peden Stadium Athens, OH L 20–37 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-western-comeback/158362508/ The South Bend Tribune Western comeback just short November 15, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 Eastern Michigan Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 38–7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marion-star-huron-losing-skid-length/158362599/ The Marion Star Huron losing skid lengthens November 22, 1981 November 3, 2024 Newspapers.com References Western Michigan Category:Western Michigan Broncos football seasons Western Michigan Broncos football