1988 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

American college football season March 2026 August 2023 1988 Western Illinois Leathernecks football Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference Gateway 10–2 6–0 Bruce Craddock 6th Randy Ball 6th Hanson Field Gateway champion NCAA Division I-AA First Round L 32–35 vs. Western Kentucky The 1988 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season. They were led by sixth-year head coach Bruce Craddock and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 10–1 record overall and a 6–0 record in conference play, making them the conference champions. Senior and 4-year starter Paul Singer was the Leathernecks' quarterback. He was selected to five All-American teams, as well as being a GTE and NCAA Academic All-American, the Conference Player of the Year, and the national Player of the Year runner-up. He held nearly every WIU passing and offensive record, as well as several conference records. The 10 wins were the most in the nearly 100-year history of WIU football. Schedule 1988 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee September 3 w 12 Southern Illinois Hanson Field Macomb, IL 17–13 9,226 Monserud Scott SIU falls one second short https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88776590/southern-illinoisan/ November 11, 2021 The Southern Illinoisan September 4, 1988 C17 Newspapers.com September 10 w y 12 Grand Valley State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 55–0 11,123 Western Ill. 55, Grand Valley 0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88776938/the-rock-island-argus/ November 11, 2021 The Dispatch-Argus UPI September 11, 1988 E2 Newspapers.com September 17 w y 12 Southwest Missouri State Briggs Stadium Springfield, MO 35–31 7,655 Western Illinois rally stops Southwest Missouri https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88777280/the-kansas-city-star/ November 11, 2021 The Kansas City Star September 18, 1988 12 Sports Newspapers.com September 24 w y 4 Indiana State Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN 24–21 8,034 Western Illinois tops Indiana State https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88777736/evansville-courier-and-press/ November 11, 2021 Evansville Courier & Press Associated Press September 25, 1988 C3 Newspapers.com October 1 w y 4 Northern Iowa UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA 28–27 12,321 Denney Bob Dropped 2-point conversion hangs loss on UNI https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88778097/the-gazette/ November 11, 2021 The Gazette October 2, 1988 5B Newspapers.com October 8 w y 2 1988 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Northwest Missouri State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 63–3 13,392 Leathernecks' Singer stings NW Missouri https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88778431/quad-city-times/ November 11, 2021 Quad-City Times Associated Press October 9, 1988 2C Newspapers.com October 15 w 2 Eastern Illinois Hanson Field Macomb, IL 45–8 9,680 Carlson Chuck Turnovers devastate Eastern https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88778639/herald-and-review/ November 11, 2021 Herald and Review October 16, 1988 B5 Newspapers.com October 22 w y y 2 Liberty Lynchburg City Stadium Lynchburg, VA 36–35 11,400 Western Illinois 36, Liberty 35 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88778950/the-dispatch/ November 11, 2021 The Dispatch-Argus October 23, 1988 E7 Newspapers.com October 29 w 3 Illinois State Hanson Field Macomb, IL 13–10 13,833 Western Illinois Rallies For 9th Victory https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88779216/st-louis-post-dispatch/ November 11, 2021 St. Louis Post-Dispatch October 30, 1988 6D Newspapers.com November 5 l y y 2 Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL 6–16 7,556 Wesselhoff Bill Huskies spoil Western Illinois' undefeated season https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88779446/the-daily-chronicle/ November 11, 2021 The Daily Chronicle November 6, 1988 15 Newspapers.com November 12 w y y 4 Delaware State Alumni Stadium Dover, DE 22–13 3,000 Bryson Gene Hornets stumble 22-13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88779803/the-morning-news/ November 11, 2021 The News Journal November 13, 1988 C1 Newspapers.com November 26 l y 3 Western Kentucky 13 Hanson Field Macomb, IL NCAA Division I-AA First Round 32–35 6,000 Branch Bruce W. 6th interception does it as Western survives Western Illinois comeback https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11876464/the-courier-journal/ November 11, 2021 The Courier-Journal November 27, 1988 C5 Newspapers.com References Western Illinois Category:Western Illinois Leathernecks football seasons Western Illinois Leathernecks football Category:Missouri Valley Football Conference champion seasons Western Illinois