1986 Western Michigan Broncos football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1986 Western Michigan Broncos football Mid-American Conference MAC 3–8 3–5 Jack Harbaugh 5th Dan Ferrigno 2nd Mark Garalczyk Chris Conklin Sam Culbert Mark Garalczyk Waldo Stadium The 1986 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach Jack Harbaugh, the Broncos compiled a 3–8 record (3–5 against MAC opponents), finished in eighth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 257 to 183.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=2049481681986 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 5, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/1986.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 Chris Conklin with 1,668 passing yards, Joe Glenn with 602 rushing yards, and Kelly Spielmaker with 575 receiving yards.1986 Western Michigan Broncos Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 5, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/1986.html Quarterback Chris Conklin, guard Sam Culbert, and defensive tackle Mark Garalczyk were the team captains.Football History: All-Time Captains Western Michigan University July 7, 2016 http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204948804 Garalczyk received the team's most outstanding player award;Football History: Team Awards Western Michigan University July 7, 2016 http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204950513 he was also selected as the MAC defensive player of the year.Football History: Conference Awards Western Michigan University July 6, 2016 http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204950519 On November 17, 1986, two days after the final game of the season, and despite winning three of the last five games, coach Harbaugh was fired. Harbaugh had compiled a record of 25–27–3. Michigan coach Bo Schembechler called Harbaugh's firing "one of the tragedies of sport", referred to the head coaching job at Western as "the worst job in America", and said that Western had "the worst-administered athletic department, maybe the worst-administered school."WMU coach Harbaugh fired Detroit Free Press Mick McCabe November 18, 1986 1D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5796111/wmu_coach_harbaugh_fired/ Schedule 1986 AP y y September 6 @ Eastern Michigan Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI L 14–21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-eastern-tops-west/170969795/ The Muskegon Chronicle Eastern tops Western September 7, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com September 13 Temple<ncg> Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI L 17–49 10,159 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-temple-romps-to-vi/170679758/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Temple romps to victory over mistake-prone Broncos September 14, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com September 20 Long Beach State<ncg> Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI L 13–14 10,089 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-wmu-loses-squeaker/170753520/ Battle Creek Enquirer WMU loses squeaker September 21, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 @ No. 19 Michigan State<ncg> Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI L 10–45 65,907 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-white-spartans/170897236/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution White, Spartans rip off 45–10 win September 28, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 @ Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH L 3–17 9,010 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-turnovers-penalti/170967113/ Battle Creek Enquirer Turnovers, penalties doom WMU again in defeat October 5, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 @ Central Michigan Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry) L 10–18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-wmu-makes-cmu-work/170970867/ Battle Creek Enquirer WMU makes CMU work hard October 12, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 Miami (OH) Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 27–17 14,616 Redskins stunned by 0–6 foe: MAC leaders whipped by Western Michigan, 27-17 The Cincinnati Enquirer Bill Ford October 19, 1986 C1, C9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92541246/redskins-stunned-by-0-6-foe-mac/ April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com October 25 @ Ball State Ball State Stadium Muncie, IN L 10–24 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-ball-st-nips-wes/170969250/ The Grand Rapids Press Ball St. nips Western, moves into MAC lead October 26, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 @ Toledo Glass Bowl Toledo, OH L 7–28 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-rockets-zip-past-b/170966198/ Battle Creek Enquirer Rockets zip past Broncos November 2, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 Ohio Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 45–17 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-broncos-pound-bob/170971469/ The Muskegon Chronicle Broncos pound Bobcats November 9, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 Kent State Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 27–7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-western-jars-kent/170968620/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Western jars Kent title hope November 16, 1986 April 23, 2025 Newspapers.com References Western Michigan Category:Western Michigan Broncos football seasons Western Michigan Broncos football