1997 Western Michigan Broncos football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1997 Western Michigan Broncos football Mid-American Conference West Division MAC 8–3 6–2 Gary Darnell 1st Bill Cubit 1st Chuck Driesbach 1st Tarrence McEvans Waldo Stadium The 1997 Western Michigan Broncos football team was an American football team that represented Western Michigan University during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first season under head coach Gary Darnell, the Broncos compiled an 8–3 record and finished in second place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). In non-conference games, they defeated Temple (34–14) and Louisiana–Monroe (32–19) and lost to Michigan State (42–10).1997 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 30, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/1997-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders were Tim Lester with 2,160 passing yards, Robert Sanford with 1,033 rushing yards, and Corey Alston with 32 catches for 761 receiving yards.1997 Western Michigan Broncos Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 30, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/1997.html Sanford was named the MAC freshman 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 Gary Darnell was hired as Western's head football coach on December 14, 1996. He had been an assistant coach at Texas since 1992, including three years as defensive coordinator.WMU tabs Darnell new head coach: Texas assistant was Broncos' first choice Detroit Free Press Don Vander Veen December 15, 1996 3E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5808932/wmu_tabs_darnell_new_head_coach_texas/ Schedule y y August 28 Temple<ncg> Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 34-14 September 6 @ Michigan State<ncg> Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI L 10-42 72,317 September 13 @ Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL W 21-13 8,003 September 20 Toledo Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI L 13-23 September 27 @ Ohio Peden Stadium Athens, OH L 7-31 October 4 Ball State Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 21-13 October 11 @ Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH W 34-21 October 18 Kent State Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 50-27 November 1 @ Eastern Michigan Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI W 41-38 November 8 Central Michigan (rivalry) Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI W 38-24 November 15 @ Northeast Louisiana<ncg> Malone Stadium Monroe, LA W 32-19 6,415 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-palladium-neal-broncos-real/152138565/ The Herald-Palladium Neal Broncos' real deal in win November 16, 1997 July 27, 2024 Newspapers.com References Western Michigan Category:Western Michigan Broncos football seasons Western Michigan Broncos football