Wikipedia

1978 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 1978 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth season under head coach Elliot Uzelac, the Broncos compiled a 7–4 record (5–4 against MAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the MAC, and outscored their opponents, 220 to 152.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]

1978 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record7–4 (5–4 MAC)
Head coach
MVPJerome Persell
CaptainJerome Persell, Keith Rogien, Greg Williams
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 1977
1979 →
1978 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Ball State $ 8 – 0 – 0 10 – 1 – 0
Central Michigan 8 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 0
Miami (OH) 5 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 1
Western Michigan 5 – 4 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Bowling Green 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Ohio 3 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Northern Illinois 2 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Kent State 2 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Toledo 2 – 7 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Eastern Michigan 1 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included Albert Little with 828 passing yards, Jerome Persell with 1,346 rushing yards, and Tim Clysdale with 213 receiving yards.[5] Tailback Jerome Persell, fullback Keith Rogien, and safety Greg Williams were the team captains.[6] For the third consecutive year, tailback Jerome Persell received the team's most outstanding player award.[7] Persell was also named MAC offensive player of the year for the third consecutive year.[8]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 9Illinois State*
W 27–1719,500[9]
September 16at Northern Illinois
W 44–30[10]
September 23at Miami (OH)
L 3–710,033[11]
September 30Bowling Green
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 24–2020,629[12]
October 7at Kent State
W 14–0[13]
October 14Toledo
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 17–714,500[14]
October 21Eastern Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 32–0[15]
October 28Ohio
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 7–10[16]
November 4at Marshall*
W 24–610,000[17]
November 11at Ball State
L 14–2017,110[18]
November 18Central Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI (rivalry)
L 14–35[19]
  • *Non-conference game

References

edit
  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. ^ "1978 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. ^ "1978 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. ^ "Western's Persell, NIU's Petzke share MAC honors". Detroit Free Press. December 14, 1978. p. 2D.
  9. ^ "Little paces Western Michigan over Illinois State, 27–17". The Muskegon Chronicle. September 10, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "NIU falls to W. Michigan". The Rock Island Argus. September 17, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Defense delivers as Miami nudges Western Michigan". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 24, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Broncos' Persell ties NCAA record in 24–20 victory". Detroit Free Press. October 1, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Persell stopped, but not Western". The Grand Rapids Press. October 8, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "A Little is just enough to give Broncos a win". Battle Creek Enquirer. October 15, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Persell runs wild in Western Michigan romp". The Muskegon Chronicle. October 22, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Babcock helps Ohio U. shock Western Michigan". The Courier-Journal. October 29, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Persell tops 4,000 yards as Western rips Marshall". Battle Creek Enquirer. November 5, 1978. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Wilson-to-Hinton TD saves BSU". The Star Press. November 12, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "CMU rolls but Ball State wins title". The Times Herald. November 19, 1978. Retrieved October 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.


 

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