1963 Western Michigan Broncos football team
The 1963 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1963 college football season. In their seventh and final season under head coach Merle Schlosser, the Broncos compiled a 2–7 record (2–4 against MAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 201 to 111.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]
1963 Western Michigan Broncos football | |
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Conference | Mid-American Conference |
1963 record | 2–7 (2–4 MAC) |
Head coach | Merle Schlosser (7th season) |
MVP | Bill Somerville |
Captain | Allen Gibbs, Bill Somerville |
Home stadium | Waldo Stadium |
1963 Mid-American Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio $ | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miami | 4 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowling Green | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marshall | 3 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Michigan | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent State | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Toledo | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The team's statistical leaders included Ken Barnhill with 668 passing yards, George Archer with 397 rushing yards, and Tom Patterson with 269 receiving yards.[5] Halfback Allen Gibbs and end Bill Somerville were the team captains.[6] End Bill Somerville received the team's most outstanding player award.[7]
At the end of the 1963 season, Schlosser was reportedly hung in effigy twice, and The Holland Evening Sentinel reported that every player had signed a petition seeking his removal.[8] Schlosser was fired as coach on December 28, 1963, and assigned to other duties in the physical education department. The team compiled a record of 28-33-3 in seven seasons under Schlosser.[9]
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Site | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 21 | at Wisconsin * |
| L 0–41 | ||
September 28 | at Central Michigan * |
| L 14–30 | ||
October 5 | Miami (OH) |
| L 19–27 | ||
October 12 | at Bowling Green | Bowling Green, OH | L 7–16 | ||
October 19 | Kent State |
| W 26–12 | ||
October 26 | at Toledo |
| W 18–7 | ||
November 2 | Marshall |
| L 7–20 | ||
November 9 | at Ohio |
| L 13–27 | ||
November 16 | Louisville * |
| L 7–21 | ||
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References
- "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1960 - 69". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- "1963 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- "Waldo Stadium". Western Michigan University. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- "1963 Western Michigan Broncos Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- "Football History: All-Time Captains". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- "Football History: Team Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- "Schlosser Under Fire". The Holland Evening Sentinel. December 20, 1963. p. 15.
- "Schlosser Fired By Western Michigan". Southern Illioisan. December 27, 1963. p. 18.