1981 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 1981 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their seventh and final season under head coach Elliot Uzelac, the Broncos compiled a 6–5 record (5–4 against MAC opponents), finished in a tie for fifth place in the MAC, and outscored their opponents, 206 to 170.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]

1981 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record6–5 (5–4 MAC)
Head coach
MVPBob Phillips
CaptainReggie Hinton, John Schuster
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
1981 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Toledo $ 8 –1 –09 –3 –0
Miami (OH) 6 –1 –18 –2 –1
Central Michigan 7 –2 –07 –4 –0
Bowling Green 5 –3 –15 –5 –1
Western Michigan 5 –4 –06 –5 –0
Ohio 5 –4 –05 –6 –0
Kent State 3 –6 –04 –7 –0
Ball State 2 –6 –04 –7 –0
Northern Illinois 2 –7 –03 –8 –0
Eastern Michigan 0 –9 –00 –11 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included Tom George with 1,419 passing yards, Shawn Faulkner with 701 rushing yards, and Bob Phillips with 809 receiving yards.[5] Reggie Hinton and linebacker John Schuster were the team captains.[6] Split end Bob Phillips received the team's most outstanding player award.[7]

On November 24, 1981, coach Uzelac was fired as the Broncos' head football coach. Athletic director Tom Wonderling said at the time: "The program has progressed tremendously under Elliot, but I think at the present time we need a change."[8] Wonderling was also critical of Uzelac's conservative offense, saying: "We're not like the Big Ten; we have to have something more."[8] In seven years at Western, Uzelac compiled a 38–39 record.[8]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 12at Kent State
W 20–17
September 19Marshall*
W 14–3
September 26at Wisconsin*
L 10–21
October 3at Bowling Green
W 21–7
October 10Central Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI (rivalry)
L 13–15
October 17at Miami OH)
L 19–20
October 24Ball State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 14–3
October 31at Northern Illinois
W 23–12
November 7Toledo
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 14–28
November 14at Ohio
L 20–37
November 21Eastern Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 38–7
  • *Non-conference game

References
  1. "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  2. "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1980 - 89". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  3. "1981 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. "1981 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. Mick McCabe (November 25, 1981). "WMU fires grid coach Uzelac after seven years". Detroit Free Press.


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