1999 MAC Championship Game

The 1999 Mid-American Conference Championship Game was played on December 3, 1999, at Marshall Stadium, now known as Joan C. Edwards Stadium, in Huntington, West Virginia.[1] The game featured the winner of each division of the Mid-American Conference. The game featured the Marshall Thundering Herd, of the East Division, and the Western Michigan Broncos, of the West Division. The Thundering Herd came back from a 23−0 third-quarter deficit to defeat the Broncos 34−30, preserving Marshall's perfect season.[2]

1999 MAC Championship Game
Conference Championship
Western Michigan Broncos Marshall Thundering Herd
(7–4) (11–0)
30 34
Head coach: 
Gary Darnell		 Head coach: 
Bob Pruett
APCoachesBCS
111112
1234 Total
Western Michigan 101037 30
Marshall 002014 34
DateDecember 3, 1999
Season1999
StadiumMarshall Stadium
LocationHuntington, West Virginia
MVPQB Chad Pennington (Marshall)
FavoriteMarshall by 20.5
Attendance28,069
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2
1999 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 10 Marshall x$  8 –0   13 –0  
Miami (OH)  6 –2   7 –4  
Akron  5 –3   7 –4  
Ohio  5 –3   5 –6  
Bowling Green  3 –5   5 –6  
Kent State  2 –6   2 –9  
Buffalo  0 –8   0 –11  
West Division
Western Michigan x  6 –2   7 –5  
Toledo  5 –3   6 –5  
Northern Illinois  5 –3   5 –6  
Eastern Michigan  4 –4   4 –7  
Central Michigan  3 –5   4 –7  
Ball State  0 –8   0 –11  
Championship: Marshall 34, Western Michigan 30
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Teams

Western Michigan
Main article: 1999 Western Michigan Broncos football team

Western Michigan entered the championship game as West Division champions, having compiled a 7–4 record, 6–2 record in MAC play. The Broncos started the season 7–2 and 6–0 in MAC play before losing the final two games of the regular season, including a 31–17 loss to Marshall on November 13.

Marshall
Main article: 1999 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

Marshall entered the championship game as East Division champions, having compiled an undefeated 11–0 record, 8–0 record in MAC play. Marshall has spent eleven consecutive weeks the AP Top 25 after defeating Bowling Green on September 18. They entered the MAC Championship game at No. 11 in the AP and Coaches poll.

Game summary
1999 MAC Championship Game
Period 1 2 34Total
Western Michigan 10 10 3730
No. 11 Marshall 0 0 201434

at Marshall University Stadium • Huntington, West Virginia

  • Date: Friday, December 3, 1999
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. CST)
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: S 5–10 mph
  • Game attendance: 28,069
  • Referee: Ray Vaughn
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Mike Gottfried (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (6:47) WMU – Corey Alston 16 yard pass from Tim Lester, Brad Selent kick (Western Michigan 7–0)
  • (0:37) WMU – Brad Selent 31 yard field goal (Western Michigan 10–0)
Second quarter
  • (10:48) WMU – Robert Sanford 1 yard rush, Brad Selent kick (Western Michigan 17–0)
  • (0:00) WMU – Brad Selent 32 yard field goal (Western Michigan 20–0)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Statistics
Statistics WMU MRSH
First downs3019
Plays–yards86–45357–398
Rushes–yards45–17126–114
Passing yards282284
Passing: comp–att–int27–41–220–31–1
Time of possession37:1122:49
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western Michigan PassingTim Lester27/41, 282 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingRobert Sanford32 carries, 163 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingSteve Neal8 receptions, 105 yards
Marshall PassingChad Pennington20/31, 284 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingDoug Chapman17 carries, 75 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingJames Williams7 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD

References
  1. "MAC Football Matchups and Notes" (Press release). MAC-Sports.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  2. "Marshall Rallies For MAC Championship" (Press release). MAC-Sports.com. December 3, 1999. Retrieved September 22, 2009.


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