1976 Western Michigan Broncos football team

1976 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record7–4 (6–3 MAC)
Head coach
MVPJerome Persell
Captains
  • Dave Gapinski
  • Pepper Powers
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
1976 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Ball State $ 4 – 1 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
Kent State 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Ohio 6 – 2 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Western Michigan 6 – 3 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Central Michigan 4 – 3 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Bowling Green 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Miami (OH) 2 – 4 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Toledo 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Eastern Michigan 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Northern Illinois 0 – 6 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1976 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their second season under head coach Elliot Uzelac, the Broncos compiled a 7–4 record (6–3 against MAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the MAC, and outscored their opponents, 270 to 202.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]

The team's statistical leaders included Pepper Powers with 571 passing yards, Jerome Persell with 1,505 rushing yards, and Tom Henry with 225 receiving yards.[5] Defensive back Dave Gapinski and quarterback Pepper Powers were the team captains.[6] Tailback Jerome Persell received the team's most outstanding player award.[7]

Persell was also named MAC offensive player of the year for the first of what would be three consecutive years.[8] Elliot Uzelac was named the MAC coach of the year.[9]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11Eastern Michigan
W 31–1319,200[10]
September 18at Northern Illinois
W 37–616,000[11]
September 25at Minnesota*
L 10–2133,229[12]
October 2Bowling Green
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 0–2819,500[13]
October 9at Kent State
L 12–245,468[14]
October 16Toledo
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 34–21[15]
October 23Marshall*
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 31–21[16]
October 30Ohio
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 21–2015,800[17]
November 6at Miami (OH)
L 0–3114,644[18]
November 13at Ball State
W 24–1010,257[19]
November 20Central Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI (rivalry)
W 42–1413,800[20]
  • *Non-conference game

References

  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. ^ "1976 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. ^ "1976 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. ^ "Football History: Conference Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  10. ^ "Broncs debut big, rout EMU". Battle Creek Enquirer & News. September 12, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Broncos rip N. Illinois". The Rock Island Argus. September 19, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Gophers wake up late to win 21–10". Minneapolis Tribune. September 26, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Jerome Persell's four TDs not enough". The Kalamazoo Gazette. October 3, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Kent punishes bobbling Broncos". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 10, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Defense fires WMU triumph". The Grand Rapids Press. October 17, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Herd falls; Broncos post 31–21 victory as Persell gains 200 yards". Sunday Gazette-Mail. October 24, 1976. Retrieved September 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Western gives Ohio the 'inside-out' treatment". The Kalamazoo Gazette. October 31, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Miami shuts down Persell, shuts out Broncos, 31–0". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 7, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Lincoln's scores beat Ball State". The Blade. November 14, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Western Michigan has a ball with rival CMU". Lansing State Journal. November 21, 1976. Retrieved September 14, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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