Western Michigan Broncos
Western Michigan Broncos | |
---|---|
First season | 2016 |
Head coach | 2nd season, 22–5 (.815) |
Stadium | Waldo Stadium (Capacity: 30,200) |
Year built | 2016 |
Field surface | FieldTurf |
Location | Kalamazoo, MI |
League | NCAA |
All-time record | 38–24–0 (.613) |
Bowl record | 1–2–0 (.333) |
Conference titles | 1 |
Division titles | 1 |
Colors | Brown and Gold |
Rivals | Central Michigan Chippewas Eastern Michigan Eagles Toledo Rockets Michigan MAC Trophy |
The Western Michigan Broncos are a college football team playing in the Mid-American Conference that started playing in the 2016 season. Coached by Jieret, the Broncos play at Waldo Stadium in the MAC's Western Division.
Contents
History
Dacder Era (2016)
Main Article: 2016 Western Michigan Broncos season
Raybaxter2211 Era (2017-2018)
After the 2016 season Head Coach Dacder left the program to take the same position with the University of Colorado. Western Michigan hired Raybaxter2211 as his successor.
2017 Season
Main Article: 2017 Western Michigan Broncos season
Featuring the strong running of MAC Player of the Year Emmanuel Fields, the Broncos made it to their first ever bowl game. Unfortunately they fell short, losing to Hawaii in the Foster Farms Bowl.
2018 Season
Main Article: 2018 Western Michigan Broncos season
After the promising season the Broncos had in 2017, bigger things were expected in 2018. But despite Emmanuel Fields again winning the second of his back-to-back MAC Player of the Year Awards, the Broncos regressed to a 5-7 record. Coach Raybaxter would leave for greener pastures after the season, bolting for the Michigan State coaching job.
Jieret Era (2019-present)
2019 Season
Main Article: 2019 Western Michigan Broncos season
Before the 2019 season began, Western Michigan hired Jieret as the Broncos' third head coach. With a potent rushing attack headlined by Gabriel Shields and an excellent secondary featuring cornerbacks Sean Taylor and Jaylin McQueen, the Broncos achieved three firsts in WMU history: Their first 10-win season, their first bowl win, and the first time the Michigan MAC Trophy resided in Kalamazoo.
2020 Season
Main article: 2020 Western Michigan Broncos season
After a spirited spring battle, redshirt freshman DeSean Madison won the starting running back job over Gabriel Shields. Shortly after, Shields transferred to Michigan State. Behind that excellent Bronco defense, Madison's 1000+ yard rushing season, and QB Chase Sims leading a revived passing attack, Western Michigan won 11 regular season games en route to their first-ever MAC West division title. They then defeated the Ohio Bobcats in the MAC Championship game to win their first-ever Conference title, although prior to the game defensive stars Sean Taylor and MLB Kareem Boykin announced their decisions to enter the 2021 NFLHC Draft, forgoing their senior seasons.
The Broncos made the College Football Playoff as the 4-seed, a first for the MAC. Unfortunately, they lost in the quarterfinals to the Pittsburgh Panthers 24-23.
2021 Season
Main article: 2021 Western Michigan Broncos season
Season-by-Season Records
Coach(es) | Conference | Year | Record | Bowl | Final CP Ranking | |
Wins | Losses | |||||
Western Michigan Broncos | ||||||
Dacder | MAC | 2016 | 4 | 6 | - | NR |
Raybaxter2211 | 2017 | 7 | 6 | Lost Foster Farms Bowl vs Hawaii, 3-14 | NR | |
2018 | 5 | 7 | - | NR | ||
Jieret | 2019 | 10 | 3 | Won Bahamas Bowl vs USF, 23-17 | NR | |
2020 | 12 | 2 | Lost CFP Quarterfinals, 24-23 | 9 | ||
2021 | - | - | - | - | ||
Total | 38 | 24 |
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National Champions | Conference Champions | Bowl game berth |
All-time record vs. MAC opponents
These are the Broncos' football records against current Mid-American Conference opponents through the 2019 season.
School | Total Games | W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | First Year | Last Year | Streak |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akron | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 89 | 43 | 2016 | 2020 | W3 |
Ball State | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .600 | 133 | 108 | 2016 | 2020 | W2 |
Bowling Green | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 24 | 20 | 2016 | 2016 | W1 |
Buffalo | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 55 | 50 | 2016 | 2020 | W1 |
Central Michigan | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | .800 | 117 | 67 | 2016 | 2020 | W2 |
Eastern Michigan | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 88 | 97 | 2016 | 2020 | W2 |
Kent State | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 124 | 93 | 2016 | 2020 | W3 |
Miami (OH) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 44 | 48 | 2016 | 2019 | W1 |
Northern Illinois | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 57 | 57 | 2017 | 2020 | W2 |
Ohio | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 128 | 106 | 2016 | 2020 | W3 |
Toledo | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 104 | 95 | 2016 | 2020 | W1 |
11 Opponents | 40 | 25 | 15 | 0 | .625 | - | - | 5 Seasons |
Bowl games
The Broncos have appeared in three bowl games, posting a record of 1-2.
Season | Bowl | Opponent | Result | ||
2017 | Foster Farms Bowl | Hawaii | Lost, 3-14 | ||
2019 | Bahamas Bowl | USF | Won, 23-17 | ||
2020 | CFB Quarterfinals | Pitt | Lost, 23-24 | ||
Total | 3 Bowl Games | 1–2 |
Notable Players and Alumni
Offensive Players
Player | Pos | Years | GP | Passing | Rushing | Receiving | Current | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Att | Comp | Comp % | Yards | Yds/Gm | TD | INT | Rushes | Yards | Avg | TD | Fumbles | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |||||
Emmanuel Fields | RB | 2017-2018 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 635 | 3480 | 5.48 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | Two-time MAC Player of the Year (2017-2018). Drafted 2nd Round (63rd Overall) by the New York Jets in 2019. |
Gabriel Shields | RB | 2018-2019 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 317 | 1694 | 5.34 | 22 | 0 | 7 | 93 | 13.29 | 1 | Transferred to Michigan State prior to the 2020 season. |
Ian Braden | OG | 2018-2019 | 25 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2019 First Team All-MAC. Drafted 4th Round (97th Overall) by the Tennessee Titans in 2020. |
DeSean Madison | RB | 2019-present | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 307 | 1616 | 5.26 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 11.00 | 0 | Currently playing at Western Michigan. |
Defensive Players
Player | Pos | Years | GP | TKL | Sacks | FF | FR | FR TD | INT | INT RET TD | Current |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sean Taylor | CB | 2018-2020 | 39 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6 | Declared for the NFL Draft |
Donovan Jackson | FS | 2018-2020 | 39 | 60 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | Currently playing at Western Michigan |
Kareem Boykin | ILB | 2019-2020 | 27 | 121 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | Declared for the NFL Draft |
Individual Award Winners
All-Americans
None.
All-MAC Players
|
Other Awards
- 2017
- 2020
- Offensive Newcomer of the Year: DeSean Madison, RB.