1941 Western Michigan Broncos football team

1941 Western Michigan Broncos football
Conference	Independent
Record	8–0
Head coach	Mike Gary (13th season)
MVP	Horace Coleman
Captain	Bob Metzger
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium

1941 Midwestern college football independents records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Western Michigan			–					8	–	0	–	0
No. 3 Notre Dame			–					8	–	0	–	1
Youngstown			–					7	–	0	–	1
Xavier			–					9	–	1	–	0
Detroit			–					7	–	2	–	0
Ohio			–					5	–	2	–	1
Dayton			–					7	–	3	–	0
Cincinnati			–					6	–	3	–	0
Akron			–					5	–	3	–	1
Michigan State			–					5	–	3	–	1
Central Michigan			–					4	–	3	–	0
Ohio Wesleyan			–					5	–	4	–	0
Marquette			–					4	–	5	–	0
Carthage			–					1	–	5	–	2
Wayne			–					2	–	6	–	0
Miami (OH)			–					2	–	7	–	0
Western Ontario			–					1	–	4	–	0
Wichita			–					1	–	6	–	1
Michigan State Normal			–					0	–	5	–	2
Detroit Tech			–					0	–	6	–	1

The 1941 Western Michigan Broncos football team was an American football team that represented Michigan College of Education (later renamed Western Michigan University) during the 1941 college football season. In their 13th and final season under head coach Mike Gary, the Hilltoppers compiled an 8–0 record, shut out four opponents, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 183 to 27.^[1] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.^[2]

End Bob Metzger was the team captain.^[3] For the second consecutive year, halfback Horace Coleman received the team's most outstanding player award.^[4]

Western Michigan was ranked at No. 85 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System for 1941.^[5]

With the United States entry into World War II after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Mike Gary left his position as head football coach at Western Michigan and served three years in the Naval Air Corps with the rank of commander.^[6]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 27	at Western Reserve	League Park Cleveland	W 7–0	4,000	[7]
October 3	at Butler	Butler Bowl Indianapolis, IN	W 14–6	3,500	[8]
October 18	at Iowa State Teachers	O. R. Latham Stadium Cedar Falls, IA	W 28–7	6,000	[9]
October 25	Toledo	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 34–0		[10]
November 1	Western Kentucky State Teachers	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 21–7		[11]
November 8	Manchester (IN)	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 12–0		[12]
November 15	at Wayne	Keyworth Stadium Detroit	W 34–0	10,000	[13]
November 20	Ripon	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 33–7		[14]

References

1. "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1940-49". Western Michigan Football Media Guide. Western Michigan University. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
2. "Waldo Stadium". Western Michigan University. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
3. "Football History: All-Time Captains". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
4. "Football History: Team Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
5. Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 26, 1941). "Gophers Grid Kings Over 6-Year Span: Tennessee 2d, Pitt 3d Over Period Litkenhous Ratins Are Published". The Courier-Journal. p. Sports 4 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Mike Gary Dies". The News-Palladium. December 31, 1969. p. 14.
7. "Last Minute Score Gives Broncos Win". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. September 28, 1941. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Western Michigan Hands Butler Third Straight Grid Setback, 14-6". The Indianapolis Star. October 4, 1941. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Brad Wilson (October 19, 1941). "Western Michigan Ends Teachers' Streak, 28 to 7". The Des Moines Register. p. Sports 9 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Kalamazoo Broncos Trounce Toledo, 34-0". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. October 26, 1941. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Broncs Extend Winning Ways". Detroit Free Press. November 2, 1941. p. II-6 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Broncos Extend Streak, 12 To 0". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. November 9, 1941. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
13. W. W. Edgar (November 16, 1941). "Western Michigan Crushes Wayne, 34-0, Nearing Perfect Record". Detroit Free Press. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Broncos Keep Perfect Slate: Western Michigan's Unbeaten Grid Team Ends Season With 33-7 Win Over Ripon". The Battle Creek Enquirer and News (AP story). November 21, 1941. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.