1974 Western Michigan Broncos football team

1974 Western Michigan Broncos football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	3–8 (0–5 MAC)
Head coach	Bill Doolittle (11th season)
MVP	Dan Matthews
Captain	Greg Crowser, Paul Jorgensen
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium

1974 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 10 Miami (OH) $	5	–	0	–	0			10	–	0	–	1
Ohio	3	–	2	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Toledo	3	–	2	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Kent State	2	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Bowling Green	2	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	1
Western Michigan	0	–	5	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1974 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In their 11th season under head coach Bill Doolittle, the Broncos compiled a 3–8 record (0–5 against MAC opponents), finished in sixth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 269 to 187.^[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.^[4]

The team's statistical leaders included Paul Jorgensen with 701 passing yards, Dan Matthews with 769 rushing yards, and Greg Cowser with 403 receiving yards.^[5] Tight end Greg Crowser and quarterback Paul Jorgensen were the team captains.^[6] Halfback Dan Matthews received the team's most outstanding player award.^[7]

On November 18, 1974, after "mounting pressure" for a change in the school's football coach, Doolittle resigned. In 11 years as head coach, Doolittle compiled a 58–49–2 record at Western Michigan.^[8]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 7	Texas–Arlington*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 33–6	17,800	[9]
September 14	at Eastern Michigan*	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	L 19–20
September 21	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	W 30–13
September 28	Bowling Green	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 13–31
October 5	at Kent State	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	L 6–28	11,357	[10]
October 12	Toledo	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 24–31
October 19	at Marshall*	Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV	W 20–17
October 26	Ohio	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 3–26
November 2	at Miami (OH)	Miami Field Oxford, OH	L 0–31
November 9	No. 8 Central Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI (rivalry)	L 6–42	24,235–24,250	[11][12]
November 16	at Long Beach State*	Veterans Memorial Stadium Long Beach, CA	L 33–34	5,026	[13]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

See also

• 1974 in Michigan

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. "1974 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. "1974 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. "Bill Doolittle Steps Down As Western Football Coach". The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Mich.). November 19, 1974. p. 16.
9. "Western Michigan spanks Mavericks in debut 33–6". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 8, 1974. p. 6D. Retrieved January 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Kent offense too much for Western". Battle Creek Enquirer. October 6, 1974. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Playoff Beckons ... CMU Churns Past Broncos, 42-6". Detroit Free Press. November 10, 1974. p. 4E – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Final 1874 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
13. "Poets Get Scare, Beat Hens, 31-27". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 17, 1974. p. III-14. Retrieved February 23, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.