1943 Western Michigan Broncos football team

1943 Western Michigan Broncos football
Conference	Independent
Record	4–2
Head coach	John Gill (2nd season)
MVP	August Camarata
Captain	Bob Mellen
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium

1943 Midwestern college football independents records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Michigan State Normal			–					2	–	0	–	0
DePauw			–					5	–	0	–	1
No. 1 Notre Dame			–					9	–	1	–	0
Miami (OH)			–					7	–	2	–	1
Western Michigan			–					4	–	2	–	0
Bowling Green			–					5	–	3	–	1
Marquette			–					3	–	4	–	1
Central Michigan			–					2	–	3	–	0
Ohio Wesleyan			–					4	–	6	–	0
Xavier			–					1	–	6	–	0
Wayne			–					0	–	3	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1943 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Michigan College of Education (later renamed Western Michigan University) as an independent during the 1943 college football season. In their second season under head coach John Gill, the Broncos compiled a 4–2 record and outscored their opponents, 151 to 89.^[1][2] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.^[3] Halfback Bob Mellen was the team captain.^[4] Fullback August Camarata received the team's most outstanding player award.^[5] The team won two games by over 50 points across the season.^[6]

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Western Michigan ranked 59th among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 81.3.^[7]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 18	at Central Michigan	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry)	W 19–0
September 25	at Michigan	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	L 6–57	14,008
October 2	Alma	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 54–0
October 9	Xavier	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 60–0		[8]
October 16	Miami (OH)	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 6–0		[9][10]
November 6	No. 18 Great Lakes Navy	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 6–32	9,500	[11]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
2. "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1940 - 49". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
3. "Waldo Stadium". Western Michigan University. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
4. "Football History: All-Time Captains". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
5. "Football History: Team Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
6. "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
7. Litkenhous, E. E. (December 17, 1943). "Litkenhouse Selects U. S. Grid Leaders". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 18. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
8. "Broncs roll over Xavier eleven, 60–0". Detroit Free Press. October 10, 1943. Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Unbeaten Miami Is Foe in Bronco Homecoming". Detroit Free Press. October 16, 1943. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Miami's Unbeaten Mark Falls Before Western Michigan, 6-0". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 17, 1943. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Sailors Hang 32 to 6 Defeat on W. Michigan". Chicago Sunday Tribune. October 31, 1943. p. II-4 – via Newspapers.com.