1971 Western Michigan Broncos football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1971
| team = Western Michigan Broncos
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Mid-American Conference
| short_conf = MAC
| record = 7–3
| conf_record = 2–3
| head_coach = Bill Doolittle
| hc_year = 8th
| mvp = Tom Elias
| captain = Ted Grignon
| captain2 = Tom Elias
| stadium = Waldo Stadium
}}
{{1971 Mid-American Conference football standings}}
The 1971 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their eighth season under head coach Bill Doolittle, the Broncos compiled a 7–3 record (2–3 against MAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the MAC, and outscored their opponents, 228 to 124.{{cite web|title=Football Records: Annual Results|publisher=Western Michigan University|accessdate=July 5, 2016|url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204948424}}{{cite web|title=Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1970 - 79|publisher=Western Michigan University|accessdate=July 5, 2016|url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204948085}}{{cite web|title=1971 Western Michigan Broncos Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=July 5, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/1971.html}} The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.{{cite web|title=Waldo Stadium |publisher=Western Michigan University |accessdate=July 5, 2016 |url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=120527 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165153/http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=120527 |archivedate=March 3, 2016 }}
The team's statistical leaders included Ted Grignon with 912 passing yards, Larry Cates with 819 rushing yards, and Keith Pretty with 352 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1971 Western Michigan Broncos Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=July 5, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/1971.html}} Quarterback Ted Grignon and linebacker Tom Elias were the team captains.{{cite web|title=Football History: All-Time Captains|publisher=Western Michigan University|accessdate=July 5, 2016|url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204948804}} Elias also received the team's most outstanding player award.{{cite web|title=Football History: Team Awards|publisher=Western Michigan University|accessdate=July 5, 2016|url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204950513}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1971
| poll = AP
| timezone = Eastern
| time = y
| attend = y
| source = y
|September 11|||{{cfb link|year=1971|team=Illinois State Redbirds|title=Illinois State}}
|September 18||at|Ball State
|September 25|||Northern Illinois
|October 2|1:30 p.m.|at|Bowling Green|Doyt Perry Stadium|Bowling Green, OH|L 6-23|15,585|
|October 9|||Kent State|Waldo Stadium|Kalamazoo, MI|W 31-0|17,200|{{cite news|title=Western Michigan back on beam 31-0|newspaper=Battle Creek Enquirer|author=Olg Olson|date=October 10, 1971|page=D2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92173343/western-michigan-back-on-beam-31-0/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 16||at|No. 17 Toledo|Glass Bowl|Toledo, OH|L 24-35||
|October 23|1:35 p.m.||Marshall
|October 30||at|Ohio|Peden Stadium|Athens, OH|W 28-14||
|November 6|||Miami (OH)|Waldo Stadium|Kalamazoo, MI|L 6-7||
|November 13|1:30 p.m.||Pacific (CA)
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Western Michigan Broncos football navbox}}
Category:Western Michigan Broncos football seasons
Western Michigan Broncos football
{{collegefootball-1971-season-stub}}