1963 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 1963 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1963 college football season. In their seventh and final season under head coach Merle Schlosser, the Broncos compiled a 2–7 record (2–4 against MAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 201 to 111.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]

1963 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
1963 record2–7 (2–4 MAC)
Head coach
MVPBill Somerville
CaptainAllen Gibbs, Bill Somerville
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
1963 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
Ohio $ 5 –1 –0  6 –4 –0
Miami 4 –1 –1  5 –3 –2
Bowling Green 4 –2 –0  8 –2 –0
Marshall 3 –2 –1  5 –4 –1
Western Michigan 2 –4 –0  2 –7 –0
Kent State 1 –5 –0  3 –5 –1
Toledo 1 –5 –0  2 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included Ken Barnhill with 668 passing yards, George Archer with 397 rushing yards, and Tom Patterson with 269 receiving yards.[5] Halfback Allen Gibbs and end Bill Somerville were the team captains.[6] End Bill Somerville received the team's most outstanding player award.[7]

At the end of the 1963 season, Schlosser was reportedly hung in effigy twice, and The Holland Evening Sentinel reported that every player had signed a petition seeking his removal.[8] Schlosser was fired as coach on December 28, 1963, and assigned to other duties in the physical education department. The team compiled a record of 28-33-3 in seven seasons under Schlosser.[9]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResult
September 21at Wisconsin*
L 0–41
September 28at Central Michigan*
L 14–30
October 5Miami (OH)
L 19–27
October 12at Bowling GreenBowling Green, OHL 7–16
October 19Kent State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 26–12
October 26at Toledo
W 18–7
November 2Marshall
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 7–20
November 9at Ohio
L 13–27
November 16Louisville*
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 7–21
  • *Non-conference game

References
  1. "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  2. "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1960 - 69". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  3. "1963 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. "1963 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. "Schlosser Under Fire". The Holland Evening Sentinel. December 20, 1963. p. 15.
  9. "Schlosser Fired By Western Michigan". Southern Illioisan. December 27, 1963. p. 18.
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