1996 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 1996 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their tenth and final season under head coach Al Molde, the Broncos compiled a 2–9 record (2–6 against MAC opponents), finished in ninth place in the MAC, and were outscored by their opponents, 304 to 208.[1][2][3] The team played its home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4]

1996 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
1996 record2–9 (2–6 MAC)
Head coach
MVPTony Knox
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
1996 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Ball State $  7 –1     8 –4  
Toledo  6 –2     7 –4  
Miami  6 –2     6 –5  
Ohio  5 –3     6 –6  
Central Michigan  4 –4     5 –6  
Akron  3 –5     4 –7  
Bowling Green  3 –5     4 –7  
Eastern Michigan  3 –5     3 –8  
Western Michigan  2 –6     2 –9  
Kent State  1 –7     2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion

The team's statistical leaders included freshman quarterback Tim Lester with 2,189 passing yards, Bruno Heppell with 700 rushing yards, and Tony Knox with 754 receiving yards.[5] Lester was named the MAC freshman of the year.[6]

Molde was fired as the school's head football coach on November 20, 1996. In 10 years as head coach, he compiled a 62-47-2 record. The firing followed a public dispute with athletic director Jim Weaver over Molde's contract.[7]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResult
August 29Eastern Illinois*
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 20–28
September 7at West Virginia*
L 9–34
September 14Eastern Michigan
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 12–19
September 21at Central Michigan
L 28–38
September 28at Akron
L 7–27
October 5Ball State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 5–28
October 12at Wyoming*
L 28–42
October 26at Toledo
L 7–10
November 2Ohio
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
L 0–38
November 9at Bowling Green
W 16–13 (OT)
November 16Kent State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 76–27
  • *Non-conference game

References
  1. "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  2. "Football Records: Year-By-Year Results - 1990 - 99". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  3. "1996 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. "1996 Western Michigan Broncos Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  6. "Football History: Conference Awards". Western Michigan University. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  7. Mick McCabe (November 21, 1996). "WMU fires Molde; contract debate cited". Detroit Free Press. p. 1D, 2D.
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