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 NCAA University Division 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
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	2–7 (2–4 MAC)
Head coach	Merle Schlosser (7th season)
MVP	Bill Somerville
Captain	Allen Gibbs, Bill Somerville
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium
Seasons ← 1962 1964 →

1963 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
Ohio $	5	–	1	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Miami (OH)	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

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 21	at No. 7. Wisconsin*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	L 0–41	48,574
September 28	at Central Michigan*	Alumni Field Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry)	L 14–30	7,200	^[10]
October 5	Miami (OH)	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 19–27
October 12	at Bowling Green	University Stadium Bowling Green, OH	L 7–16
October 19	Kent State	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 26–12
October 26	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	W 18–7
November 2	Marshall	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 7–20
November 9	at Ohio	Peden Stadium Athens, OH	L 13–27
November 16	Louisville*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 7–21
*Non-conference game 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 - 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. . 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.
10. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 14, 2022.