2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University West Division of the Mid-American Conference during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Bill Cubit, compiling an overall record of 7–6 with mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing third in the MAC West Division. Western Michigan was invited to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, where the Broncos lost to Purdue, 37–32. The team played home games at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

2011 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record7–6 (5–3 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorDave Cohen (2nd season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 2010
2012 →
2011 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Ohio xy   6 2     10 4  
Temple   5 3     9 4  
Kent State   4 4     5 7  
Bowling Green   3 5     5 7  
Miami (OH)   3 5     4 8  
Buffalo   2 6     3 9  
Akron   0 8     1 11  
West Division
Northern Illinois xy$   7 1     11 3  
Toledo x   7 1     9 4  
Western Michigan   5 3     7 6  
Ball State   4 4     6 6  
Eastern Michigan   4 4     6 6  
Central Michigan   2 6     3 9  
Championship: Northern Illinois 23, Ohio 20
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

Schedule

edit
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 33:30 pmat Michigan*ABC/ESPN2L 10–34110,506[1]
September 107:00 pmNicholls State*W 38–719,884[2]
September 17NoonCentral Michigan
ESPN PlusW 44–1426,674
September 243:30 pmat No. 24 Illinois*BTNL 20–2343,684[3]
October 13:30 pmat Connecticut*SNYW 38–3136,648[4]
October 82:00 pmBowling Green 
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
STOW 45–2120,238[5]
October 153:30 pmat Northern IllinoisCSN ChicagoL 22–5120,277[6]
October 221:00 pmat Eastern MichiganL 10–146,772[7]
October 292:00 pmBall State
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 45–3516,548[8]
November 88:00 pmat ToledoESPNUL 63–6616,107[9]
November 168:00 pmat Miami (OH)ESPN2W 24–2115,729
November 251:00 pmAkron
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
W 68–1916,582[10]
December 274:30 pmvs. Purdue*ESPNL 32–3746,177
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

The Michigan game on September 3 was called after the 3rd quarter due to a lightning storm. By rule, both teams have to agree to end the game, which both teams did and Michigan was awarded the win.

Awards

edit

MAC Player of the Week

edit

Offensive

edit
  • Jordan White, senior, wide receiver (five awards)
    • Week three: 13 receptions, 177 yards, two touchdowns, 64-yard punt return, 241 all-purpose yards[11]
    • Week four: 14 receptions, 134 yards, one touchdown[12]
    • Week six: 12 receptions, 156 yards[13]
    • Week nine: Nine receptions, 172 yards, two touchdowns[14]
    • Week 11: 16 receptions, 238 yards, three touchdowns[15]
  • Alex Carder, junior, quarterback (two awards)
    • Week five: 37 completions, 51 attempts, 479 yards passing (ninth most in MAC history), five touchdowns, zero interceptions[16]
    • Week 11: 548 yards (second-most in conference history), seven passing touchdowns (tied for most in conference history), one rushing touchdown[15]

Defensive

edit
  • Johnnie Simon, sophomore, safety
    • Week nine: 10 tackles, pass break up, two quarterback hurries, interception[14]
  • Drew Nowak, senior, defensive line
    • Week twelve: 5 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL, one fumble recovery[17]

Special teams

edit
  • John Potter, senior, placekicker (three awards)
    • Week two: Five for five point after touchdowns, 40-yard field goal[18]
    • Week three: Five for five point after touchdowns, three field goals, four touchbacks[11]
    • Week 11: Nine for nine point after touchdowns, MAC's record holder for consecutive PATs made in a career[15]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Michigan beats Western Michigan after game called in 3rd quarter". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  2. ^ "W. Michigan 38, Nicholls 7". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  3. ^ "Illinois narrowly edges Western Michigan for best start since 1951". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  4. ^ "Alex Carder throws for 479 yards as Western Michigan knocks off UConn". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  5. ^ "W. Michigan 45, Bowling Green 21". ESPN.com. October 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011.
  6. ^ "N. Illinois 55, W. Michigan 22". ESPN.com. October 16, 2011.
  7. ^ "E. Michigan 14, W. Michigan 10". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 24, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  8. ^ "W. Michigan 45, Ball St. 35". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  9. ^ "Toledo 66, W. Michigan 63". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  10. ^ "W. Michigan 68, Akron 19". Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  11. ^ a b "MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WEEK THREE FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  12. ^ "MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WEEK FOUR FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  13. ^ "MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WEEK SIX FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on December 16, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  14. ^ a b "MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WEEK NINE FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  15. ^ a b c "MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WEEK ELEVEN FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  16. ^ "MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WEEK FIVE FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  17. ^ "MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WEEK TWELVE FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  18. ^ "MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WEEK TWO FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE, DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". Mid-American Conference. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
edit

  Media related to 2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team at Wikimedia Commons