2014 Western Michigan Broncos football team

Summary

The 2014 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University (WMU) in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach P. J. Fleck and played their home games at Waldo Stadium as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They finished the season 8–5, 6–2 in MAC play to finish in third place in the West Division. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they lost to Air Force.

2014 Western Michigan Broncos football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record8–5 (6–2 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKirk Ciarrocca (2nd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorEd Pinkham (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumWaldo Stadium
Seasons
← 2013
2015 →
2014 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Bowling Green x   5 3     8 6  
Ohio   4 4     6 6  
Buffalo   3 4     5 6  
Akron   3 5     5 7  
UMass   3 5     3 9  
Miami (OH)   2 6     2 10  
Kent State   1 6     2 9  
West Division
Northern Illinois xy$   7 1     11 3  
Toledo x   7 1     9 4  
Western Michigan   6 2     8 5  
Central Michigan   5 3     7 6  
Ball State   4 4     5 7  
Eastern Michigan   1 7     2 10  
Championship: Northern Illinois 51, Bowling Green 17
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

WMU lost its season opener against Purdue, 43–34. Freshman running back Jarvion Franklin rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. The 163 yards were the third-highest by a freshman in the NCAA. He was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week.[1]

At the end of the 2014 season, head coach P. J. Fleck was awarded with the Mid American Conference Head Coach of the Year award. Jarvion Franklin was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first freshman to ever receive the honor.[2]

Recruiting class edit

US college sports recruiting information for 2014 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Lucas Bezerra
TE
Troy, MI Troy HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Apr 13, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Jordan Billingslea
WR
Southfield, MI Southfield HS 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 153 lb (69 kg) Jul 25, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Jamauri Bogan
RB
Union Township, NJ Union HS 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 164 lb (74 kg) Jun 28, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 73
Nathan Braster
DE
Fort Wayne, IN South Side HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 240 lb (110 kg) Jul 23, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Asantay Brown
ATH
Muskegon, MI Mona Shores HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Feb 12, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 73
Deontae Brown
DB
Chicago, IL Mount Carmel HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Apr 20, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 69
Curtis Doyle
OL
Alma, MI Alma HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 287 lb (130 kg) Apr 25, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 73
Leo Ekwoge
RB
Olney, MD Good Counsel HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jul 25, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 73
Jacari Faulkner
DE
Detroit, MI U of D Jesuit HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 230 lb (100 kg) May 6, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A
Kenny Finley
DT
Muskegon, MI Muskegon HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 279 lb (127 kg) Jan 5, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 76
Jarvion Franklin
RB
Tinley Park, IL Andrew HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 219 lb (99 kg) Jul 25, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Jay Harris
WR
Exton, PA Downingtown East HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Nov 14, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
JaKevin Jackson
LB
Milledgeville, GA Georgia Military College 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 226 lb (103 kg) Nov 17, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Lonnie Johnson
ATH
Gary, IN West Side HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 19, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 81
Elliot Jordan
OL
Kentwood, MI East Kentwood HS 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Nov 6, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 73
Nick Matich
DT
Clarkston, MI Clarkston HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 283 lb (128 kg) Jun 29, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Chris McDaniel
ATH
Detroit, MI Cass Tech HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 233 lb (106 kg) Apr 11, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Zach Novoselsky
OL
Lincolnshire, IL Stevenson HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 273 lb (124 kg) Jul 19, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 72
Chukwuma Okorafor
OL
Southfield, MI Southfield HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 280 lb (130 kg) May 4, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 74
Wyatt Pfeifer
OL
Delaware, OH Buckeye Valley HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Jul 25, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Delshawn Phillips
LB
Detroit, MI Cass Tech HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Apr 11, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Javonte Seabury
ATH
Orlando, FL Timber Creek HS 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 153 lb (69 kg) Jan 2, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 74
Alon Sims
ATH
Royal Palm Beach, FL Royal Palm Beach HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 177 lb (80 kg) May 2, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Robert Spillane
ATH
Oak Park, IL Fenwick HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 217 lb (98 kg) Mar 23, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 75
Chance Stewart
QB
Sturgis, MI Sturgis HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 207 lb (94 kg) Apr 18, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 80
Antione Stone
ATH
Bedford, OH Bedford HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jun 19, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Jason Sylva
LB
Franklin, MA Dean JC 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 250 lb (110 kg) Dec 16, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Jordan Van Dort
OL
Zeeland, MI Zeeland West HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 283 lb (128 kg) Oct 4, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 56   Rivals: 58
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Western Michigan Football Commitment List". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  • "Western Michigan Football Commitment List". Scout.com. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  • "Western Michigan Football Commitment List". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  • "2014 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 5, 2014.

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 30Noonat Purdue*ESPNUL 34–4337,031[3]
September 135:00 pmat Idaho*ESPN3W 45–3314,721
September 207:00 pmMurray State*ESPN3W 45–1422,226[4]
September 2712:30 pmat Virginia Tech*ESPN3L 17–3559,625[5]
October 47:00 pmToledo
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
ESPN3L 19–20 OT11,493
October 113:00 pmat Ball StateESPN3W 42–3811,237
October 182:00 pmat Bowling GreenBCSN[6]W 26–1415,201
October 252:00 pmOhio 
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
ESPN3W 42–2120,225
November 12:30 pmat Miami (OH)ESPN3[7]W 41–109,045
November 152:00 pmEastern Michigan
ESPN3W 51–712,985
November 221:00 pmat Central MichiganESPN3W 32–2017,265[8]
November 2811:00 amNorthern Illinois
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, MI
ESPNUL 21–3111,195
December 205:45 pmvs. Air Force*ESPNL 24–3818,223
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • All times are in Eastern time
Schedule source:[9][10]

Coaching staff edit

Name Position Year at
WMU
Alma mater
P. J. Fleck Head coach 2nd Northern Illinois (2004)
Kirk Ciarrocca Offensive coordinator 2nd Temple (1990)
Ed Pinkham Defensive coordinator, Defensive backs 2nd Allegheny (1975)
Mike Hart Running backs 1st Michigan (2008)
Bill Kenney Tight ends 2nd Norwich (1982)
Tim McGarigle Linebackers 3rd Northwestern (2006)
Vinson Reynolds Defensive line 2nd Northern Illinois (2004)
Matt Simon Wide receivers 1st Northern Illinois (2004)
Rob Wenger Special teams 2nd Colgate (2008)
Brian Callahan Offensive line 2nd Eastern Illinois (1992)
Reference:[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "MAC announces week one football players of the week". Mid-American Conference. September 1, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  2. ^ Drew, David (December 3, 2014). "WMU football coach P.J. Fleck named MAC Coach of the Year". MLive.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  3. ^ "Etling, Purdue hold off Western Michigan 43–34". espn.com. Associated Press. August 30, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  4. ^ "Western Michigan runs past Murray State 45–14". espn.com. Associated Press. September 20, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  5. ^ "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Virginia Tech Hokies - Box Score - September 27, 2014 - ESPN". Scores.espn.go.com. September 27, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  6. ^ "Week 8". Mattsarzsports.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  7. ^ "Week 10". Mattsarzsports.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Central Michigan Chippewas - Box Score - November 22, 2014 - ESPN". Scores.espn.go.com. November 22, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  9. ^ "2014 Western Michigan Broncos Football Schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  10. ^ "2014-15 College Football Bowl Schedule - 2015 Playoff". Fbschedules.com. November 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  11. ^ "Football –Coaches". Retrieved November 28, 2014.