2017 Western Michigan Broncos Football: Schedule and Basic Information

As we finish up July, I am going to be putting up a quick fact sheet and schedule for each team in our beloved Mid-American conference. Bookmark it and use it as a cheat sheet for the season, I know I will.

The Tim Lester era has officially begun in Kalamazoo. His first game as a head coach will be against USC, who finished the season 10-3 and on a 9 game winning streak. The Broncos follow that up with a trip to East Lansing to take on a confusing Michigan State team.

Western Michigan Broncos Cheat Sheet

• Head Coach: Tim Lester, 1st season.
• 2016 record: 12-1
• 2017 schedule:

Sat, Sept., 2 at USC Trojans

Sat, Sept., 9 at Michigan State Spartans

Sat, Sept., 16 Idaho Vandals

Sat, Sept., 23 Wagner Seahawks

Sat, Sept., 30 Ball State Cardinals

Sat, Oct., 7 at Buffalo Bulls

Sat, Oct., 14 Akron Zips

Sat, Oct., 21 at Eastern Michigan Eagles

Wed, Nov., 1 Central Michigan Chippewas

Wed, Nov., 8 Kent State Golden Flashes

Wed, Nov., 15 at Northern Illinois Huskies

Fri, Nov., 24 at Toledo Rockets

• Returning Starters:

Offense, 5

Defense, 8

ST, 2

• Key Returnees:

Jarvion Franklin, Sr, RB: 41 career rushing TDs and 3639 yards. Second Team All-MAC in 2016

Jamauri Bogan, Jr, RB: 1974 career yards.

Chukwuma Okoafor, Sr., LT: 2016 first team All-MAC.

Robert Spillane, Sr, LB: 21.5 career TFL. 2016 Second Team All-MAC.

Justin Tranquill, Soph., SS: 86 tackles in 2016.

News and Notes

• Okorafor was named by Mel Kiper as one of the top 5 tackles in the country for 2017
• Here is a great write up on “The Black Ghost”.
• Western Michigan was picked to finish second in the West at the MAC Media Day.