2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team represents Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....

in the 2008 NCAA football

2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season

The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...

season. The WMU football team

Western Michigan Broncos football

The Western Michigan Broncos football program represents Western Michigan University in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference . Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season...

is coached by Bill Cubit

Bill Cubit

-External links:*...

and play their homes game in Waldo Stadium

Waldo Stadium

Waldo Stadium is a stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Opened in 1939, it now has a capacity of 30,200 spectators.-History:...

in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kalamazoo, Michigan

The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...

.

WMU is currently 9–3 overall and 6–2 in the Mid-American Conference

Mid-American Conference

The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...

after defeating conference opponents Northern Illinois

2008 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

The 2008 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Northern Illinois competed as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American...

, Temple

2008 Temple Owls football team

The 2008 Temple Owls football team represented Temple University in the college 2008 football season. They competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision . Temple competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference East Division...

, Ohio, Buffalo

2008 Buffalo Bulls football team

The 2008 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. 2008 was a season of firsts for the Bulls. With a 40-34 double overtime win over Bowling Green on November 21, the Bulls won the MAC East division and gained a berth...

, Eastern Michigan

2008 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

The 2008 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference.The team was led by...

and , Big Ten Conference

Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...

member Illinois

2008 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

The 2008 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 2008–2009 college football season. The team's head coach was Ron Zook. The Illini played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois...

, Western Athletic Conference

Western Athletic Conference

The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...

member Idaho

2008 Idaho Vandals football team

The 2008 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in NCAA Division I FBS college football during the 2008 season. Idaho competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference , and played their home games in the Kibbie Dome...

and Football Championship Subdivision team . WMU lost to Nebraska

2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

The 2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bo Pelini and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska....

, rival Central Michigan

2008 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

The 2008 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Central Michigan competed as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American...

and Ball State

2008 Ball State Cardinals football team

The 2008 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2008–2009 college football season. Brady Hoke, in his sixth season at Ball State, was the head coach until December 15, when he resigned to become the head coach at San Diego State...

.

Over the course of the 2008 season, the Broncos received votes in the AP Poll

AP Poll

The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...

and the USA Today Coaches Poll, placing within the top 30 college football teams nationally.

Western Michigan played in the 2008 Texas Bowl

2008 Texas Bowl

The 2008 Texas Bowl was the third edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The game was played at 7:00 PM US CST on Tuesday, December 30, 2008. The game, telecast on NFL Network, featured the hometown Rice Owls against the Western Michigan...

, where they fell to Rice

2008 Rice Owls football team

The 2008 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 2008 football season. The Owls played six home games at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas The Owls finished the season with an overall record of 10-3 and a conference record of 7-1 in David Bailiff's second season.-Coaching...

on December 30, 2008.

2007 summary

The Broncos finished the 2007 season

2007 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 2007 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the 2007 NCAA football season. The team was coached by Bill Cubit and played their homes game in Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Broncos finished the season 5-7 overall and 3-4 in the Mid-American...

5–7 overall and 3–4 in the Mid-American Conference

Mid-American Conference

(MAC). The highlight of the season was the 28–19 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes

2007 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

The 2007 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2007 college football season. Heading into the season, several players left the team while several other players ran into criminal allegations...

, a team that finished 5th in the Big Ten Conference

Big Ten Conference

Pre-season

WMU was picked to finish third in the West Division, according to the MAC News Media Association. The Broncos also earned two first place votes and one vote to win the MAC Championship Game

MAC Championship Game

The Marathon MAC Football Championship is a football game between the winners of the East and West divisions of the Mid-American Conference to determine the conference champion. The game has been played since 1997, when the conference was first divided into divisions and since 2003 has been...

. Rival Central Michigan

Central Michigan Chippewas football

The Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences...

was picked to win the West Division. Bowling Green

2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team

The 2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team represents Bowling Green State University, which will celebrate its 90th season of collegiate football in the 2008 season. The team's head football coach is Gregg Brandon...

was selected to win the East Division.

Watch lists

Louis Delmas
Louis Delmas
Louis Delmas is an American Football safety that plays for the Detroit Lions.-Early life and high school career:Delmas played high school football at North Miami Beach High School in North Miami Beach, Florida....

, FS – East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
Londen Fryar, CB
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...

– East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...

, Jim Thorpe Award
Jim Thorpe Award
The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986...
Branden Ledbetter, TE
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...

– John Mackey Award
John Mackey Award
The John Mackey Award is presented annually to college football's most outstanding tight end.The award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey....
Jamarko Simmons, WR
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...

– East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...

Mid-American Conference Player of the Week

Offense
- Tim Hiller
  Tim Hiller
  Tim Hiller is a American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Western Michigan. Hiller is now head football coach at Gull Lake High School in Richland, Michigan.-Early...
  
  , QB
  Quarterback
  Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
  
  (2) – week 3 (23–31, 74.2%, 241 yards, four touchdowns), week 7 (42–63, 345 yards, four touchdowns, school record for pass completions and attempts)
- Jamarko Simmons, WR
  Wide receiver
  A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
  
  – week 11 (11 catches, 174 yards, touchdown)
Defense
- E. J. Biggers
  E. J. Biggers
  Edjaun Cinclair "E. J." Biggers is an American football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Biggers played college football at Western Michigan University.-Early years:...
  
  , CB
  Cornerback
  A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
  
  – week 10 (Nine tackles, one tackle for a loss, interception, pass break up)
- Louis Delmas
  Louis Delmas
  Louis Delmas is an American Football safety that plays for the Detroit Lions.-Early life and high school career:Delmas played high school football at North Miami Beach High School in North Miami Beach, Florida....
  
  , FS (2) – week 2 (10 tackles, interception, fumble recovery), week 11 (12 tackles)
- Boston McCornell, LB
  Linebacker
  A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
  
  – week 5 (10 tackles (six solo tackles), forced fumble, fumble recovery)
Special teams
- John Potter, PK
  Placekicker
  Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
  
  – week 11 (three field goals (31, 22, 45 yards), two point after touchdowns)
- Brandon West, RB
  Running back
  A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
  
  /KR – week 6 (239 all-purpose yards, three touchdowns (one rushing, two receiving))
- Aaron Winchester, RB
  Running back
  A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
  
  /KR – week 12 (71 kick return yards, 111 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards, 204 all-purpose yards)

John Mackey National Tight End of the Week

Branden Ledbetter, TE
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...

– week 7 (six receptions, 40 yards, touchdown)

All-MAC Team

Western Michigan had 12 All-MAC selections.

First team
- Louis Delmas
  Louis Delmas
  Louis Delmas is an American Football safety that plays for the Detroit Lions.-Early life and high school career:Delmas played high school football at North Miami Beach High School in North Miami Beach, Florida....
  
  , FS
- Austin Pritchard, LB
- Jamarko Simmons, WR
Second team
- E. J. Biggers
  E. J. Biggers
  Edjaun Cinclair "E. J." Biggers is an American football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Biggers played college football at Western Michigan University.-Early years:...
  
  , CB
- Zach Davidson, DL
- Londen Fryar, CB
- Branden Ledbetter, TE
Third team
- Tim Hiller
  Tim Hiller
  Tim Hiller is a American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Western Michigan. Hiller is now head football coach at Gull Lake High School in Richland, Michigan.-Early...
  
  , QB
- Boston McCornell, LB
- Juan Nunez, WR
- Phillip Sawnson, OL
- Brandon West, RB

Schedule

Nebraska

Nebraska jumped out to a 17–0 lead in the second quarter that Western Michigan could not recover from.

WMU quarterback Tim Hiller

Tim Hiller

Tim Hiller is a American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Western Michigan. Hiller is now head football coach at Gull Lake High School in Richland, Michigan.-Early...

was 30 of 49 for 342 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Branden Ledbetter caught nine balls for 123 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos were held to eight rushing yards for the game.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Northern Illinois

In the Mid-American Conference opening game for both teams, WMU overcame a 19–14 fourth quarter NIU lead with two Tim Hiller

Tim Hiller

touchdown passes in the span of three minutes and six seconds. Hiller completed 21 of 30 passes for 186 yards and three touchdown

Touchdown

A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...

s for the game and running back

Running back

A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...

Brandon West carried the ball 25 times for 175 yards.

NIU was playing without its freshman

Freshman

A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...

starting quarterback

Quarterback

Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...

Chandler Harnish who left the game in the first quarter due to an injury. NIU outgained WMU 439 to 384 in total yards and had possession of the ball for 34:20 opposed to WMU's 25:40 time of possession.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Idaho

After Idaho scored early in the third quarter to tie the game at 14–14, WMU outscored the Vandals 37–14 to cruise to a 51–28 win over the Western Athletic Conference

Western Athletic Conference

member. WMU quarterback Tim Hiller

Tim Hiller

completed 23 of 31 passes for 241 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Jamarko Simmons caught six passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite outgaining WMU 455 yards to 416 yards, Idaho could not stop WMU from scoring 23 points in 4:32 during the third quarter to put the game away.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Tennessee Tech

Led by quarterback

Quarterback

Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...

Tim Hiller

's five touchdown passes, Western Michigan defeated Football Championship Subdivision opponent Tennessee Tech 41–7. The Broncos outgained Tennessee Tech 633 yards to 251 and gained 30 first downs compared to 13. Hiller completed 27 of 31 passes for 333 yards and running back

Running back

Brandon West carried the ball for 133 yards and a touchdown on 14 rushes. Wide receiver

Wide receiver

A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...

Jamarko Simmons led all receivers with 10 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Ball State

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Rice

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Coaching staff

Bill Cubit
Bill Cubit
-External links:*...

– Head Coach
Steve Morrison
Steve Morrison (American football)
Steven Craig Morrison is a retired professional American football linebacker who played for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League from 1995 to 1998. He is currently the linebackers coach at Eastern Michigan University. He last served as the defensive coordinator for the Western...

– Defensive Coordinator
Tim Daoust – Defensive Secondary
Mike Grant – Wide Receivers
Rick Kravitz – Safeties
Peter McCarthy – Defensive Line
Jake Moreland
Jake Moreland
Jake Moreland is a former player in the National Football League for the New York Jets andCleveland Browns in 2000 and 2001. Moreland currently serves as tight ends coach of the Western Michigan Broncos football team at his alma mater Western Michigan University.-References:...

– Tight Ends
A. J. Ricker – Offensive Assistant
Mike Sabock – Running Backs, Special Teams
Bob Stanley – Offensive Line
Tim Knox – Director of Football Operations
Ryan Cubit – Offensive Graduate Assistant
Matt Ludeman – Defensive Graduate Assistant

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

2007 summary

Pre-season

Watch lists

Mid-American Conference Player of the Week

John Mackey National Tight End of the Week

All-MAC Team

Schedule

Nebraska

Northern Illinois

Idaho

Tennessee Tech

Temple

Ohio

Buffalo

Central Michigan

Eastern Michigan

Illinois

Toledo

Ball State

Rice

Coaching staff

External links