2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team

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2008 Western Michigan Broncos football
Texas Bowl, L 38–14 vs. Rice
Conference Mid-American Conference West
2008 record 9–4 (6–2 MAC)
Head coach Bill Cubit
Offensive coordinator Bill Cubit
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinator Steve Morrison
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Waldo Stadium
Seasons
« 2007 2009 »
2008 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
East
Buffalo x†   5 – 3         8 – 6  
Bowling Green   4 – 4         6 – 6  
Temple   4 – 4         5 – 7  
Ohio   3 – 5         4 – 8  
Akron   3 – 5         5 – 7  
Kent State   3 – 5         4 – 8  
Miami   1 – 7         2 – 10  
West
Ball State x   8 – 0         12 – 2  
Central Michigan   6 – 2         8 – 5  
Western Michigan   6 – 2         9 – 4  
Northern Illinois   5 – 3         6 – 7  
Toledo   2 – 6         3 – 9  
Eastern Michigan   2 – 6         3 – 9  
Championship: Buffalo 42, Ball State 24
† – Conference champion
x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team represents Western Michigan University in the 2008 NCAA football season. The WMU football team is coached by Bill Cubit and play their homes game in Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

WMU is currently 9–3 overall and 6–2 in the Mid-American Conference after defeating conference opponents Northern Illinois, Temple, Ohio, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan and Toledo, Big Ten Conference member Illinois, Western Athletic Conference member Idaho and Football Championship Subdivision team Tennessee Tech. WMU lost to Nebraska, rival Central Michigan and Ball State.

Over the course of the 2008 season, the Broncos received votes in the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll, placing within the top 30 college football teams nationally.

Western Michigan played in the 2008 Texas Bowl, where they fell to Rice on December 30, 2008.

Contents

[edit] 2007 summary

Main article: 2007 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The Broncos finished the 2007 season 5–7 overall and 3–4 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The highlight of the season was the 28–19 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team that finished 5th in the Big Ten Conference.

[edit] Pre-season

Football team during a preseason practice at Waldo Stadium.

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. Rival Central Michigan was picked to win the West Division. Bowling Green was selected to win the East Division.[1]

[edit] Watch lists

[edit] Recruiting class

The 2008 recruiting class was ranked #1 in the MAC and #65 overall by Rivals.[5]

[edit] Awards

[edit] Mid-American Conference Player of the Week

  • Offense
    • Tim Hiller, QB (2) – week 3 (23–31, 74.2%, 241 yards, four touchdowns)[6], week 7 (42–63, 345 yards, four touchdowns, school record for pass completions and attempts)[7]
    • Jamarko Simmons, WR – week 11 (11 catches, 174 yards, touchdown)[8]
  • Defense
    • E. J. Biggers, CB – week 10 (Nine tackles, one tackle for a loss, interception, pass break up)[9]
    • Louis Delmas, FS (2) – week 2 (10 tackles, interception, fumble recovery)[10], week 11 (12 tackles)[8]
    • Boston McCornell, LB – week 5 (10 tackles (six solo tackles), forced fumble, fumble recovery)[11]
  • Special teams
    • John Potter, PK – week 11 (three field goals (31, 22, 45 yards), two point after touchdowns)[8]
    • Brandon West, RB/KR – week 6 (239 all-purpose yards, three touchdowns (one rushing, two receiving))[12]
    • Aaron Winchester, RB/KR – week 12 (71 kick return yards, 111 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards, 204 all-purpose yards)[13]

[edit] Mid-American Conference Scholar Athlete of the Week

[edit] John Mackey National Tight End of the Week

  • Branden Ledbetter, TE – week 7 (six receptions, 40 yards, touchdown)[15]

[edit] All-MAC Team

Western Michigan had 12 All-MAC selections.[16]

  • First team
  • Second team
    • E. J. Biggers, CB
    • Zach Davidson, DL
    • Londen Fryar, CB
    • Branden Ledbetter, TE
  • Third team
    • Tim Hiller, QB
    • Boston McCornell, LB
    • Juan Nunez, WR
    • Phillip Sawnson, OL
    • Brandon West, RB

[edit] Schedule

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
8/30/08 7:00pm at Nebraska* Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE Fox Sports Net L 47–24   84,485
9/6/08 7:00pm Northern Illinois Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI W 29–26   26,262
9/13/08 5:00pm at Idaho* Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID Altitude Sports and Entertainment W 51–28   15,003
9/20/08 7:00pm Tennessee Tech* Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI W 41–7   19,768
9/27/08 2:00pm at Temple Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA W 7–3   17,624
10/4/08 2:00pm Ohiodagger Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI W 41–20   20,133
10/11/08 3:30pm at Buffalo University at Buffalo Stadium • Buffalo, NY Time Warner Sports W 34–28 OT  15,025
10/18/08 12:00pm at Central Michigan Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, MI (CMU–WMU Rivalry Trophy, Michigan MAC Trophy) ESPN GamePlan L 38–28   30,302
11/1/08 2:00pm Eastern Michigan Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI (Michigan MAC Trophy) W 31–10   19,917
11/8/08 12:00pm vs. Illinois* Ford Field • Detroit, MI ESPN GamePlan W 23–17   12,865
11/15/08 2:00pm Toledo Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, MI FSN Detroit, FSN Ohio W 27–17   12,336
11/25/08 7:00pm at #15 Ball State Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN ESPN2 L 45–22   23,861
12/30/09 8:00pm vs. Rice Reliant Stadium • Houston, TX (Texas Bowl) NFL Network L 38–14   58,880
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from USA Today Coaches' Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.

[edit] Game notes

[edit] Nebraska

1 2 3 4 Total
Western Michigan (0–1) 0 10 7 7 24
Nebraska (1–0) 14 20 10 3 47
See also: 2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

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

WMU quarterback Tim Hiller 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

[edit] Northern Illinois

1 2 3 4 Total
Northern Illinois (0–2) 7 3 3 13 26
Western Michigan (1–1) 7 7 0 15 29
See also: 2008 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

In the Mid-American Conference opening game for both teams, WMU overcame a 19–14 fourth quarter NIU lead with two Tim Hiller touchdown passes in the span of three minutes and six seconds. Hiller completed 21 of 30 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns for the game and running back Brandon West carried the ball 25 times for 175 yards.

NIU was playing without its freshman starting quarterback 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

[edit] Idaho

1 2 3 4 Total
Western Michigan (2–1) 7 7 23 14 51
Idaho (1–2) 7 0 7 14 28

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 member. WMU quarterback 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

[edit] Tennessee Tech

1 2 3 4 Total
Tennessee Tech (2–2) 7 0 0 0 7
Western Michigan (3–1) 13 14 14 0 41

Led by quarterback 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 Brandon West carried the ball for 133 yards and a touchdown on 14 rushes. Wide receiver Jamarko Simmons led all receivers with 10 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Temple

1 2 3 4 Total
Western Michigan (4–1) 0 0 7 0 7
Temple (1–4) 3 0 0 0 3

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Ohio

1 2 3 4 Total
Ohio (1–5) 0 7 0 13 20
Western Michigan (5–1) 5 6 10 20 41

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Buffalo

1 2 3 4 OT Total
Western Michigan (6–1) 0 3 3 22 6 34
Buffalo (2–4) 7 7 7 7 0 28

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Central Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total
Western Michigan (6–2) 7 7 7 7 28
Central Michigan (5–2) 14 7 7 10 38

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Eastern Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total
Eastern Michigan (2–8) 0 7 3 0 10
Western Michigan (7–2) 10 7 0 14 31

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Illinois

1 2 3 4 Total
Illinois (5–5) 7 0 3 7 17
Western Michigan (8–2) 3 17 0 3 23

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Toledo

1 2 3 4 Total
Toledo (2–8) 7 0 0 10 17
Western Michigan (9–2) 0 10 10 7 27

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Ball State

See also: 2008 Ball State Cardinals football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Western Michigan (9–3) 7 7 0 8 22
Ball State (12–0) 14 10 14 7 45

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Rice

Main article: 2008 Texas Bowl
See also: 2008 Rice Owls football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Western Michigan (9–4) 0 0 0 14 14
Rice (10–3) 10 14 7 7 38

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

[edit] Coaching staff

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/SPORTS/807300315/1006
  2. ^ a b c http://myespn.go.com/blogs/others/0-0-199/Three-WMU-players-watched-for-East-West-Shrine-Game.html
  3. ^ http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x379984530/Western-Michigan-university-cornerback-named-to-2008-Jim-Thorpe-Watch-List
  4. ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=1545820
  5. ^ Votes are In - WMU is Rated Best by Rivals.com - WMUBroncos.com—Official Web Site of Western Michigan Athletics
  6. ^ http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=1582698
  7. ^ http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=1602595
  8. ^ a b c http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=1621897
  9. ^ http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=1617134
  10. ^ http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=1577505
  11. ^ http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=1592475
  12. ^ http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=1597669
  13. ^ http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=1627186
  14. ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=24299&SPID=1922&DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=1586255
  15. ^ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=1604349
  16. ^ http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=3626856

[edit] External links
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2008–09 bowl games
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