2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team

Last updated

2008 Western Michigan Broncos football
Western Michigan Broncos text logo.svg
Texas Bowl, L 14–38 vs. Rice
Conference Mid-American Conference
DivisionWest
2008 record9–4 (6–2 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Cubit
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinator Steve Morrison
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Waldo Stadium
(Capacity: 30,200)
Seasons
←  2007
2009  →
2008 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
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 Division
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

The 2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the 2008 NCAA football season. The team was coached by Bill Cubit and played their homes game in Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Contents

Western Michigan was 9–4 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. Western Michigan lost to Nebraska, rival Central Michigan and Ball State. Western Michigan played in the 2008 Texas Bowl, where they fell to Rice on December 30, 2008.

Over the course of the 2008 season, the Broncos received votes in the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll, culminating with a top 30 ranking and 9–2 record in week 13. The Broncos no longer received votes after dropping their final two games.

2007 summary

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.

Pre-season

Football team during a preseason practice at Waldo Stadium. Wmu fb practice.jpg
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.

Watch lists

Recruiting class

The 2008 recruiting class was ranked #1 in the MAC and #65 overall by Rivals. [3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:00 pmat Nebraska *
 Fox Sports Net L 24–4784,485
September 67:00 pm Northern Illinois
W 29–2626,262
September 135:00 pmat Idaho *
 ALT W 51–2815,003
September 207:00 pm Tennessee Tech *
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, Michigan
W 41–719,768
September 272:00 pmat Temple
W 7–317,624
October 42:00 pm Ohio Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, Michigan
W 41–2020,133
October 113:30 pmat Buffalo
TWCSN W 34–28 OT15,025
October 1812:00 pmat Central Michigan
ESPN GamePlan L 28–3830,302
November 12:00 pm Eastern Michigan
W 31–1019,917
November 812:00 pmvs. Illinois *
ESPN GamePlanW 23–1712,865
November 152:00 pm Toledo
  • Waldo Stadium
  • Kalamazoo, Michigan
 FSN Detroit/FSN Ohio W 27–1712,336
November 257:00 pmat No. 15 Ball State
ESPN2 L 22–4523,861
December 308:00 pmvs. Rice *
 NFL Network L 14–3858,880

Game summaries

Nebraska

1234Total
Western Michigan (0–1)0107724
Nebraska (1–0)142010347

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

Northern Illinois

1234Total
Northern Illinois (0–2)7331326
Western Michigan (1–1)7701529

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

Idaho

1234Total
Western Michigan (2–1)77231451
Idaho (1–2)7071428

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

Tennessee Tech

1234Total
Tennessee Tech (2–2)70007
Western Michigan (3–1)131414041

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

Temple

1234Total
Western Michigan (4–1)00707
Temple (1–4)30003

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Ohio

1234Total
Ohio (1–5)0701320
Western Michigan (5–1)56102041

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Buffalo

1234OTTotal
Western Michigan (6–1)03322634
Buffalo (2–4)7777028

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Central Michigan

1234Total
Western Michigan (6–2)777728
Central Michigan (5–2)14771038

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Eastern Michigan

1234Total
Eastern Michigan (2–8)073010
Western Michigan (7–2)10701431

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Illinois

1234Total
Illinois (5–5)703717
Western Michigan (8–2)3170323

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Toledo

1234Total
Toledo (2–8)7001017
Western Michigan (9–2)01010727

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Ball State

1234Total
Western Michigan (9–3)770822
Ball State (12–0)141014745

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Rice

1234Total
Western Michigan (9–4)0001414
Rice (10–3)10147738

Recap | Boxscore | WMU pregame notes

Awards

Mid-American Conference Player of the Week

Mid-American Conference Scholar Athlete of the Week

John Mackey National Tight End of the Week

All-MAC Team

Western Michigan had 12 All-MAC selections. [14]

Coaching staff

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References

  1. ↑ "Western Michigan university cornerback named to 2008 Jim Thorpe Watch List". July 9, 2008. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Ledbetter Named to Mackey Watch List for Second-Straight Year". wmubroncos.com. Western Michigan University Athletics. July 31, 2008. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  3. ↑ Kanan, Mat (February 7, 2008). "Votes are In - WMU is Rated Best by Rivals.com". wmubroncos.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
  4. ↑ "MAC Recognizes Football Players of the Week". mac-sports.com. September 15, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  5. ↑ "MAC Recognizes Football Players of the Week". mac-sports.com. October 13, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 "MAC Awards Football Players of the Week". mac-sports.com. November 10, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  7. ↑ "MAC Honors Football Players of the Week". mac-sports.com. November 3, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2008.
  8. ↑ "MAC Names Football Players of the Week". mac-sports.com. September 8, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  9. ↑ "MAC Announces Football Players of the Week". mac-sports.com. September 29, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
  10. ↑ "MAC Announces Football Players of the Week". mac-sports.com. October 6, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2008.
  11. ↑ "MAC Awards Football Player of the Week Honors". mac-sports.com. November 17, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Hiller Repeats as MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week". wmubroncos.com. Western Michigan University Athletics. September 20, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Branden Ledbetter Named John Mackey National Tight End of the Week". wmubroncos.com. Western Michigan University Athletics. October 15, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  14. ↑ "MAC Announces Football Post Season Awards". mac-sports.com. December 3, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
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