2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team

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 1 2007 summary 2 Pre-season 2.1 Watch lists 2.2 Recruiting class 3 Awards 3.1 Mid-American Conference Player of the Week 3.2 Mid-American Conference Scholar Athlete of the Week 3.3 John Mackey National Tight End of the Week 3.4 All-MAC Team 4 Schedule 5 Game notes 5.1 Nebraska 5.2 Northern Illinois 5.3 Idaho 5.4 Tennessee Tech 5.5 Temple 5.6 Ohio 5.7 Buffalo 5.8 Central Michigan 5.9 Eastern Michigan 5.10 Illinois 5.11 Toledo 5.12 Ball State 5.13 Rice 6 Coaching staff 7 References 8 External links

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

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]

Watch lists

• Louis Delmas, FS – East-West Shrine Game^[2]
• Londen Fryar, CB – East-West Shrine Game^[2], Jim Thorpe Award^[3]
• Branden Ledbetter, TE – John Mackey Award^[4]
• Jamarko Simmons, WR – East-West Shrine Game^[2]

Recruiting class

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

Awards

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]

Mid-American Conference Scholar Athlete of the Week

• Tim Hiller, QB – week 2, week 3^[14]

John Mackey National Tight End of the Week

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

All-MAC Team

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

• First team
  • Louis Delmas, FS
  • Austin Pritchard, LB
  • Jamarko Simmons, WR
• 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

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	Ohio		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. Homecoming. #Rankings from USA Today Coaches' Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.

Game notes

Nebraska

	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan (0–1)	0	10	7	7	24
Nebraska (1–0)	14	20	10	3	47

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

	1	2	3	4	Total
Northern Illinois (0–2)	7	3	3	13	26
Western Michigan (1–1)	7	7	0	15	29

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

	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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ball State

	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

Rice

	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

Coaching staff

• Bill Cubit – Head Coach
• Steve Morrison – Defensive Coordinator
• Tim Daoust – Defensive Secondary
• Mike Grant – Wide Receivers
• Rick Kravitz – Safeties
• Peter McCarthy – Defensive Line
• Jake Moreland – 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

References

External links

• Official site
• Team and individual statistics

Western Michigan Broncos football Venues Waldo Stadium (1939–present) Bowls and rivalries Bowl games WMU–CMU Rivalry Trophy Michigan MAC Trophy (Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan) Culture and lore Buster Bronco Bronco Marching Band People Head coaches Seasons 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

2008 Mid-American Conference football season East Division Akron • Bowling Green • Buffalo • Kent State • Miami • Ohio • Temple West Division Ball State • Central Michigan • Eastern Michigan • Northern Illinois • Toledo • Western Michigan Champion 2008 MAC Championship Game 2008–09 bowl games Motor City Bowl • Independence Bowl • Texas Bowl • International Bowl • GMAC Bowl