The Broncos are coming off their second loss of the season but have a lot to build on from the second half of their 37-27 loss to Indiana in the home opener. WMU now faces its third BCS team in as many games as Big 12 power Missouri welcomes Western Michigan to Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium for the Tigers' home opener.
THE GAME ? Western Michigan football takes to the road for the second time this season, facing a third-straight opponent from a BCS conference. This week it is Missouri of the Big 12 that will take the field against the Broncos in Columbia, Mo. The Tigers lead the all-time series, 1-0, and are coming off wins over Illinois and Ole Miss. WMU is 0-2 after time ran out on a comeback in its home opener against Indiana.
TELEVISION ? The Bronco football program continues to gain regional and national notoriety through television exposre. Western Michigan is scheduled to play on live television at least five times this season. WMU will air on the ESPN family networks twice at home in 2007. The game against Missouri will not be televised.
RADIO ? This and all Western Michigan football games will be broadcast live on the Bronco Radio Network and its new flagship station, WZUU - 92.5 FM. Robin Hook (play-by-play) and Monty Porter (analysis) will have the call as they have together for the past nine seasons.
WEB SITE ? WMU home football games (not televised by the ESPN family of networks) can be seen live via the official athletics web site (www.wmubroncos.com) by subscribing to Bronco Insider, which can be found on the home page of the site. You are able to listen to each Bronco football game on the Internet by signing up with Yahoo Sports through the link at the bottom of the home page. Live Stats are available for FREE for all Bronco home games by clicking the link atop the home football page. Today's game will be available via GameTracker at www.mutigers.com.
SERIES IN BRIEF ? The Western Michigan/Missouri series consists of just one game. On Sept. 18, 1999, the Broncos traveled to Columbia, Mo., for the first time and left with a 48-34 loss. Two members of that team are still with the Broncos. That season was Cubit's last the Broncos' offensive coordinator and it was also the senior season for Jake Moreland (now in his third year as WMU's tight ends coach). Four current members of the Bronco coaching staff have ties to Missouri; one as a student-athlete, one as a student and two as coaches.
THE COACHES ? Bill Cubit (Delaware, 1975) begins his third season as the head coach of Western Michigan. He is 15-11 overall, 9-2 at Waldo Stadium, at Western Michigan and led the Broncos to their first bowl game since 1988 last season. Gary Pinkel is in his seventh season as the head coach at Missouri and boasts a 39-34 record with the Tigers. Pinkel spent 10 years as the head coach at Toledo where he amassed a 73-37-3 record and a MAC title in 1995.
UP NEXT ? Western Michigan will take on Division 1-FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) opponent Central Connecticut State at Waldo Stadium on Sept. 22. It will be the first meeting between the two programs and it will also be the first game against a D1-FCS team since playing Southern Illinois in the 2005 home opener.
