After 5-7 season, WMU football must thrive in 2010

By Mike Feld
Western Herald

(Chyn Wey Lee/Western Herald) WMU senior quarterback Tim Hiller is sacked by Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones.

With the sweat still fresh on his face and the pain of one final loss now sinking in, Tim Hiller sat with his head towards the ground on Nov. 24.

The senior quarterback spent his five years on Western Michigan University’s football squad as a public relations dreamboat. Hiller never really hid his emotion, yet he never let it show. He said all the right things and never backed down from an interview. When the team needed a voice, it was the vocal of Hiller that made a sound.

But on this night, things were different. While answering a question about his personal struggles in his last game as a Bronco — a 22‑17 loss to Ball State University — Hiller mumbled something in between taking personal blame for the defeat and talking about how hard it was.

“Aw, man,” Hiller uttered.

Two words. One phrase. Something that everyone had likely said during a frustrating moment. It’s a common phrase that, although so very simple, can sum up so much emotion.

And when talking about WMU’s 2009 football season, there’s one way to start stating what the season was like.

Aw, man.

The warm August weather was a reflection of the warm opinions of Bronco football supporters. After a nine-win season, WMU’s senior quarterback was back and ready to shatter a number of WMU and Mid‑American Conference records. But a compilation of youth, injuries and poor play changed all of that.

Aw, man.

First, a blowout in Ann Arbor against a young and underachieving University of Michigan team. Then, a goal line fumble at Indiana University. After a victory, it was a near defeat against Division I FCS opponent Hofstra University. The season never had the magic the 2008 team showed. It lacked the pop that now‑departed Jamarko Simmons, Branden Ledbetter and Louis Delmas provided.

But over a week later, the team is still full of what‑ifs. What if WMU handled its business against Ball State? What if it competed with that Michigan team that really wasn’t that much better after all? What if that fumble never happened? What if, after nearly taking a tie into the locker room against Central Michigan University, there was no botched kickoff and interception to give CMU a two-touchdown lead?

None of that matters now, and 5‑7 is what it is. But through five years of Bill Cubit as head coach, the team’s expectations are much higher.
And the trophy case still looks the same.

While the Chippewas are among the MAC teams getting respect through winning games, no one seems to notice the Kalamazoo team that much. Next year, that needs to change.

Hiller won’t be there, and running back Brandon West and team leading tackler Austin Pritchard will be gone, too. But of the Broncos that made a significant impact in 2009, that’s about all that’s departing.

Now, a young receiving corps will return everyone and will have at least 12 relevant games under its belt for each of its impact wide outs. Despite a young heir apparent behind center in current redshirt freshman Alex Carder, the quarterback has taken in‑game snaps and has had two years to learn Cubit’s system. He’s been tutored by Hiller, Cubit and quarterbacks coach Ryan Cubit — the three people that know the Bronco offensive system the best.

On the front end, the offensive line will be back with an added wrinkle — Dann O’Neill. The current Bronco was a highly touted recruit for UM before trading those colors in for Brown and Gold. He’ll help protect Carder and clear holes for the bevy of young running backs returning to the fold that aren’t named West.
On defense, almost the entire unit returns. While the front four didn’t necessarily blow anyone away this year, the future starters proved they can handle their own. In the backfield, those defenders did nothing but improve like a fine wine as the season began to age.

And if that’s not good enough, this team should be back in better shape for no other reason than it’s time. It will be year six under Cubit. Every single player will be his recruit next year. The expectations are now there, the fan support is there and the hunger is there. The only thing that is missing is the trophy.

And if Western Michigan can’t capitalize next season, and if the team can’t prove to be an elite member of its conference, there’s only one thing Bronco fans will be able to say when their college football team is brought up in discussions.
Aw, man.

Mike Feld, the Western Herald football beat reporter, is a senior majoring in journalism and can be reached at michael.j.feld@wmich.edu.

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Posted by heraldstaff on Dec 2 2009. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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