The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(09-01-2014 10:35 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  We should have 6 home games for at least the next three years, as we will assumably have 2 OOC at Waldo in each season:

2015: Sparty + FCS TBD
2016: Georgia Southern + FCS TBD
2017: Idaho + FCS TBD

You are assuming that WMU will continue to schedule an FS game in each of these years. Seems a safe assumption today. But the administration could still opt for 2 big payday games, sacrificing the FCS game.

(09-02-2014 08:27 AM)Broncobelt Wrote:  

(09-01-2014 10:35 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  We should have 6 home games for at least the next three years, as we will assumably have 2 OOC at Waldo in each season:

2015: Sparty + FCS TBD
2016: Georgia Southern + FCS TBD
2017: Idaho + FCS TBD

You are assuming that WMU will continue to schedule an FS game in each of these years. Seems a safe assumption today. But the administration could still opt for 2 big payday games, sacrificing the FCS game.

There is nothing that would indicate that change is even being considered. The FCS home game has been a staple of every 12 game seasons WMU has ever played.

Like I said, seems a safe assumption today. But you don't know when $'s are involved.

The last season we did not play an FCS game at home was 1997. That year Temple was the opponent for CommUnivercityNight.

I have been questioning this for years. Our schedule ALWAYS seems to be about as bad as it could possibly be. This year is no exception.

I understand playing a few of the payday games on the road. This year that means Purdue and VaTech. I get it, take your lumps and get a paycheck that helps sustain the program and athletic dept.

What I don't quite understand is why it ALWAYS seems that we have a 3 or 4 week lull in home games every season, while the weather is still fairly nice. Then we get to come home for games in late Oct and Nov, when its cold, raining or snowing and our team is out of the race. Imagine how much more $$ the university could make simply on ticket sales and merchandise if they could simply fill Waldo from time to time. Maybe it doesn't make up for the $500k+ they get for the payday loss, but it would sure help.

As it is this season. They are now 0-1. Now they have a bye, while UofM plays ND and MSU plays Oregon. EVERYONE will be watching those games and forgetting about the Broncos again. Then we go out to Idaho. I THINK they will win, but lets say they don't. Now suddenly, you are 4 weeks into the season, 0-2 after playing a team that no one cares about. Coming home for a FCS team that doesn't gain any interest. At a Communiversity game that has lost all of the hype it had 15 years ago. In a town where people only come to watch winners. After a few weeks of MSU, UofM and ND dominating fans viewing.

We will be lucky to get 20k in Waldo for Communiversity. If they lay another egg in that game, you might as well, just move them all to the road and take your payday, because no one will be there after that.

Then they hit the road again and the season is half over with 2 home games. Just stupid.

Sorry, but I think that the poor scheduling year after year, plays as much of a role in our poor attendance and lack of winning does.

(09-02-2014 08:40 AM)Broncobelt Wrote:  The last season we did not play an FCS game at home was 1997. That year Temple was the opponent for CommUnivercityNight.

Like I said since they added the 12th game its been a constant.

WMU doesn't have much control over scheduling bye weeks...

The thing I really hate is CMU so late in the season again. That game should always be when the weather is good. I am a die-hard for that game, but late November is just miserable. And if its ealy in season, both teams fan base is still optomistic. Late season, not as much.

no way, keep the CMU game late. It's the only team we will draw a good crowd for. Can you imagine playing buffalo at home late in november? 10k max in a losing season

I actually prefer the CMU game late as well. Something to build up to. Rivalry game at the end. Now that said, I also recall 2 or 3 years in a row while I was in college where it was about 2 degrees and there was a foot of snow on the field and in the stands. I don't know if that was cool or sucked really bad. Maybe I had enough antifreeze in my system that it didn't matter.

Regardless, I think those rivalry games are better late in the season.

Although it is nice when you get 55 and sunny for that game.

(09-02-2014 01:28 PM)brovol Wrote:  The thing I really hate is CMU so late in the season again. That game should always be when the weather is good. I am a die-hard for that game, but late November is just miserable. And if its ealy in season, both teams fan base is still optomistic. Late season, not as much.

Rivalry games should always be the last week of the year. Its when they are most important.

I don't think thats a good idea for us MAC schools. With MAC games Tuesday-Friday in November I don't want to lose WMU/CMU weekend and limit the attendance to locals and people who can miss work. I'd rather have a Saturday in October than a Wednesday night in November.

(09-02-2014 02:04 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  

(09-02-2014 01:28 PM)brovol Wrote:  The thing I really hate is CMU so late in the season again. That game should always be when the weather is good. I am a die-hard for that game, but late November is just miserable. And if its ealy in season, both teams fan base is still optomistic. Late season, not as much.

Rivalry games should always be the last week of the year. Its when they are most important.

Agree, that's where it should be and even better if it happens to mean something.

(09-02-2014 02:59 PM)Liam9903 Wrote:  I don't think thats a good idea for us MAC schools. With MAC games Tuesday-Friday in November I don't want to lose WMU/CMU weekend and limit the attendance to locals and people who can miss work. I'd rather have a Saturday in October than a Wednesday night in November.

I'd settle for that, but ideally, you want the rivalry games to be the last game of the season.

Screw ESPN.

(09-02-2014 03:51 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  

(09-02-2014 02:04 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  

(09-02-2014 01:28 PM)brovol Wrote:  The thing I really hate is CMU so late in the season again. That game should always be when the weather is good. I am a die-hard for that game, but late November is just miserable. And if its ealy in season, both teams fan base is still optomistic. Late season, not as much.

Rivalry games should always be the last week of the year. Its when they are most important.

Agree, that's where it should be and even better if it happens to mean something.

If it is like 2008 when WMU and CMU went into it undefeated in the MAC late in the year exciting. Not to mention I saw a lot of action and interest on campus for football that tends to fade as hockey gets further into the season. The CMU game is big and a rivalry on campus as both student bodies travel. That said it only works if the teams are playing well but there is always excitement going into the rivalry game. If it is a down year it is something to get excited about after a couple of losses instead of getting ready for next year.

Side not love Fleck's count down to the game.

If we both suck, only web board and die hard morons like us attend the game anyway.

(09-02-2014 02:04 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  

(09-02-2014 01:28 PM)brovol Wrote:  The thing I really hate is CMU so late in the season again. That game should always be when the weather is good. I am a die-hard for that game, but late November is just miserable. And if its ealy in season, both teams fan base is still optomistic. Late season, not as much.

Rivalry games should always be the last week of the year. Its when they are most important.

Win or lose, I don't remember it being anything other than a well attended game, and a great experience when the game is played early. Nicer weather, and both fan bases being into it. Not so much late in November.

Why should rivalry games be at end of the season? Because some bcs schools do it that way, and thus it is right? Many huge rivalry games are played early too; and always have meaning then.

The CMU game isn't even the last game this year, and regardless, it is unlikely to mean much in terms of the MAC west. I hate basing a decision on the "logic" of "this is the way its always been", and therefore it must be right. The game will be no less important if it is played in the fourth or fifth week of the season than it will in the last. Just provides better weather, larger crowds, and an overall better experience for those who attend the game.

If rivalry game is at end of schedule gives players-coaches something to look forward to, keep playing for even if experiencing a difficult season.

And of course if it has championship implications, so much the better.

Our scheduling strategy makes it difficult to generate any momentum or interest.

(09-03-2014 07:51 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  If rivalry game is at end of schedule gives players-coaches something to look forward to, keep playing for even if experiencing a difficult season.

And of course if it has championship implications, so much the better.

That's age old, tradition about rivalry scheduling.