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

If the question is judged based on how much I enjoy a season from an alumni and fan perspective, than this damn sure was an elite season. Who didn't have one of the all time most fun falls watching Bronco football? I can't remember looking so forward to the next game in recent memory. It has been awesome, and at an "elite" level of awesomeness too.

You all need to put things in perspective. This ain't Alabama. Don't put the bar at an unreachable threshold. We were a fraction from going undefeated in MAC play. Competed great every game, and kicked piss out of the teams who we should beat. That almost never happens around here.

Lighten up you.......????.......you........people.

(12-01-2014 10:13 PM)brovol Wrote:  If the question is judged based on how much I enjoy a season from an alumni and fan perspective, than this damn sure was an elite season. Who didn't have one of the all time most fun falls watching Bronco football? I can't remember looking so forward to the next game in recent memory. It has been awesome, and at an "elite" level of awesomeness too.

You all need to put things in perspective. This ain't Alabama. Don't put the bar at an unreachable threshold. We were a fraction from going undefeated in MAC play. Competed great every game, and kicked piss out of the teams who we should beat. That almost never happens around here.

Lighten up you.......????.......you........people.

Oddly enough our perspectives allign. Well thought through.

Next level, original purpose = elite.

Been here done this. Not enough, remember? Now please don't CMU out, predict greatness and then act like it's happened.

Elite comeback - Yes. But that does not make you an elite program, no.

Elite program this year for the history of WMU or in general as a G5? No, of course not. That's a silly question.

Elite = Top Tier in the top, smallest percentile; Never or rarely any better

Elite G5 or for a year in WMU history would have to compare to others' and be in the Top %.

ELITE,
For G5s this Year: If we were ranked #1-4 of Top 16 G5 poll
For MAC this Year: If we were 1st or 2nd best in the MAC this year (Req At Least tying for 1st in division; usually going to MACC; we're 3rd in the MAC West)
For WMU History: If we're having one of the Top 10 years (roughly speaking) -- in the history of WMU football

I'd take a win over a BCS team soon though, I loved those!

(12-01-2014 11:06 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  Next level, original purpose = elite.

Been here done this. Not enough, remember? Now please don't CMU out, predict greatness and then act like it's happened.

Therein lies one of my biggest beefs about WMU Football and Athletics in general over the last 20 years. We always hear about how "ELITE" we are and how great we are. But we don't really have anything to show for it. The perception from inside doesn't match the perception from everywhere else.

So was this season ELITE? Not even close. Was it really good and a huge positive step? Absolutely. But let's just stick to that. It's was a great step in the right direction. As soon as we think it was elite and we have gotten to that elite level, we will fall flat on our faces. AGAIN.

(12-01-2014 08:36 PM)okgc Wrote:  IMO the last "ELITE' season of football at Western would be 1941

Quote: (Mike Gary)
In his last season as head coach, the 1941 team compiled a perfect record of 8–0 and outscored opponents 183 to 27.[4] At the end of the 1941 season, the Associated Press wrote the following about Gary's 1941 team:

"Largest of the small undefeated, untied outfits is Western Michigan College where 2,200 students (but only 700 men) all but went crazy as their heroes tripped Wesern Reserve, Sun Bowl champion, 7–0 in the opener and went on to win seven more. Coach Mitchell J. Gary, who played with Bronko Nagurski at Minnesota, took over as head coach at Western in 1929. He used the T-formation to shake loose Horace Coleman, colored halfback, for 10 touchdowns in seven games."

Considering we've been reminded over and over again that we've only won two championships in 108 years, though, can our 1941 season truly be considered "elite?"

(12-01-2014 11:06 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  Next level, original purpose = elite.

Been here done this. Not enough, remember? Now please don't CMU out, predict greatness and then act like it's happened.

My point is that "elite" is a subjective standard; and one which needs to be put in perspective. From my perspective, and judging by how much I enjoyed watching this team play, and perhaps comparing to cubits good teams, which tended to frustrate or disapointe more than this years team, I put this as one of if not the most enjoyable season to watch.

And I don't agree with the CMU analogy. No one here predicted greatness from this bunch. Oh contrare. How many even thought we would finish above 500? Part of the brilliance of this season, and why so many non believers became Believers in That loud mouthed fast talkin, young coach with no practical experience, with crazy ideas and no concept how to coach football the way a good traditionalist aught to coach football, is because we not only won consistently, but we did so with some style, and with a very young group, who will lead another solid batch of talent which is on the way. No one predicted greatness, but we are now. What a Beautiful thing!!!! I am feeling like such an etitist right now. ;-)

lots of good viewpoints, I agree that compared to last year we are beginning to look elite.... There were a lot of elite individudual performance on the field. I think once WMU breaks the barrier and wins a MAC championship outright , the football team can be described as elite in relationship to the conference.

this place is like a locker room for opposing teams. Picking apart slogans and turning our slogans into opposing team's locker room materials.

(12-01-2014 11:06 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  Next level, original purpose = elite.

Been here done this. Not enough, remember? Now please don't CMU out, predict greatness and then act like it's happened.

At the risk of being brutally honest, "greatness" in the MAC has happened many more times for CMU, than for WMU. They blow by us in terms of championships.

(12-02-2014 07:10 AM)wmutkelaw Wrote:  this place is like a locker room for opposing teams. Picking apart slogans and turning our slogans into opposing team's locker room materials.

I'd say 32 posts dissecting and analyzing an adjective used in a wmubroncos site headline qualifies as elite within itself. :)

(12-02-2014 07:33 AM)BCBronco Wrote:  

(12-01-2014 11:06 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  Next level, original purpose = elite.

Been here done this. Not enough, remember? Now please don't CMU out, predict greatness and then act like it's happened.

At the risk of being brutally honest, "greatness" in the MAC has happened many more times for CMU, than for WMU. They blow by us in terms of championships.

Wrong context. It's their age old habit of predicting a great result, and then assuming the role as if that prediction is reality.

We have a few dunderheads who are starting to do that here.

Edit: Maybe this was an "elite" year....for us.

Quote:this place is like a locker room for opposing teams. Picking apart slogans and turning our slogans into opposing team's locker room materials.

"The Elite Horsemen of Your Apocalypse"

(12-02-2014 07:53 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(12-02-2014 07:10 AM)wmutkelaw Wrote:  this place is like a locker room for opposing teams. Picking apart slogans and turning our slogans into opposing team's locker room materials.

I'd say 32 posts dissecting and analyzing an adjective used in a wmubroncos site headline qualifies as elite within itself. :)

Best post of the day award goes to this guy!

(12-01-2014 11:32 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  I'd take a win over a BCS team soon though, I loved those!

8 wins is a must for the new coach coming in. That's the expectations. I expect nothing less. It's going to be tough playing 3 money games every year. It will make the job less attractive.

In general having an exact minimum win total as a measure of success, especially an overall total, doesn't work.

You can go 7-5 (or even 6-6) and win the MAC West if you happen to win the 'right' key games. You can go 9-3 and not win the MAC West if another school happens to be having a banner season. I'd say most would fine either scenario appealing.

And while Darnell and Cubit spoiled us with hot Year 1 rebounds, that's more the exception than the norm.

(11-29-2022 11:24 AM)WMU2013 Wrote:  It's going to be tough playing 3 money games every year. It will make the job less attractive.

This happens in 2023, but not in 2024 and 2025.

(11-29-2022 11:24 AM)WMU2013 Wrote:  

(12-01-2014 11:32 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  I'd take a win over a BCS team soon though, I loved those!

8 wins is a must for the new coach coming in. That's the expectations. I expect nothing less. It's going to be tough playing 3 money games every year. It will make the job less attractive.

Any lofty goal has incremental goals along the way. And what those money games look like moving forward may evolve quite a bit with a playoff auto bid going to a non-P5 team ever year.

I think “Elite” means knocking off at least one P5 team per season, and winning the MAC West, the MACC game and a bowl game. That translates into at least 9+ wins per season. And AD Dan suggests being in contention for the National Playoffs needs every year to be part of the equation as well.

Anything short of that is not Elite.

Pretty simple.

(11-29-2022 11:24 AM)WMU2013 Wrote:  

(12-01-2014 11:32 PM)DesertBronco Wrote:  I'd take a win over a BCS team soon though, I loved those!

8 wins is a must for the new coach coming in. That's the expectations. I expect nothing less. It's going to be tough playing 3 money games every year. It will make the job less attractive.

So, you cherry pick Tim Lester's best record in 6 seasons and make that the standard for a new coach in his 1st season?

It took Lester 5 seasons to win 8 games & he inherited PJ's talent.