CSNbbs

Just received a release from WMU making it official. The Broncos will host Illinois at Ford Field in Detroit on November 8.

Quote: KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan football finalized its
non-conference schedule on Friday with the announcement that it will
take on 2008 Rose Bowl participant Illinois on Nov. 8, 2008 at the
home of the National Football League’s Detroit Lions and the site
of the Super Bowl XL - Ford Field. WMU’s fourth and final
non-conference game, to go along with Illinois, Nebraska (Aug. 30)
and Idaho (Sept. 13), will be Tennessee Tech (Division I FCS) at
Waldo Stadium on Sept. 20.

Ford Field is the home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions, a professional
venue seating 65,000, and hosted Super Bowl XL in 2006. Ford Field
is also the annual home of the Mid-American Conference championship
game and the Motor City Bowl.

“We are so very excited that Ford Field, the University of
Illinois and Athletic Director Ron Guenther are willing to work with
us on this great opportunity to showcase Western Michigan University
and our football program to our alumni base and the families of our
current and prospective students who call the Detroit area home,”
commented WMU Athletics Director Kathy Beauregard.

Western Michigan has an alumni base of 40,000 in Southeastern
Michigan and over 8,500 students hail from the same area, which
comprises nearly 40 percent of our instate enrollment. In fact,
there are 12,000 targeted prospective WMU students from Southeastern
Michigan’s largest seven counties alone.

The WMU Athletic Department, along with the support from multiple
groups across campus, is working on a university-wide marketing
effort to promote the game at Ford Field. Details will be
communicated about all of the great events that will surround the
Nov. 8 game at a later date. Details regarding tickets for this
game are also being determined at this time.

The game on Nov. 8 will mark the first time Western Michigan will
host a game at a professional venue. It also counts as one of the
Broncos’ six home games in 2008. It marks the second time WMU
will have played at Ford Field, having defeated Eastern Michigan,
44-36, on Nov. 5, 2005.

This will not be the only time fans of the Broncos and the Illini
will get to see these two teams on the field against each other. It
is the first of a two-game agreement, one that sees WMU traveling to
Champaign, Ill., in 2011. A home-and-home two-game men’s
basketball series is also a part of the discussion and details are
still pending.

Western Michigan and Illinois have taken the field against one
another only twice in program history with the Illini coming out on
top on both occasions. The last meeting came on Sept. 18, 2004 when
Illinois needed a touchdown with 1:02 remaining to escape with a
three-point win, 30-27, over the Broncos. The first ever meeting
also took place on Nov. 8. It was Nov. 8, 1935.

The Illini are coming off a very successful 2007 season that saw
them defeat the No. 1 team in the country, Ohio State, en route to
representing the Big Ten in the 2008 Rose Bowl. Illinois went 9-4
last season with a 6-2 mark in the Big Ten.

Western Michigan and Illinois had four opponents in common last
season (Missouri, Indiana, Iowa and Ball State). Both teams fell to
Missouri early in the season and the Illini captured wins over
Indiana and Ball State. They fell to Iowa, 10-6, on Oct. 13, a team
the Broncos defeated, 28-19, on Nov. 17 on the road. It was WMU’s
second win over a team from a BCS conference in as many years.

Illinois is coached by Ron Zook. Like WMU head man Bill Cubit,
Zook is entering his fourth season at the helm in 2008. Both men
coached at the University of Florida but missed each other by two
seasons. Cubit was the quarterbacks coach in Gainesville, Fla., in
1989 and Zook came to the Gators in 1991 after spending three
seasons with the Buckeyes. He stayed through 1995 then left for the
NFL. He returned to Florida as its head coach for three seasons
(2002-04).

“Playing top-level opponents is what we strive to do at Western
Michigan and that is exactly what we will get against Illinois,”
commented Cubit. “I am grateful to both our administration and
the Illinois Athletic Department and his administration for putting
this game together. Ford Field is a world class venue and we are
excited that this venue is where we will continue our growing
relationship with the Big Ten.”

This game will mark the seventh time in the past 10 seasons at
least one Big Ten team has appeared on the Broncos’ schedule. WMU
has played two Big Ten teams in a season three times during that
same span.

I was skeptical at first when this was in the rumor stage but have come to believe that this is a good scenario for the Broncos. If they really market this one in metro Detroit, it could be a very successful venture. Lots of current students, alums and football fans in the Detroit area.

Quote:A home-and-home two-game men’s basketball series is also a part of the discussion and details are still pending.

Hope they get that done, as well.

Nice game for WMU. The basketball home and homw would be good for the MAC

great move, bowl type atmosphere, all out marketing campaign. let's make it work

Great news for WMU!!!!!

and bad news for EMU. EMU most likely won't get a Ford Field game in '08.

I was thinking the same thing, playing at Ford's field is the one advantage that EMU has. EMU does have CMU & Toledo coming to town, one of these games might work. Toledo could sell game as part of thier season ticket package. Between Toledo & EMU season tickets wouldn't that be 20,000 tickets sold, MAC package would be another 10,000 sold. Block the highway & maybe another 10,000 wonder in.

Personally, I'd rather not have an away game like that included in my season ticket package, especially since I don't know whether or not I'd make it to the game.

you guys are so bunched up out there, I don't know why you guys don't go to each other games. I'd be at game every Sat somewhere to see somebody.

I wouldn't expect Illinois to travel very well to this game. If WMU can really get their alums and students plus Detroit residents interested in the game, they can probably get a really good home field advantage. I think WMU would be better off having the game in Kalamazoo, but maybe the Illness wouldn't have agreed to a 1-1.

I don't like this trend of BCS teams only agreeing to playing non BCS teams if it's in a large neutral site instead of at the home teams stadium.

Huskie, I disagree with you. This great marketing tool for the MAC, maybe brings in alot of 1st timers to MAC game. There 5 NFL stadiums in MAC footprint, there are numerous oppertuniters to build up fan bases. It's critical that BC-Kent works in Cleve this yr. MAC fans come out of the woodwork for Motor City Bowl. Lets get make fans to come out of the woodwork 5 to 7 times a year.

templefootballfan Wrote:Huskie, I disagree with you. This great marketing tool for the MAC, maybe brings in alot of 1st timers to MAC game. There 5 NFL stadiums in MAC footprint, there are numerous oppertuniters to build up fan bases. It's critical that BC-Kent works in Cleve this yr. MAC fans come out of the woodwork for Motor City Bowl. Lets get make fans to come out of the woodwork 5 to 7 times a year.

I count 7 NFL stadiums: Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Philadelphia. There are plenty of MAC alums in all but the last two of those cities, so I agree that it is a good marketing tool. And as to your previous post, I do attend other MAC games when UT is on the road and I can't go.

templefootballfan Wrote:I was thinking the same thing, playing at Ford's field is the one advantage that EMU has. EMU does have CMU & Toledo coming to town, one of these games might work. Toledo could sell game as part of thier season ticket package. Between Toledo & EMU season tickets wouldn't that be 20,000 tickets sold, MAC package would be another 10,000 sold. Block the highway & maybe another 10,000 wonder in.

Couple of thoughts:

1). Couple of years ago (WMU vs. EMU @ Ford Field) I was told the rental fee to the Lions are almost 200K. EMU I believe 'broke even' on the game. By that I mean didn't lose money, but breaking even on a game isn't good. Need to have a 6-figure NET gate.

2). I am a BIG fan of these games if they work financially. PSU vs. Temple @ The Linc was huge for Temple, OSU vs. UT @ Cleveland Stadium will be huge for UT. NIU/Iowa at Soldier Field was big for NIU.

3). These are high profile games which bring fans and media coverage. If the games work financially, then they should be all means scheduled.

4). They might be the ONLY WAY schools like WMU, UT, etc. will be able to schedule a 'home' game vs. Illinois, OSU, etc. These Big Ten schools will NOT play in K'zoo, Toledo, Ypsi, Mt. P, Oxford, etc.

5). I'd like to see some more games, e.g. Mia vs. Notre Dame at PBS, IL vs. NIU at Soldier Field, NIU vs. WI @ Soldier Field, KY vs. MIA @ PBS, etc.

What was atten for WM-EM
I realize rent for these stadium is high, If the MAC can find sponsers, get game on TV, get people in stadium, there are alot of matchups that might work. I like to see a couple games setup for Labour day wkend. It's holiday & would be perfect for bowl type atmosphere. Right now MAC has to work on championship game & get that game sold out. Hoffman has done great job with MCB, I'd like to see he can do with other games.

With the weather promplems MAC has, thanksgiving wkend might work for some games in domed stadium.

I was at the WMU/EMU game but it was 2 years ago so I'm foggy on the attendance.

My guess around 20K.

The year before CMU @ EMU drew significantly better. Maybe someone who was there can explain the split between EMU and CMU fans.

That was the first Collegiate Clash.

BTW, the Ford Field fee is not high, relatively speaking. Soldier Field gets an 'arm and a leg' for their fee.

BTW, it seems that EMU is losing their territorial advantage being 30 miles from Ford Field.

CMU has played there twice each of the last two years and now WMU pulls this plug with Illnois.

I think that EMU vs CMU or WMU at FF over Thanksgiving weekend would be a good idea.

MidnightBlue&Gold Wrote:I think that EMU vs CMU or WMU at FF over Thanksgiving weekend would be a good idea.

Someone still in Michigan, can confirm, but I'm pretty sure that Michigan H.S. Football championship games are held the day after Thanksgiving and the Saturday also (at F.F.).

I was told that the Catholic league also has their games scheduled on a (different) Saturday as well at F.F.