Never played football but have loved it since elementary school.
I have family that played for WMU football and is a big reason why I support WMU football and all WMU athletics.
Loved Fleck from Day 1 (did not waver during 2013), was indifferent to the Lester hire ("the sky isn't falling" "we could stay good under him"), believe we need few more years before we can judge, excited about this year, plagued by injuries and new QB/WRs last year (2 positions you really really really really need in the MAC).
(08-02-2018 03:48 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote: 4-win Nicholls St
Brand new, first-time head-coach. But we choked that game away.
(08-02-2018 02:26 PM)RunningGame Wrote: As far as Fleck year 1, everyone forgets we suffered a horrible boatload of injuries that year too. Truly a ridiculous amount of them. Wilson, Braverman, Davisson, Brant, Easmon, Atkins. TVT got destroyed at MSU and never recovered. We lost some players in the transition. Even though we had 6 current NFL players on that roster, if things don't line up, you lose a lot of games.
Sounds similar to Lester Year 1.
(08-02-2018 01:30 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote: I looked at the attendance figures since 2008. The Broncos drew over 20,000 a game in 2009 and almost 20,000 in 2011. 14,529 in 2012. Best attendance under PJ was 19,441/game in 2015, but the #'s were skewed by the 30,000+ for MSU. Then 23,838/game in 2016. Those numbers effected by ESPN Gameday and no home midweek MACTION games played. In year one under PJ, WMU's average attendance was 17,347. Year two, 14,579.
I agree. Anyone who says WMU football was ****** or no one cared prior to Fleck is delusional. (But I don't think it's fair to pull out the MSU or Gameday games, especially the Gameday game)
(08-02-2018 12:02 PM)WMUPorter Wrote: There was absolutely no excitement surrounding the program..........to change the culture and get people excited about WMU football
That's a problem all MAC schools face.
What was clear: Cubit wasn't going to win a MAC Championship.
So maybe you're right: there was some excitement in that people believed WMU would win a MACC under Fleck.
(08-02-2018 11:30 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote: If Alex Carder hadn't been injured in the UConn game, WMU would have won at least another 3 games and Bowl eligible. Fleck would not have been hired. There was enough talent on the roster to win more than one game in 2013. That tells me either PJ didn't know how to coach or he intentionally tubed the program to make himself look better with the turn around. Watching his modus operandi, I would assume the latter. I don't see that Fleck inherited a hot mess. A good JUCO QB would have probably been enough to keep WMU on the winning track in 2013.
Interesting assessment. Usually I say 'if you go 2-2 OOC you're going to have a good year' and we did start off 2-2 in 2012. Then what happened? Carder went down. What did we have in 2017? A new QB. You live and die by the QB.
(07-30-2018 09:22 AM)Aimless1 Wrote: Would never speak for a group I don't belong to. I can only speak for the former players I know and talk to. In general, hated Fleck & love Lester. I think most fans in the stands are on the fence on Lester, at least in my immediate area in Waldo. Personally, I loved Peej on field success but hated that he didn't build a program. I also felt he took a lot of chances recruiting, some of which paid off. Again, I'm lukewarm to Timbo. Game management seems to be a major weakness. Not holding last year against him though. New system, program changed, injuries, receivers couldn't catch and linebackers seemed lost.
Interesting............What about Fleck did they hate and what do they love about Lester? Is liking a coach always a good thing?
(07-30-2018 09:10 AM)RunningGame Wrote: (07-30-2018 06:14 AM)Aimless1 Wrote: Couple of curiosity questions ....
Have you played football?
Do you have season tickets?
I played high school ball and we have season tickets.
I find ex players, especially ex college players, have a different view of the program than fans do. "Retired" Broncos certainly see Lester in a different light than I do.
Many of you live too far away to attend games. If you live close enough I hope you are able to support the team. Nothing quite like watching the game in Waldo.
Played HS football, linebacker mostly.
Coached several years of middle school football, offense mostly (hey, I called a pass play at least once a game!!!).
Season ticket holder since 2002 season, though I bummed them off my father-in-law for a few years in between.
Recovering Lions fan. I've been clean since 2014.
When I was younger I loved the Lions and thought they'd get good someday. I didn't like college football because even when I was younger I thought UofM and MSU were sleazy as hell.
Now I like WMU/G5 football, don't care as much for the Lions, and still think MSU and UofM are sleazy.
(07-30-2018 07:12 AM)bronco89 Wrote: I played at Western in the early 80s and go every chance I get. My son goes their now so I can combine a visit with taking in a game.
That's great! Does your son go to a lot of the games?
(07-30-2018 07:12 AM)bronco89 Wrote: I like Tim, and think that he will be just fine. He needs to find his footing and it may take another year but, from what I heard, the players love him.
Definitely. What bothers a lot of people tho: We were coming off a Cotton Bowl and we hire someone with average experience? I'm just playing devil's advocate. I don't and didn't dislike the hire.
(07-30-2018 07:12 AM)bronco89 Wrote: I also enjoyed the energy and attention that Fleck brought to the program. I did hear that he was a bit of a prick to play for and that it was all about him.... but most coaches at that level have that personality type. Elliot and Jack where hardly the group hug types.
Definitely too. I know a couple Grand Valley St players who decommited from WMU because of Fleck the person.