Did You Know: Western Michigan

We all know the Mountaineers like the back of our hands (hey, that mole wasn’t there yesterday!). But how much do you really know about our opponents?

Sure, you know we’re playing the Western Michigan Broncos, but did you know that Western Michigan is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan? Did you also know Kalamazoo is a stupid name for a town? See, you’re already more enlightened. In that vein, we thought we’d let you get to know the Western Michigan program just a little more intimately. Just promise to cuddle afterwards.

Here we go…

1) Starting QB Tim Hiller’s last name looks and sounds very similar to “Hitler.” People often wonder if his name was once “Hitler” and he changed it. Well, in fact, Hiller did have to change his name after high school because his former last name was so offensive. His former name? Wannstedt.

2) Dwight B. Waldo was the first president of the school. President Waldo was known for his colorful red and white striped shirt, scarf, and hat, his round glasses, and his uncanny ability to hide in plain sight. Years later, he and his name would be immortalized for all to see: Waldo Stadium, home of the Broncos.

3) Cory Flom has a funny name.

4) This is the mascot for the West Michigan Blues Society. He has nothing to do with Western Michigan, but it’s a funny picture and it’s my site.

5) The Western Michigan fight song was apparently written by either a junior high school cheerleader or a 75 year old woman who had never watched a football game before in her life.

Fight on, fight on for Western!
Take the ball, make the score
Win the game–ah!
Onward for the brown and gold
Push ‘em back, push ‘em back!
Bring us fame!
Fight on, fight on for Western!
Over one, over all, We will reign!
Fight, Broncos fight!
Fight with all your might!
Western win this game!

Make the score? Win the game? Push ‘em back? Nice work granny.

6) As per Wikipedia, “The Moped Army, an avid group of moped riders, was formed in 1997 by three friends attending the university.” Also, WMU has a thriving gay population, consisting of these three students.

7) Kalamazoo is a Potawatami Indian word meaning “will not cover the spread against West Virginia University.” The Potawatami were a strangely prophetic people.

8) Western Michigan boasts an endless list of famous alumni, including Tim Allen, uh, and, hmm, well, did I mention Tim Allen, convicted felon?

9) Western Michigan is generally regarded as being the strongest of the directional Michigan schools, which is probably the equivalent of winning a gold medal at the Special Olympics.

10) This is the best and the brightest at Western Michigan:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kTFJG0j5BY">

CRR Is A Ventriloquist

He is blowing my mind. I hear him talking, but his mouth is definitely not moving.

By the way, in case you didn’t know, CRR stands for Coach Rich Rodriguez. That little acronym saves me the time of typing out Coach Rich Rodriguez, because who wants to spend 10 minutes spelling out every single letter of C-O-A-C-H R-I-C-H R-O-D-R-I-G-U-E-Z.

That paragraph is 30 seconds of your life you won’t get back, but spend the next 5 minutes watching this video. CRR doesn’t really give a whole lot of insight, but he does cover topics such as Pat White and Steve Slaton (apparently, they’re both fast) as well as Noel Devine (apparently, he’s had a tough childhood).

Undefeated Season: Week #1

Each Wednesday/Thursday/whatever day we want, WBGV will post our predictions for that week’s WVU game as well as 5 of our best picks against the spread (or ATS if you’re an addict). Get ready for some straight knowledge. Holla.

Stiles:

Hoo boy. Opening game. I’ve been looking forward to this for a while. A long while.

This Western Michigan team is not the pushover opening game like in years past (cough Marshall cough). They have some talent coming back and they’ve played some big time teams over the past couple years. But let’s be real. They will be overwhelmed by the speed that West Virginia possess. Especially on offense. I look for a pretty high scoring affair, but the Mountaineers cruise.

WVU 48
Western Michigan 17

Oregon State -6.5 vs. Utah (Thursday)
Missouri -5 vs. Illinois (in St. Louis)
Georgia Tech +3 @ Notre Dame
Virginia Tech -27.5 vs. ECU
BC -6.5 vs. Wake Forest

Charley West:

Western Michigan is a good football team. They played in a bowl game last year. Sure that bowl game was a blowout loss to Cincinnati in balmy Toronto, Canada in January, but you take what you can get…especially in the MAC.

No matter what the bowl game, Western Michigan is picked to win the MAC East this year, which is no small (read: very small) feat. They are not your usual patsy, like Buffalo @ Rutgers or Murray State @ Louisville. While probably not giving us the hardest time, they will at least keep our starters in the game for more than 15 minutes. I would expect to see White and Slaton for at least 2 and a half quarters, probably more like 3.

If everything goes to plan, we should have a comfortable lead by the start of the 4th quarter. And you know if that happens, no one will have left their seat, mostly because that means Jock Sanders and Noel Devine will get to take over the show. It should be a lot of drunk…er, fun.

WVU 42
Western Michigan 13

Syracuse +3 vs. Washington (Friday)
UAB +21 @ Michigan State
Georgia Tech +3 @ Notre Dame
Missouri -5 vs. Illinois (in St. Louis)
Colorado -2.5 vs. Colorado State (in Denver)

Stiles’ Season Prediction

One of my favorite childhood memories is prior to the 1988 football season. It was from there a much younger and slimmer Beano Cook, surrounded by a couple WVU cheerleaders, predicted an undefeated season for the Mountaineers.

So what does this have to do with anything?

Well, while Beano won’t predict an undefeated season for West Virginia, I am.

Yes, it’s true I’m a bit of a homer, but I firmly believe the pieces are in place for a magical year.

Here are 10 reasons why I think WVU goes 12-0:
1. Pat White
2. Steve Slaton
(Those are TWO pretty big reasons, but lets continue)
3. Their toughest opponent comes to Mountaineer Field, plus it’s a night game
4. The improved speed on defense
5. Outstanding special teams
6. Rita Rodriguez has finally been given a bigger role in the program
7. The team learned last year they can’t afford to ‘take a game off’ (see South Florida)
8. Rich Rodriguez
9. A talented freshman class that should be producing by mid season
10. Pat White and Steve Slaton

As we learned over the past two years, White and Slaton are two special talents. Last year, they lacked the pieces around them to get over the hump. This year will be different. Between Devine, Hogan, Sanders on offense and Mundy, Thomas, Lankster, etc on defense, this team will be playing in the BCS Championship Game.

So what’s left? One thing.

Does anybody know of a good hotel on Bourbon Street?

This Combines My Two Favorite Things

Sex and heroin.

Actually, drumline and football. Not that Drumline. Nick Cannon never did it for me.

New Entrance Video

Well, it’s finally here: the new team entrance video. Is it better? Yes. Is it great? Probably not. Is it better than the last entrance? Definitely. Am I drunk? Affirmative. Am I done posing and answering my own questions? I guess.

In my opinion, this is an upgrade. There are some things that I would have differently, but then again, my editing methods involve a BetaMax player. Either way, it should be interesting to see how the crowd responds on September 1st. My guess is that eventually, this entrance will be embraced 100%.

Without further adieu, it’s time to rock.

[thanks to loyal reader Lumpy for the tip]

Site Unseen, Football Entrance Best In Nation

The Daily Mail has broken the story on the new football team entrance just today. Unfortunately for us, they also broke the website, as the story is coming up blank.

When it becomes not blank, I’ll be back with an update.

UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. Here is the excerpt from the Daily Mail:

Instead, the band and the team will participate in a three-phase, increasingly rocking entrance.

It’s still a work in progress leading up to this Saturday’s season opener against Western Michigan. And Rutledge said he doesn’t want to ruin some of the surprise. But he provided a rough sketch of what the entrance will be like now.

The band will still form a tunnel to play the first song, which is relatively slow. Rutledge declined to name the song. A voiceover by Coach Rodriguez comes over the loudspeaker system.

The second song, which Rutledge also declined to name, is somewhat speedier. The band will start to rock back and forth. WVU leaders hope the crowd will be inspired to do the same. There’s also a video montage of memorable plays from prior seasons.

During the third song, the tempo goes way up. The song is by speed metal band Metallica, said Rutledge, who wouldn’t specify the name of the song. Speculation on the Mountaineer Message Board is that the song is “For Whom the Bells Toll.”

As the team bursts onto the field, the band will either jump or raise their instruments over their heads during the third song, Rutledge said.

If you ask me, this is a major improvement. 2001 A Space Odyssey was a slower song that just didn’t build any excitement. Add in Let’s Get It Started and the entrance just got worse and worse.

Other than a live sacrifice of a Pitt fan at midfield, this new entrance seems like a vast improvement.

Site Unseen, Football Entrance Best In Nation

The Daily Mail has broken the story on the new football team entrance just today. Unfortunately for us, they also broke the website, as the story is coming up blank.

When it becomes not blank, I’ll be back with an update.

UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. Here is the excerpt from the Daily Mail:

Instead, the band and the team will participate in a three-phase, increasingly rocking entrance.

It’s still a work in progress leading up to this Saturday’s season opener against Western Michigan. And Rutledge said he doesn’t want to ruin some of the surprise. But he provided a rough sketch of what the entrance will be like now.

The band will still form a tunnel to play the first song, which is relatively slow. Rutledge declined to name the song. A voiceover by Coach Rodriguez comes over the loudspeaker system.

The second song, which Rutledge also declined to name, is somewhat speedier. The band will start to rock back and forth. WVU leaders hope the crowd will be inspired to do the same. There’s also a video montage of memorable plays from prior seasons.

During the third song, the tempo goes way up. The song is by speed metal band Metallica, said Rutledge, who wouldn’t specify the name of the song. Speculation on the Mountaineer Message Board is that the song is “For Whom the Bells Toll.”

As the team bursts onto the field, the band will either jump or raise their instruments over their heads during the third song, Rutledge said.

If you ask me, this is a major improvement. 2001 A Space Odyssey was a slower song that just didn’t build any excitement. Add in Let’s Get It Started and the entrance just got worse and worse.

Other than a live sacrifice of a Pitt fan at midfield, this new entrance seems like a vast improvement.

Pam Ward Haunts My Dreams

Football season is right around the corner. Excitement fills the air. Even when you are most excited and jubilant, there is a creeping thought in the back of your head that something might still go wrong.

That creeping lesbian of a thought is Pam Ward.

Actually, I don’t mean to call Pam Ward a lesbian. Her bad announcing is worthy to stand on it’s own for ridicule. And ridicule you must. I suggest you get started now, since you only have 8 days (hey, like Hanukah!) to touch on all of her awfulness.

Pam Ward is the reason I hate noon games. I don’t care if we’re playing Fairmont State in the Sideyard Brawl…if that game is at noon, I am immediately terrified that Pam Ward might be announcing it for ESPN2. I would be happier having the game not televised at all. Come to think of it, if given the choice between losing a game or winning a game announced by Pam Ward, there would be a looooong pause before I gave my answer.

Still thinking.

So when I took a look at this year’s schedule, I wasn’t thrilled seeing both Mississippi State and UConn at home…at noon. These are classic Pam Ward games, outside of her annual Wisconsin-Illinois tilt. The moral of the story is — beware. These noon games are just around the corner. Try your damnedest to get tickets and light your DVR on fire before leaving for the game. You’ll thank me later.

Also, thank me now for only being able to find such a small picture of Pam.

Better Know A Victory: Western Michigan

Throughout the season, we will be inviting fans of opposing teams to sit down and talk with us in the week leading up the actual game. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any Western Michigan fans. So, we had to improvise. In the first part of the series, “Better Know A Victory,” this is a transcript of how we believe an interview with a Western Michigan would go, if one existed:

Stiles: You’re coming off two of the most successful years in school history. Pre-season expectations are sky high. You have a tremendous amount of talent on the offensive side of the ball. How do you see your team coming into the season? Oh wait, that’s WVU. Well then, tell me a little bit about this Western Michigan team in 50 words or less.

Western Michigan Fan: Western Michigan is a four-year public research institution in Kalamazoo, Michigan. We also have a football team. That team is nicknamed the Broncos. Apparently, though I’m not sure, there is another team called the Broncos in Denver. Since I’ve never heard of them, we’re probably better than them. Does that answer your question?

Stiles: Not really.

You have a football team? I thought the Western Michigan water polo team was going to take on West Virginia. Glad we cleared that up. Let’s talk about last year first. Going over the schedule, it looks like you gave Florida State a tough game. What were the keys last year and how do they build upon this years team?

WMU: Well, we knew going in that the entire Florida State team had contracted herpes during their time in Tallahassee. Once we broke into their hotel and stole all their Valtrex, we had faith in our chances to beat the spread. Unfortunately, in the end, we simply had too many white players on our team.

As far as the keys to this season, we really feel we’re on the right track. We got trounced in a bowl game by Cincinnati, but at least we got to a bowl game. It was in Toronto, so I didn’t go, but my buddy Jim said it was great. Actually, he didn’t go either. Plus, we just brought in the 106th ranked recruiting class in the nation, which is far from last. So like I said, we could possibly potentially be going in the right direction.

Stiles: Well, tell us where you think your team is going in the right direction (other than the profits of selling Valtrex on the black market)…

WMU: Well, we’ve got a great coach in Bill Cubit. We’re also predicted to win the MAC West this year. Stop laughing, that wasn’t meant to be a joke. Seriously. We lost our star quarterback, Ryan Cubit, to either a tragic shark attack or graduation, I can’t remember. I’m pretty sure it was shark attack. Our defense was very good at getting to the QB and recording sacks last year, mostly because we employed our new “tickle the hell out of them” scheme. It’s way ahead of it’s time. So like I said, we’re going in the right direction.

Stiles: What are the areas of concern when going up against a well oiled machine like WVU?

WMU: Well, you guys are really good. Plus, if you’re covered in oil, it will be a lot tougher to tackle you. Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s illegal. Just know I am having my compliance officer take a look into it. Also, I’ll first need to hire a compliance officer.

We really know you guys can really run the ball. Hell, I was watching Steve Slaton in our game film lab (OK, YouTube on my home IBM) and nearly shit myself (OK, I actually shit myself). This is a good ballclub. We just hope to keep it close and get out of the stadium without any of our fans getting hurt (OK, we don’t have any fans).

Stiles: That is barely readable.

WMU: Yeah, pretty much.

Stiles: Taking all that you’ve said into account (although it hasn’t been of much substance), how do you see the game playing out at Mountaineer Field?

WMU: Well, I think we shock the nation and take an early lead. Your team, being a bunch of guys with overinflated egos, doesn’t know what to do. We keep punching you in the mouth and keep the lead through halftime. WVU puts up a valiant comeback late, but is stuffed on 4th and goal from the 1 yard line with no time remaining and Western Michigan escapes, 28-24.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am on a 3 day peyote bender.

Well, that certainly was a waste of time. Hope you enjoyed it.

2 Deep

Earlier this morning, my friend sent me this email regarding the 2 Deep to start the season. I thought it was so good, I’d post it.

Offense

1. I am surprised not to see Arnett in the 2 deep at any WR slot. Word was he was really pushing for starting time. As his team photo shows him with dread locks, lets hope he is not the guy with a 32 inch TV in his living room.
2. A little bit surprising that Sanders is ahead of Devine although the coaches have been talking him up this month.
3. Good to see Selvish Capers has made a move at LT. Trickett always said that he was a pro level prospect at LT if he would give up on the TE position.

Defense

1. Hate to see Dykes name at NG, but I think that gets our best 3 on the field. Hopefully we get some help at that position early in the season. Losing Leibig really hurt us here IMO.
2. Surprised Broxie is ahead of Ingram at DE.
3. Losing Thomas really hurt us at WLB. I like Ivy, but he did not seem the same after the ACL tear. Maybe another year removed from the injury will make the difference. Surprised Sims is not in the 2 deep at LB.
4. Interesting that Richardson has pulled ahead of others at CB. Even though he has never played a down for us, looks like Lankster would have helped here. Need to get Lewis back fast. I think Dervil could also turn out to be pretty good there.
5. Andrews must have gone from the dog house to the out house. Not mentioned at any safety position. Lets hope Mundy and Wicks can hold this secondary together.

One other interesting note. Don’t see Devine named as either returner. Thought for sure he would be back on kickoffs at least. Interesting Lewis is named as the second PR but not in the CB rotation. May not be anything to that but interesting.

Two Deep:

Offense:
WR (Y) – 2 Reynaud, 22 Hogan
WR (H) – 12 Sowers, 9 Sanders
LT – 62 Stanchek, 66 Capers
LG – 79 Isdaner, 64 Barclay OR 74 Hayes
C – 68 Dent, 56 Gradkowski OR 61 Jobe
RG – 70 Rodemoyer, 72 Bradshaw
RT – 73 Figner, 72 Bradshaw
TE – 35 Schmitt, 88 Villagrana
WR – 21 Jalloh, 27 Davis
WR (Z) – 83 Gonzales, 85 Johnson
QB – 5 White, 16 Brown
SB – 10 Slaton, 9 Sanders, 7 Devine
FB – 35 Schmitt, 86 Morrone

Defense:
DT – 93 Berry, 91 Slavonic
NT – 96 Dykes, 99 Merrow OR 90 Neild
DE – 92 Dingle, 97 Broxie OR 95 Ingram
SLB – 53 Magro, 1 Holmes OR 31 Lazear
MLB – 47 Williams, 55 Hathaway
WLB – 44 Ivy, 57 Cooper
CB – 3 Williams, 19 Rivers
CB – 17 Richardson, 9 Dervil OR 13 Wood
SS – 22 Malik, 15 Pugh OR 36 Glover
FS – 21 Mundy, 20 Allen
BS – 41 Wicks, 20 Allen

Special Teams:
K – 40 McAfee, 39 Glenn
P – 40 McAfee, 37 Kozlowski
KO – 40 McAfee
LS – 46 Hughes, 87 Nutter
H – 48 Jeremy Kash
KR – 2 Reynaud, 19 Rivers
PR – 19 Rivers, 6 Lewis

Props From An Obscure Website

I know many of you, like me, have WBGV marked as your home page. I would be shocked if any of you didn’t. Needless to say, once I get on WBGV, I find myself enthralled for hours. By the time I get done, I don’t have time for the rest of the Internet. And I write the damn thing. I can’t even imagine how impressed you must be with this site.

Well, since the entire paragraph above is entirely factual, I will just assume you haven’t seen the front page of ESPN.com today. If you’re unfamiliar with that site, here is the link:

h t t p : // w w w . E S P N . c o m

It’s generally SFW, unless Steve A. Smith has a column that day.

Props From An Obscure Website

I know many of you, like me, have WBGV marked as your home page. I would be shocked if any of you didn’t. Needless to say, once I get on WBGV, I find myself enthralled for hours. By the time I get done, I don’t have time for the rest of the Internet. And I write the damn thing. I can’t even imagine how impressed you must be with this site.

Well, since the entire paragraph above is entirely factual, I will just assume you haven’t seen the front page of ESPN.com today. If you’re unfamiliar with that site, here is the link:

h t t p : // w w w . E S P N . c o m

It’s generally SFW, unless Steve A. Smith has a column that day.

CSTV Is Delusional

Apparently, CSTV believes 12 teams have a shot at the Big EAST title this year, including WVU, Cincinnati, Slippery Rock, and the Detroit Pistons. I don’t want to call this the most worthless Big EAST preview you will ever see, but this is the most worthless Big EAST preview you will ever see.

Just think, only 4 months until we see Cincinnati in the Rose Bowl.

Some tidbits

It has been a couple days since my last post. I’ve been on the road for work, so my access to the Internet has been limited. Ok, I made that up. I have been on the road, but, by and large, I’m just lazy. Especially on a Sunday.

To rekindle my on and off again relationship with this blog, here are a couple links I found interesting.

John Antonik has a nice feature on Michigan transfer Ryan Mundy. Mundy came to WVU by taking advantage of an NCAA rule permitting graduating seniors with eligibility remaining the opportunity of transferring to another school to complete their career. There are some interesting comments by Mundy about West Virginia’s overall skill level.

Also, I came across this via The SportsBiz Blog. This link shows the top-selling college institutions and manufacturers for the fourth quarter of the 2006-2007 fiscal year. These rankings represent royalties reported July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 on all collegiate merchandise sold. Now, maybe I could not find WVU (heavens knows, I once struggled when I was young to find something my mom told me was in a cabinet), but I don’t think our beloved home team is in the Top 75. Does anybody know why the Mountaineers are not ranked, but such powerhouses as Texas State University – San Marcos and the University of Delaware are? Please tell me, I would love to know.