2008 Woodie Awards
WMU hits rugged stretch
MAC Game of the week
By: Eric Wallace
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Losing won't be an option this weekend for two teams battling each other in a MAC West showdown.
Western Michigan and Ball State are second and third in the MAC West behind CMU and look to gain ground for the opportunity to play in the MAC Championship game Dec. 1 at Detroit's Ford Field. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. Saturday.
"It is a big game; I think we all know that." said Ball State coach Brady Hoke. "But I don't know how many of them are not big a week from now, or two weeks from now. Those too will be big games."
The Cardinals got a solid win against Western Kentucky one week after allowing 58 points in a debacle at home against Central. Ball State made defensive adjustments when it needed to last week and only allowed 12 points to the Hilltoppers.
Hoke said he'll have a game plan and won't take the Broncos lightly.
"I think (WMU coach Bill Cubit) does a really good job offensively trying to keep you off balance with a lot of different groups and formations," Hoke said. "They are not that traditional. They run the zone with the quarterback keeping some, and they are doing a lot of different things that are good."
Ball State's loss to CMU and win against Eastern Michigan gives the Cardinals a 1-1 divisional record, while wins against Toledo and Northern Illinois have left the Broncos only a half game behind CMU.
A win is critical for the Broncos as they are the only West Division team playing more than two division games in a row.
"It's kind of interesting," Cubit told the Kalamazoo Gazette of the critical four-game stretch. "… I don't know of anybody else who has to go through the schedule we're going through. But it is what it is. We've got to be up every single week and we can't let our guard down at all."
The schedule gives the Broncos one big advantage.
"It helps us see where our team is at and how hard we can play continuously," junior cornerback E.J. Biggers told the Kalamazoo Gazette.
sports@cm-life.com
Western Michigan and Ball State are second and third in the MAC West behind CMU and look to gain ground for the opportunity to play in the MAC Championship game Dec. 1 at Detroit's Ford Field. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. Saturday.
"It is a big game; I think we all know that." said Ball State coach Brady Hoke. "But I don't know how many of them are not big a week from now, or two weeks from now. Those too will be big games."
The Cardinals got a solid win against Western Kentucky one week after allowing 58 points in a debacle at home against Central. Ball State made defensive adjustments when it needed to last week and only allowed 12 points to the Hilltoppers.
Hoke said he'll have a game plan and won't take the Broncos lightly.
"I think (WMU coach Bill Cubit) does a really good job offensively trying to keep you off balance with a lot of different groups and formations," Hoke said. "They are not that traditional. They run the zone with the quarterback keeping some, and they are doing a lot of different things that are good."
Ball State's loss to CMU and win against Eastern Michigan gives the Cardinals a 1-1 divisional record, while wins against Toledo and Northern Illinois have left the Broncos only a half game behind CMU.
A win is critical for the Broncos as they are the only West Division team playing more than two division games in a row.
"It's kind of interesting," Cubit told the Kalamazoo Gazette of the critical four-game stretch. "… I don't know of anybody else who has to go through the schedule we're going through. But it is what it is. We've got to be up every single week and we can't let our guard down at all."
The schedule gives the Broncos one big advantage.
"It helps us see where our team is at and how hard we can play continuously," junior cornerback E.J. Biggers told the Kalamazoo Gazette.
sports@cm-life.com
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