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

Since 2001, our overall record is 96-99. MAC record is 68-59. 6 bowls game appearances since '01, with a record of 1-5.

Since 2001 we have had 7 seasons above .500, 2 at .500, and 8 below .500.

Sounds like a whole lot of mediocrity to me.

(04-10-2018 06:58 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  Since 2001, our overall record is 96-99. MAC record is 68-59. 6 bowls game appearances since '01, with a record of 1-5.

Since 2001 we have had 7 seasons above .500, 2 at .500, and 8 below .500.

Sounds like a whole lot of mediocrity to me.

My response was to your current state of feeling. As in now. 2018.
So what tangible evidence do you have that “WMU” is accepting mediocrity?

(04-10-2018 07:44 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 06:58 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  Since 2001, our overall record is 96-99. MAC record is 68-59. 6 bowls game appearances since '01, with a record of 1-5.

Since 2001 we have had 7 seasons above .500, 2 at .500, and 8 below .500.

Sounds like a whole lot of mediocrity to me.

My response was to your current state of feeling. As in now. 2018.
So what tangible evidence do you have that “WMU” is accepting mediocrity?

There is no way to prove that the school is accepting mediocrity currently, Lester only has 1 season under his belt which was in the midst of a rebuilding year. But given the school’s histkry and track record, we should be very weary.

(04-10-2018 09:46 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 07:44 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 06:58 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  Since 2001, our overall record is 96-99. MAC record is 68-59. 6 bowls game appearances since '01, with a record of 1-5.

Since 2001 we have had 7 seasons above .500, 2 at .500, and 8 below .500.

Sounds like a whole lot of mediocrity to me.

My response was to your current state of feeling. As in now. 2018.
So what tangible evidence do you have that “WMU” is accepting mediocrity?

There is no way to prove that the school is accepting mediocrity currently, Lester only has 1 season under his belt which was in the midst of a rebuilding year. But given the school’s histkry and track record, we should be very weary.

Ok, so there is no current evidence. Just fear and paranoia? Oh to be a fan.

(04-10-2018 09:46 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 07:44 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 06:58 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  Since 2001, our overall record is 96-99. MAC record is 68-59. 6 bowls game appearances since '01, with a record of 1-5.

Since 2001 we have had 7 seasons above .500, 2 at .500, and 8 below .500.

Sounds like a whole lot of mediocrity to me.

My response was to your current state of feeling. As in now. 2018.
So what tangible evidence do you have that “WMU” is accepting mediocrity?

There is no way to prove that the school is accepting mediocrity currently, Lester only has 1 season under his belt which was in the midst of a rebuilding year. But given the school’s histkry and track record, we should be very weary.

Last season was not a rebuilding year. We were projected to be one of the top contenders in the MAC, even with a new QB, based on a boatload of returning starters who were both talented and very experienced. We grossly underperformed. This happened because the new staff decided to do things differently (their own way) instead of continuing with how things were being done the previous several years. Lester was to WMU last year what Enos was to CMU when Jones left.

If by rebuilding year you mean a year when a new staff knocked down the house which was already built, and looking good, in order to build a different house, even when the old house was fantastic, then yes it was a rebuilding year. But it shouldn't have been.

WMU should have had a spring game, for marketing purposes, if no other reason. Bring attention to the program and the school and reach out to the community. It is all about relationships.

That said, the idea WMU is accepting "mediocrity" in athletics, or anything else, is silly. WMU has had plenty of success in sports from tennis, soccer, and baseball, to men's & women's hoops and even its dance team (8th in the Nation this year for D-I). Yes, there is a commitment to excellence at WMU.

Granted, when the football team only wins two MAC titles over 30 years and drops from an undefeated regular season, to 6-6, that is a concern. The Broncos were "We're Mediocre University" during the Bill Cubit era, but that era is well behind us. KB just waited too long to fire Cubit (should have done it after the 2008 season after his 4th consecutive loss to CMU and it became obvious he would never "get-over-the-hump" and win a championship at WMU).

The 2017 season was not a "rebuilding" year, but it was a significant "transition" year with a new staff and the loss of several of the finest offensive players in WMU history. Combine that with significant and plentiful injuries (along with some poor play calling) and we have a 6-6 season.

If Coach Lester's recruiting was "mediocre," or worse, I would be annoyed and concerned. However, his recruiting was outstanding and I am confident it will be reflected by on-the-field performance in the coming years. Just throw to the RB's in the flat once in a while, Coach, and...you MUST beat Central Michigan!

Go Broncos!

Baseball won a conf title and still finished that year below 500. Gernon hasn’t had a winning record yet. And it shows for accepting mediocrity because no marketing or revenue is generated towards them so thus they don’t have resources to compete.

WMU funds football at a high level for the MAC but everything else suffers as a result. Football doesn’t pay back in revenue every year even what’s close to put in (not expecting to make a profit because only Alabama and Texas do) because money isn’t sent wisely and there’s no attempt to make games a “cool” thing to go to.

Look guys, pretty much no other coach in the country is going to be a one-man traveling band like PJ Fleck. He's a unique guy, so you better get over it.

Lester is an understated guy in public by comparison. That said, he does a great job giving lots of details to the press to cover if they so wish. Those press conferences are worth watching if you really like details. We still have a good crew making digital "creative" (I hate that word), arguably better than what we had with Fleck. We do well on social media still.

Our head coach is not going to call down the powers of ESPN by jumping on hot coals. It's not going to happen, no matter how much we win.

What we lack is a solid marketing team to showcase what we have to offer. I don't know how the school works in that regard, I just know I see lost opportunities everywhere. I wish everyone had a nose for this like Fleck, but that's just not how it works in most of college football.

We're talking about marketing here guys, not so much expectations on the field. I don't think Lester looks like he's content to rest on legacy recruits and hopes for bowl appearances like some other coach in this state (***COUGHbono***COUGH).

If our marketing schemes are now inseparable from our on-field expectations, that's a problem, because that Fleck bar can only be matched by a few individuals in this entire nation.

(04-10-2018 11:10 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 09:46 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 07:44 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 06:58 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  Since 2001, our overall record is 96-99. MAC record is 68-59. 6 bowls game appearances since '01, with a record of 1-5.

Since 2001 we have had 7 seasons above .500, 2 at .500, and 8 below .500.

Sounds like a whole lot of mediocrity to me.

My response was to your current state of feeling. As in now. 2018.
So what tangible evidence do you have that “WMU” is accepting mediocrity?

There is no way to prove that the school is accepting mediocrity currently, Lester only has 1 season under his belt which was in the midst of a rebuilding year. But given the school’s histkry and track record, we should be very weary.

Ok, so there is no current evidence. Just fear and paranoia? Oh to be a fan.

You're welcome to come down off that high horse and chat with the rest of us commoners.

What are your expectations? What are you "feelings" (as you call them)?

(04-10-2018 11:10 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 09:46 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 07:44 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 06:58 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  Since 2001, our overall record is 96-99. MAC record is 68-59. 6 bowls game appearances since '01, with a record of 1-5.

Since 2001 we have had 7 seasons above .500, 2 at .500, and 8 below .500.

Sounds like a whole lot of mediocrity to me.

My response was to your current state of feeling. As in now. 2018.
So what tangible evidence do you have that “WMU” is accepting mediocrity?

There is no way to prove that the school is accepting mediocrity currently, Lester only has 1 season under his belt which was in the midst of a rebuilding year. But given the school’s histkry and track record, we should be very weary.

Ok, so there is no current evidence. Just fear and paranoia? Oh to be a fan.

When a school has a history of being mediocre, yes, I am paranoid. Who wouldn't be? lmao

Getting way off topic here, men. Maybe we should start a new thread on "Expectations."

(04-11-2018 12:03 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Getting way off topic here, men. Maybe we should start a new thread on "Expectations."

agreed

Somewhat OT: UM just canceled their Spring Game.

(04-11-2018 01:53 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Somewhat OT: UM just canceled their Spring Game.

Northwestern just did the same.

So has Wisconsin. All three due to forecasts of thunderstorms-heavy rain.

Minnesota moved theirs to Thursday night.

(04-11-2018 06:28 AM)brovol Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 09:46 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 07:44 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 06:58 PM)broncofan1 Wrote:  Since 2001, our overall record is 96-99. MAC record is 68-59. 6 bowls game appearances since '01, with a record of 1-5.

Since 2001 we have had 7 seasons above .500, 2 at .500, and 8 below .500.

Sounds like a whole lot of mediocrity to me.

My response was to your current state of feeling. As in now. 2018.
So what tangible evidence do you have that “WMU” is accepting mediocrity?

There is no way to prove that the school is accepting mediocrity currently, Lester only has 1 season under his belt which was in the midst of a rebuilding year. But given the school’s histkry and track record, we should be very weary.

Last season was not a rebuilding year. We were projected to be one of the top contenders in the MAC, even with a new QB, based on a boatload of returning starters who were both talented and very experienced. We grossly underperformed. This happened because the new staff decided to do things differently (their own way) instead of continuing with how things were being done the previous several years. Lester was to WMU last year what Enos was to CMU when Jones left.

If by rebuilding year you mean a year when a new staff knocked down the house which was already built, and looking good, in order to build a different house, even when the old house was fantastic, then yes it was a rebuilding year. But it shouldn't have been.

Highly disagree with the statement above. If anything Lester tried to keep too many things in tact that PJ left behind. According to media he went out of his way to adapt to the culture left behind and let players have insight on what they wanted to keep and what they wanted removed. Most coaches would have come in and completely flipped the house to show the players that a new sheriff is in town. Some traditions and things PJ started, Lester let continue for the players even if it wasn't in Lester's comfort zone... Examples are everything.

Injuries killed WMU last year, you can look at all positions. I feel a 9-3 season coming this year. Maybe even 10-2 if we can get an upset in one of our first 2 games.