KALAMAZOO, Mich. - On yet another hot August evening, the WMU football team was out on the field at Waldo Stadium getting ready for Week 1 against the Illini. The Bronco offense and defense both stayed hot as both sides of the ball looked good during team drills.

The offense seemed to be clicking today, as they looked in game-ready carving up the Illinois defense that the scout team was preparing for them. The defense also looked game-ready making sure that they would be able to slow down the Illinois offense come Saturday. While it is a Big Ten team, the defense is making sure everybody knows that they can win.

"We can't just put one team (Illinois) on a pedestal," said junior linebacker Desmond Bozeman. "We have to look at every team the same."

The main key for the WMU defense will be the ability to slow down the tight ends that Illinois presents. Managing on average 6-4, 242 pound tight ends will not be impossible, but will take some hard work.

"We've got to be physical and play WMU football with them," said Bozeman. "We have to get big with them."

If WMU can slow down the key components in the Illini offense, in the eyes of the coaching staff and the players, it will go along way in the Broncos coming away with the win.

Two regional NFL scouts were in attendance at today's practice. The Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Bills.