WMU Football Coaches Ready to Shine in Champaign

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The countdown to the first kick-off of the 2012 football is season is very close and you can tell that the Broncos were feeling it during Wednesday's practice.

The key of today's practice was getting the players ready for the game-day like atmosphere. Running the two-minute drill and practicing the clutch field goal to win the game were among the situations.

"We had a good practice today," head coach Bill Cubit said. "We'll come out tomorrow correct a few things and then be ready for Saturday."

One of the keys that WMU hopes to correct before Saturday is the rushing attack of Illinois. Last year in the close three-point loss, the WMU defense gave up 320 total rushing yards.

"Our defense this year is predicated on stopping the run," said Cubit. "I'd be really disappointed if we gave up that many rushing yards again."

With a bitter taste of last year's close loss in the mouth of many of the WMU players, Cubit thinks that this year, his team has a better shot than ever to go into Champaign and win.

"I think we are better than we were last year," said Cubit. "If we can stop the turnovers, we will give ourselves a chance to win."

The opportunity to play against big named teams in front of 60,000 plus fans is something that WMU and Coach Cubit have not shied away from in the past couple of years, as the Broncos have played the most BCS teams since Cubit got here, it's a way to show how good the team actually is.

"We like playing against the big teams," said Cubit. "We embrace it more than anything."

After all the hard work and preparation that has went in leading up to this game, Cubit hopes that his team will prevail the winner against Illinois.

"We'll find out how good we are on Saturday," said Cubit.