Calm Before the Storm Feeling from WMU Football

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Thursday's practice was the last walk-through practice for the WMU football squad before heading out to Champaign to face the Fighting Illini of Illinois on Saturday.

The hour and a half practice highlighted the small parts of a football game that can make the difference between a win and a loss such as oal-line stands and third down conversions.

"We had a sharp practice," said head coach Bill Cubit. "You can tell the guys are antsy but focused and ready."

Focused and ready was the feeling around the whole practice as it was not as loud and high tempered as usual. There was a calm before the storm feeling with players being calm, quiet and focused.

"Biggest thing is that we can't turn the ball over on offense," said Cubit. "Defensively just don't give up the big play."

The Broncos will be heading down to Illinois for the second year in a row, with last year almost pulling out the win. This year is a whole different mind-set and a whole different team.

"We didn't play good enough last year to win," said Cubit. "This year I feel really go about this team."

The feel good story of the day went to junior long snapper Kirk Nakama, who received a full scholarship earlier in the day. Nakama along with others were waiting for a special teams meeting when Coach Cubit came storming in.

"He came in looking really mad," said Nakama. "Then when he called my name, I was scared I was in trouble."

Being in trouble was the least of his worries as Cubit told him to go call him dad because he was receiving a scholarship.

"I had no idea it was going to happen," said Nakama. "My dad was surprised as well."

The long snapper of a collegiate football team can usually go unnoticed but today Nakama was the star for the Broncos.

"A lot of the guys were coming up saying they were happy for me," said Nakama. "It's nice to know the hard work that I have put in the past couple of years has paid off."