WMU Football to Play Northwestern in 2013
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan football announced its 2013 non-conference on Friday with a first-ever meeting against Northwestern scheduled for Sept. 14, 2013.
"As a program, we look forward to taking the field against Northwestern in 2013. It is one of the few Big Ten teams we have not faced in program history and we look forward to the challenge," commented head coach Bill Cubit. "Coach [Pat] Fitzgerald runs a great program and is someone in the profession for whom I have a high level of respect."
The Wildcats are one of three Big Ten programs that WMU has never faced on the football field.
As a way to promote the game we are inviting Bronco fans to join us on Twitter for a chance at two tickets to the NW game. The 14th fan to tweet @wmubroncofans with the Big Ten teams we have never played using the hash tag #what2B1G wins two tickets to the game in Evanston.
Along with Northwestern, the Broncos will open next season against in-state rival Michigan State on Aug. 31, 2013, marking the third time in five seasons that WMU and the Spartans have faced one another. MSU travels to Kalamazoo in 2015.
Western Michigan closes out the 2013 non-con schedule in Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes (Sept. 21, 2013) for the third time in program history and for the first time since a 28-19 win in 2007.
"Opening with an in-state opponent such as Michigan State is a great opportunity for our fans to see the Broncos on the road and is a great precursor to the Spartans coming to Waldo Stadium in 2015.
"Iowa and Western Michigan have had two very exciting match ups during the all-time series and we look forward to heading back to Iowa City to close out our 2013 non-conference schedule," added Cubit.
WMU last played three Big Ten teams in one season in 2011 (Michigan, Illinois, Purdue) and have played three teams from the conference only one other time, in 2009 (Michigan, Indiana and Michigan State).
The Broncos open the 75th season at Waldo Stadium with what has become a familiar opponent as Nicholls comes back to Kalamazoo (Sept. 7, 2013) for the third time in four seasons. The Colonels have been the CommUniverCity opponent in the previous two meetings and will be again in 2013.
