2009 WMU Football Schedule 

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan football opens the 2009 season on the road with two of three Big Ten opponents, marking the first time in program history that three teams from the storied conference appear on the schedule.  The Broncos will welcome five teams into Waldo Stadium where, a year ago, they went a perfect 5-0 for the second time under head coach Bill Cubit.  WMU will host Buffalo in the 86th Annual Homecoming Game on Oct. 24 and will close the season live on ESPN2 at home against Ball State.

Western Michigan will face five opponents that participated in postseason bowls in 2008.  Four teams on this year’s schedule amassed eight or more wins a year ago with two eclipsing the nine-win mark and one, residing in WMU’s own division, that captured a program record 12 wins.  This is not to mention welcoming the defending Mid-American Conference Champion to Waldo Stadium on the second-to-last Saturday in October.

“When looking at this year’s schedule, as it is in most seasons in the MAC, you cannot take a week off.  The parity of this league is amazing but it is also what makes every season something to look forward to as a team, a coaching staff and as fans,” commented Cubit.  “We are excited to once again showcase our great program, facilities, University and fans on the national stage with our game against Ball State from Waldo Stadium on ESPN2.  Our non-conference schedule is a very competitive one and we look forward to the challenges that await us in 2009.”

WMU opens the season at Michigan on Sept. 5 followed by a return to Memorial Stadium to face Indiana on Sept. 12.  The record-setting third Big Ten team on the schedule is Michigan State on Nov. 7.  All three games will be televised with specific arrangements to be announced at a later date.  Western Michigan has faced the Wolverines only four times in program history with the last coming in 2002.  The Broncos face the Spartans for the 11th time overall and the first since 2003.  This year will mark the third time in four seasons, fifth time overall, that WMU and the Hoosiers take the field against one another.

Fans of the Brown & Gold will welcome their Broncos back to Waldo Stadium for the home opener against Miami on Sept. 19.  WMU is perfect over its last seven home games, including the 23-17 win over Illinois at Ford Field last season.  The Broncos will put that streak to the test on CommUniverCity Night against the Miami University RedHawks.

WMU’s home schedule continues on Sept. 26 with Hofstra (Colonial Athletic Association) coming to Kalamazoo for a first-ever meeting with the Broncos.  Western Michigan has two home dates in October with Central Michigan on Oct. 17 followed by a showdown against defending MAC Champion Buffalo on Oct. 24.  The Bulls will be Western Michigan’s Homecoming opponent, marking the first game against Buffalo in Waldo Stadium since the 2005 campaign.

October’s schedule opens on the road with two-straight MAC West dates at Northern Illinois and Toledo on Oct. 3 and 10, respectively.  After back-to-back home weeks, the Broncos return to the road for three of the final four weeks of the season with dates against Kent State (Oct. 31), Michigan State (Nov. 7) and Eastern Michigan (Nov. 14).  This is the first meeting against Kent State since the 2005 campaign and it will be the Broncos’ first trip to Dix Stadium since 2000.

Western Michigan closes out the regular season against Ball State, which captured the 2008 MAC West Division title, for the second-straight year.  The game will air live nationally on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, two days before Thanksgiving.  The game will mark the second time in three seasons WMU will host a game in November on ESPN2.  It is also likely one of at least four WMU games to be televised during the 2009 campaign.  A full television schedule will be made available at a later date.

Game times for WMU’s home schedule, outside of the meeting with Ball State, will be announced at a later date due to contract components between the MAC and the ESPN family of networks.  Annual game designations (Education Day, Hall of Fame, etc.) will also be announced at a later time.  The 2009 Marathon MAC Championship Game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. and will air live from Ford Field on ESPN2.

For season and single game tickets, please call (269) 387-8092 locally, 1-888-4-WMU-TIX toll free or visit www.wmubroncos.com/tickets.  The Annual Brown & Gold game will take place on April 11 at 12 p.m.  The Broncos will be signing autographs after the game and fans are encouraged to bring a canned food item to the game.  All donations will be delivered to food pantries that afternoon.

2009 Football Schedule
Sept. 5 at Michigan
Sept. 12 at Indiana
Sept. 19 MIAMI * (CommUniverCity Night)
Sept. 26 HOFSTRA
Oct. 3 at Northern Illinois *
Oct. 10 at Toledo *
Oct. 17 CENTRAL MICHIGAN *
Oct. 24 BUFFALO * (Homecoming)
Oct. 31 at Kent State *
Nov. 7 at Michigan State
Nov. 14 at Eastern Michigan *
Nov. 24 BALL STATE * (ESPN2 - 7 P.M.)
Dec. 4 Marathon MAC Championship (ESPN2 - Ford Field - 8 p.m.)

* Mid-American Conference game
All times are ET and subject to change