Over The Pylon

Good morning, Cards fans! It’s a busy day around the Pylon so keep popping by for some goodies in advance of Homecoming against the Western Michigan Broncos and PJ Fleck’s oars. There’s reason for optimism around the Scheu. There’s a new QB1 in Jack Milas, the weather for Homecoming is looking picture perfect, and last I checked, Muncie Liquors still has plenty of beer and liquor for your various Homecoming-type activities. But today isn’t about standing in a parking lot and drinking your face off. Today it’s time to Better Know Western Michigan…

Team: Western Michigan Broncos
Record: 2-3 (0-1 MAC)
Ranking: Unranked
Head Coach: PJ Fleck
Series: WMU leads 21-19
Last Meeting: 2013, Ball State W, 38-17 @ WMU

Western Michigan Head Coach PJ Fleck…
… is the youngest head coach in FBS. At just 33 years of age, Fleck was a child of the 80s, probably tight-rolled his pants, and DEFINITELY had some badass Trapper Keepers.
… is an NIU alum and spent two seasons in the San Francisco 49ers organization.
… has compiled a 3-14 record at WMU as he continues through his second year. Though normally that would be cause for concern, to his credit he did inherit a steaming pile of hot garbage.
… is a beast on the recruiting trail, signing a class last offseason that was ranked 58th by Rivals, the highest non-AQ conference school rank and the highest MAC class ranking ever.

When it comes to WMU versus Ball State…
… the series wasn’t always so close. BSU has won seven of the last ten to make it 21-19 WMU.
… the Cardinals are 11-9 against the Broncos in games played in Muncie.
… this year won’t be the first time they have played on Homecoming. Most recent? A 2012 win for the Cardinals.
… the fact that it’s Homecoming is good news for BSU. The Cardinals are 53-32-2 all-time in Homecoming games.

The Western Michigan Broncos…
… opened MAC play last week with a 20-19 overtime home loss to Toledo.
… had that oddity of a score against the Rockets thanks to a missed extra point in overtime.
… scored wins this season over Idaho and Murray State, scoring both 45 points in the wins.
… had losses this season to Virginia Tech (away), Toledo (home), and Purdue (away)
… have five student athletes named to their respective positional award watch lists.

Really though, the story of Western Michigan begins and ends with this fan video:

The amount of things that causes me to vomit in my mouth in this fan video are so numerous I can’t even hit them all in this space. The 7 Nation Army? Awful. The boat oar schedule? Quaint. The boat oars in general? Still puzzling. But I have a new question… can someone explain why the Broncos get hype with a big foam steak?

This damn program, man.

Filed under: BallStateFootball, Better Know, MAC |