(This story has been updated)
Western Michigan University's football program has won its first bowl game victory ever. The Broncos defeated Middle Tennessee State 45-31 Christmas Eve in the Bahamas Bowl. That's another first for the team and Coach P.J. Fleck. Before the game, WMUK's Gordon Evand talked about it with Kalamazoo Gazette sports reporter David Drew.
Here's the original story:
Western Michigan will face Middle Tennessee State at noon on Christmas Eve. The game will be shown on ESPN. Kalamazoo Gazette reporter David Drew, who covers Western Michigan sports, joined WMUK’s Gordon Evans to discuss the Broncos’ season and preview the bowl game against the Blue Raiders.
Western Michigan ended the regular season with a win at Toledo. Drew describes that as arguably the “first signature win” in Fleck’s tenure. It marked the Broncos’ first win over a “ranked” opponent.
While Western finished with one fewer win than last year, they could match last season’s record with a win in the bowl game. Drew says this season’s schedule was much tougher with games against Michigan State and Ohio State, plus road games against MAC opponents Northern Illinois and Toledo. Drew says this year’s 7-5 record is probably more impressive than 8-4 was last year because of the schedule.
Fleck’s future at Western was again a source of conversation this year. But most head coaching vacancies have been filled. Drew says the Broncos should have a very strong team coming back next season, and will likely be a favorite to win their division and the MAC championship. Drew says that would attract interest and perhaps a large offer from another school. He says there won’t be a new contract this year for Fleck. But Drew says Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard is looking for more outside money from donors to keep Fleck in Kalamazoo.
Drew says Christmas Eve may not appear to be the ideal time for a bowl game. But he says it’s one of only two bowl games being played that day (the other is at night). And Drew says it’s more attractive than many mid-week games being played in the afternoon. In terms of finances, Drew says most schools lose money on a bowl game, but they view the exposure on television as being worth the cost.
Asked about the matchup with Middle Tennessee State, Drew says the two teams are very similar. He says Western will probably try to run the ball and sustain long drives on offense, while the Blue Raiders will rely more on passing. Drew says he expects a close game on Thursday.
Winning a bowl game for the first time in school history would be big, according to Drew. He says Fleck has shown an ability to recruit good players, and that would likely be helped if the Broncos can get a victory in the Bahamas.
Drew also discussed Western’s men’s basketball team playing the rest of the season without Connor Tava who is taking a redshirt season because of an injury. And Western’s hockey team recently broke with eight game losing streak. Drew explains how the Broncos move forward, and why hockey coach Andy Murray is secure in his job for now.
