2009 Western Michigan Broncos football team

The 2009 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the 2009 NCAA football season. The WMU football team was coached by Bill Cubit and played their home games in Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. WMU finished the season 5–7, defeating fellow Mid-American Conference (MAC) members Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami and Toledo, Football Championship Subdivision team Hofstra and losing to rival Central Michigan, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Ball State, Big Ten Conference members Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State.

2009 Western Michigan Broncos football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	West Division
Record	5–7 (4–4 MAC)
Head coach	Bill Cubit (5th season)
Offensive coordinator	Bill Cubit
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Steve Morrison
Home stadium	Waldo Stadium
Seasons ← 2008 2010 →

2009 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Ohio xy		7	–	1					9	–	5
Temple x		7	–	1					9	–	4
Bowling Green		6	–	2					7	–	6
Kent State		4	–	4					5	–	7
Buffalo		3	–	5					5	–	7
Akron		2	–	6					3	–	9
Miami (OH)		1	–	7					1	–	11
West Division
No. 23 Central Michigan x$		8	–	0					12	–	2
Northern Illinois		5	–	3					7	–	6
Western Michigan		4	–	4					5	–	7
Toledo		3	–	5					5	–	7
Ball State		2	–	6					2	–	10
Eastern Michigan		0	–	8					0	–	12
Championship: Central Michigan 20, Ohio 10
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

Senior running back Brandon West set NCAA and MAC records for career all-purpose yards and career kick return yards during the week-four game against Hofstra.^[1] West passed Miami running back Travis Prentice for all-purpose yards (6,111) and Eastern Michigan's Trumaine Riley for kick return yards (2,541).^[1] West also currently holds the National Collegiate Athletic Association record for active career record holder for all-purpose yards, kick return yards and kick returns.^[1]

2008 summary

Main article: 2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team

Western Michigan finished the 2008 season 9–4 overall and 6–2 in the Mid-American Conference. WMU finished tied for second in the West Division, defeating Big Ten Conference member Illinois and Western Athletic Conference member Idaho in the non-conference portion of the schedule. WMU participated in the Texas Bowl, losing to Rice 38–14. Over the course of the season, the Broncos received votes in both the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches' Poll.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 5	3:30pm	at Michigan*	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	ABC/ESPN2	L 7–31	109,019^[2]
September 12	12:00pm	at Indiana*	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	BTN	L 19–23	35,162^[3]
September 19	7:00pm	Miami (OH)	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI		W 48–26	24,372^[4]
September 26	7:00pm	Hofstra*	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI		W 24–10	16,116^[5]
October 3	3:30pm	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	CSNC	L 3–38	17,608^[6]
October 10	7:00pm	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH		W 58–26	18,029^[7]
October 17	3:30pm	Central Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI (Michigan MAC Trophy, WMU–CMU Rivalry Trophy)	FSD+	L 23–34	27,896^[8]
October 24	2:00pm	Buffalo	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI		W 34–31 ^OT	12,924^[9]
October 31	2:00pm	at Kent State	Dix Stadium Kent, OH		L 14–26	15,206^[10]
November 7	12:00pm	at Michigan State*	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	BTN	L 14–49	73,910^[11]
November 14	1:00pm	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI (Michigan MAC Trophy)		W 35–14	3,281^[12]
November 24	7:00pm	Ball State	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN2	L 17–22	20,344^[13]
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan (0–1)	0	0	0	7	7
Michigan (1–0)	14	17	0	0	31

See also: 2009 Michigan Wolverines football team

Michigan, 13 point favorites,^[14] scored 14 points in the first quarter and 17 in the second to lead 31–0 at halftime. WMU scored in the fourth quarter on a 73-yard touchdown pass from Tim Hiller to Juan Nunez to avoid the shutout. WMU outpassed Michigan 263 yards to 197, but only gained 38 yards on the ground.

Hiller finished the game 22 of 38 for 259 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. WMU turned the ball over three times on the day, leading to seven Michigan points.

On defense, linebacker Austin Pritchard led the team with 13 tackles and a forced fumble.^[15]

Recap | Boxscore

Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan (0–2)	0	7	7	5	19
Indiana (2–0)	3	14	3	3	23

See also: 2009 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Recap | Boxscore

Miami

	1	2	3	4	Total
Miami (0–3)	0	0	12	14	26
Western Michigan (1–2)	14	14	20	0	48

See also: 2009 Miami RedHawks football team

Recap | Boxscore

Hofstra

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hofstra (2–2)	7	3	0	0	10
Western Michigan (2–2)	0	17	0	7	24

Recap | Boxscore

Northern Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan (2–3)	0	3	0	0	3
Northern Illinois (3–2)	7	14	10	7	38

See also: 2009 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

Recap | Boxscore

Toledo

	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan (3–3)	20	21	10	7	58
Toledo (3–3)	6	6	7	7	26

See also: 2009 Toledo Rockets football team

Recap | Boxscore

Central Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Central Michigan (6–1)	10	17	0	7	34
Western Michigan (3–4)	3	10	3	7	23

See also: 2009 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

Recap | Boxscore

Buffalo

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Buffalo (3–5)	7	0	14	10	0	31
Western Michigan (4–4)	14	3	7	7	3	34

See also: 2009 Buffalo Bulls football team

Recap | Boxscore

Kent State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan (4–5)	0	7	0	7	14
Kent State (5–4)	3	10	7	6	26

See also: 2009 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

Recap | Boxscore

Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan (4–6)	0	0	7	7	14
Michigan State (5–5)	21	14	0	14	49

See also: 2009 Michigan State Spartans football team

Recap | Boxscore

Eastern Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Michigan (5–6)	7	21	0	7	35
Eastern Michigan (0–10)	7	7	0	0	14

See also: 2009 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

Recap | Boxscore

Ball State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ball State (2–9)	6	7	3	6	22
Western Michigan (5–7)	0	10	0	7	17

See also: 2009 Ball State Cardinals football team

Recap | Boxscore

Awards

Mid-American Conference Player of the Week

• Jamail Berry, S
  • Week 3 (Defense) – Recovered a fumble for a touchdown, one interception and a blocked PAT in 48–26 win over Miami. On the game's first play from scrimmage, Berry recovered a fumble and returned it 24 yards for the opening score. He recorded his first career interception on Miami's third possession. Berry blocked the PAT attempt in the third quarter.^[16]
  • Week 11 (Defense) – Five tackles, career-high two interceptions and one recovered fumble in a 35–14 win at Eastern Michigan.^[17]
• Austin Pritchard, LB
  • Week 2 (Defense) – Blocked fourth quarter field goal, game-high 12 tackles.^[18]
  • Week 4 (Defense) – Recorded ten tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in 24–10 win over Hofstra.^[19]
• Brandon West, RB / KR
  • Week 6 (Offense) – Rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Also threw for a touchdown pass in a 58–26 win vs. Toledo. West finished the game with 236 all-purpose yards.^[20]
  • Week 8 (Special teams) – Gained 108 return yards, 282 all-purpose yards and two rushing touchdowns in 34–31 overtime win over Buffalo.^[21]
  • Week 10 (Special teams) – Recorded 142 kick return yards and 262 all-purpose yards in a 49–14 loss against Michigan State. During the game, West set the NCAA Division I FBS record for kick return yards in a career. West broke the record of 2,945 return yards set by Jessie Henderson of SMU.^[22]
  • Week 11 (Special teams) – Two kick returns for 43 yards and 183 all-purpose yards to set the NCAA Division I FBS record for career all-purpose yards in 35–14 win at Eastern Michigan.^[17]

Finalists

• Tim Hiller, QB – Wuerffel Trophy^[23]

Watch lists

• Ben Armer, P – Ray Guy Award
• Tim Hiller, QB – Davey O'Brien Award,^[24] Lowe's Senior CLASS Award,^[25] Manning Award,^[26] Walter Camp Award
• Austin Pritchard, LB – Lombardi Award^[27]
• Brandon West, RB – Doak Walker Award^[28]

Coaching staff

• Bill Cubit – Head coach
• Steve Morrison – Defensive coordinator, linebackers
• Ryan Cubit – Quarterbacks
• Tim Daoust – Defensive secondary
• Mike Grant – Wide receivers
• Rick Kravitz – Safeties
• Peter McCarthy – Defensive line
• Jake Moreland – Tight ends
• Mike Sabock – Running backs, special teams
• Bob Stanley – Offensive line
• Tim Knox – Director of football operations
• Brent Bassham – Defensive graduate assistant
• Matt Ludeman – Offensive graduate assistant

References

1. "Brandon West Sets Two MAC Career Records". Western Michigan University Athletics.
2. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Michigan Wolverines Box Score". ESPN.com. from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
3. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Indiana Hoosiers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
4. "Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Western Michigan Broncos Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
5. "Hofstra Pride vs. Western Michigan Broncos Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
6. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Northern Illinois Huskies Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
7. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Toledo Rockets Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
8. "Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Western Michigan Broncos Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
9. "Buffalo Bulls vs. Western Michigan Broncos Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
10. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Kent State Golden Flashes Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
11. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Michigan State Spartans Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
12. "Western Michigan Broncos vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
13. "Ball State Cardinals vs. Western Michigan Eagles Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
14. . sportsbook.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
15. "Michigan 31, WMU 7". Western Michigan University Athletics.
16. . Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
17. . Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
18. "Austin Pritchard Named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week". Western Michigan University Athletics.
19. . Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
20. . Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
21. . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
22. . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
23. . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
24. . Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
25. "WMU's Tim Hiller Named Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Candidate". Western Michigan University Athletics.
26. "Hiller Named to the 2009-10 Manning Award List". Western Michigan University Athletics.
27. "Pritchard Named to Lombardi List". Western Michigan University Athletics.
28. . Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2009.