'
Team: Western Michigan Broncos
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
NCAA Division: Division I FBS
Conference: Mid-American
Stadium: Waldo Stadium
Head Coach: Tim Lester
Rivals: Central Michigan University Chippewas
''
You may know Terry Crews from his role on
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
or for his time in the NFL. Before all of that, he played for the Western Michigan Broncos football team. Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and football is a major attraction there. There is always an electric game day atmosphere with enthusiastic tailgating. The 300-member Bronco Marching Band keeps the excitement going during halftime. Coached by Tim Lester, the Broncos play at
Waldo Stadium
. Broncos Football is a four-time MAC West conference champion, and the team took home the Mid-American Conference trophy most recently in 2016. Without a doubt, the biggest rival for the Broncos is the
Central Michigan University Chippewas
, and the WMU-CMU rivalry game is always hotly anticipated. The team plays in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). In addition to Crews, dozens of Broncos players have gone on to careers in the NFL. Grab your Western Michigan Broncos football tickets at StubHub.
''Game days are exciting in Kalamazoo. The stadium is packed with up to 30,000 fans, and the energy is electric. Mascot Buster Bronco and the Bronco Marching Band help energize the crowd even more. You'll see a sea of brown and gold with students, alumni and others wearing their Bronco pride. It will be loud, but there's nothing quite like it.'
'The Western Michigan Broncos have won four conference championships, including the Michigan Collegiate Conference in 1929 and the Mid-American Conference in 1966, 1988 and 2016. They also have four division championships under their belt, winning MAC West in 1999, 2000, 2015 and 2016.'
'
WMU's
Waldo Stadium
has a seating capacity of 30,200. In addition to the stadium seating, the adjacent Donald J. Seelye Center suites offer a unique and spectacular view of the field.
''With 16 designated tailgating lots (many offering shuttle bus service to the stadium), you can expect a lot of action before the game with fellow fans. There will be plenty of classic tailgating action, including good food and drink with lots of grilling.'
'When it comes to rivalries, there is only one team worth mentioning. The WMU Broncos' primary rival is Central Michigan University Chippewas Football. The rivals first went head to head in 1907. Since 2008, the Broncos and the Chippewas have fought for the Victory Cannon. Both schools have cannons they fire at their home stadiums, so it's a fitting trophy. The WMU-CMU rivalry game is the most hotly anticipated game of the year. As of 2018, the Broncos have the lead, and they hope to hold onto it.'
'After an incredibly strong season for the Broncos in 2016, head coach P.J. Fleck unexpectedly left for the head coach job at the University of Minnesota's football program. Former Broncos quarterback Tim Lester took over in 2017.'
'Historically, names like Greg Jennings, Jason Babin and Terry Crews stand out, but the Broncos have sent dozens of players to the NFL. The 2019 team looks to be a standout lineup, and the S&P+ is projecting them as the best team in the conference. The offensive situation looks particularly good with some serious depth of experience. Some of the notable current players are LeVante Bellamy, Jon Wassink, Kaleb Eleby, Luke Juriga, D’Wayne Eskridge, Jaylen Hall, Drake Spears and Alex Grace.'