Bill Cubit did a phenomenal job in his first season at Western Michigan, and now it's time to return to the glory days. 

It wasn't all that long ago, 2000 to be precise, that Western Michigan was one of the MAC's superpowers appearing in back-to-back title games. And then things went downhill in a hurry with four straight losing seasons bottoming out with a horrific 1-10 2004 campaign. Cubit turned things around in one season bringing the program back to among the MAC living, and now things are about to get better.

18 starters return to a team that saw its starting quarterbacks go down with injuries like Spinal Tap went through drummers, and struggled with a pass defense that was just this close to being the worst in America despite having the MAC's best pass rush to help out generating pressure. Last year's problems should turn into this season's positives with a stronger, more experienced secondary and two great quarterback options in Ryan Cubit, the head coach's son, and Tim Hiller, once he returns from a knee injury.

What the Broncos don't have is Greg Jennings, the record setting receiver who caught 238 career passes for 3,539 yards and 39 touchdowns, tight end Tony Scheffler, who caught 117 career passes for 1,345 yards and 13 touchdowns, or Trovon Riley, who ran for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns. While the offense should take a little bit of a step back after averaging 32 points per game, the defense should be better with a strong front seven highlighted by Ameer Ismail and the linebacking corps.

Now the question becomes whether or not the Broncos can build off last year's momentum. After losing the opening two games of the year at Virginia and at Toledo, they went on a great run with a stunning overtime 60-57 slip at Ball State the only hiccup over an eight game stretch. The bar has been raised high again.

If Akron can win the MAC title last year, then Western Michigan can do it this season. It has the experience, the overall athleticism, and the coaching to be a power again and battle Northern Illinois and Toledo in the West. No, it's not crazy to suggest that the road to the MAC championship might go through Kalamazoo.

The Schedule: The Broncos can't ask for much more with the two really, really big conference games, Toledo and Northern Illinois, at home. The only downside is the finishing kick with three straight road games to finish things up in November including a nasty trip to Tallahassee to face Florida State the week before playing defending MAC champion Akron. There' no much of a break from the East side playing Miami University along with the season finale against the Zips.

What you need to know on offense ... Seven starters return, but it'll be next to impossible not to see a step taken backwards after losing heart-and-soul WR Greg Jennings, all-star TE Tony Scheffler and 1,004-yard RB Trovon Riley. The offensive line is huge and experienced and Mark Bonds is a pounding runner who should keep the chains moving. Quarterback isn't an issue with Ryan Cubit and Tim Hiller both returning from knee injuries and solid enough to make everyone around them better. The real question mark is at receiver where several players have to turn into dangerous deep threats. Expect the whole to be better than the sum of the parts.

Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Ryan Cubit and/or sophomore QB Tim Hiller. Both suffered bad knee injuries last year, but Cubit's came early enough in the season to be able to heal in time for this year. Hiller's injury came in the season finale making him questionable to be a part of the quarterback race. Each proved he can lead the offense, but life is going to be tougher without Greg Jennings and Tony Scheffler to throw to.

What you need to know on defense ... Nine starters return to what could be the X factor in the MAC race. The run defense was solid last season and no one was better in the MAC at getting to the quarterback, but the young secondary got flat-out torched. On the plus side, this is an exciting group of defensive backs that should be far better this season. The linebacking corps has the potential to be the best in the conference led by pass rushing terror Ameer Ismail on the outside. The line is nothing special, but it's experienced and has a rising star in tackle Nick Varcadipane.

Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Ameer Ismail. The Bronco ends don't generate much pressure, so it's up to the 225-pound weakside linebacker to blow things up in the backfield. He was terrific at getting to the quarterback with the speed and killer instinct to make plays behind the line.

Key player to a successful season: Sophomore CB Londen Fryar. Western Michigan finished 118th in the nation in pass defense; better cornerback play is a must. E.J. Biggers should be improved at one corner, so it'll be up to the son of former NFL star and Nebraska Cornhusker, Irving, to be a rock on the other side.

The season will be a success if ... Western Michigan wins the West. There are plenty of holes and the team might be a year away from truly being a threat for the MAC title, but the schedule works out well and there's enough experience to be division champions right now.

Key game: Nov. 10 at Central Michigan. The Toledo and Northern Illinois games are key for MAC title hopes, but those are in K-Zoo. The Central Michigan game is the beginning of the three game road tilt to end the season and comes before facing Florida State and Akron. In other words, WMU had better beat the Chippewas.

2005 Fun Stats:
- Field goals: Western Michigan 12 of 19 - Opponents 6 of 14
- Western Michigan second quarter scoring: 132 - Western Michigan second half scoring: 122
- Third down conversions: Opponents 78 of 177 (44%) - Western Michigan 65 of 163 (40%)

The Last Time Western Michigan …
…played in a bowl game…1988 (California Bowl vs. Fresno State)
…missed a bowl game…2005
…pitched a shutout…2004 (Tennessee-Martin)
…was shutout…2004 (Bowling Green)
…scored 50 points…2005 (Ball State)
…went undefeated…never
…won a conference title…1988 (MAC)
…had a 3,000-yard passer…1999 (Tim Lester)
…had a 1,000-yard rusher…2005 (Trovon Riley)
…had a 1,000-yard receiver…2005 (Greg Jennings)
…had a first-round draft choice…2004 (DE Jason Babin)