Post by rainman on Aug 28, 2007 6:22:30 GMT -5
Cubit: Challenge ‘excites’ Broncos
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Coach Bill Cubit readily admitted Monday that opening the football season at No. 3 West Virginia University on Saturday is a “monumental challenge” for his Western Michigan team.
“But our kids are excited about going down there,” he said in a teleconference. “I feel good about our guys. I think they will play hard.”
Cubit, in his third year at the Mid-American Conference school, pointed out that his players have performed well against nationally ranked teams in the past. And since they don’t face Top 25 teams week in and week out, the underdog role brings out the best in them.
He doesn’t think whether the Broncos play up to their potential is really as much of an issue as whether the heavily favored Mountaineer play up to their potential.
“It would be a big issue for us,” Cubit said. “But you never know. As I say, I do feel good about our team.”
Cubit has a 15-9 record for his first two years there. The Broncos went 8-5 last season, including a 17-10 upset victory at Virginia and a narrow 27-24 loss to Big East foe Cincinnati in the inaugural International Bowl at Toronto.
Western Michigan is favored to win the 2007 MAC championship.
“Kids around here traditionally have been pretty good in these types of games,” the veteran coach said. “Even in the first game we ever played here, Virginia was ranked in the Top 25 and Western was coming off a 1-10 season, and we took them down to the wire.”
He thinks his players, many bypassed by bigger schools, cherish the opportunity to deal with challenges. But he said this one is by far the biggest the Broncos have faced since he’s been there.
“There’s always that underdog thing — a little chip on your shoulder,” Cubit said.
He indicated that the WMU defense could be even better than it was last season when limiting opponents to an average of just 76.1 yards rushing and 275.4 yards per game overall.
“The kids are bigger and stronger, defensively, and are doing a lot more different things that, hopefully, will help,” the coach said. “But we also controlled the ball a lot on offense (in 2006) and had some big playmakers that helped.”
He explained that his coaches have been just talking about the process each day, making sure that their players do things right.
“We’ll focus a little bit more on what this thing could mean to the team on Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” he added.
Cubit called WVU an outstanding football team — one of the better offenses that he has seen in all of his years of coaching.
“I think the scheme that Rich (Rodriguez) runs is outstanding,” he said. “He’s got kids that can run it. It causes a lot of issues because of space, and he’s got guys that are really good athletes.”
He also thinks the Mountaineers’ defense is getting better and creates “issues that you don’t see a whole lot.” But he’s confident that his players will go into the 3:30 p.m. kickoff and like the prevailing atmosphere.
Last year Western Michigan took Florida State down to the wire before bowing by just 28-20. He expects a similar show of hard playing here Saturday.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Coach Bill Cubit readily admitted Monday that opening the football season at No. 3 West Virginia University on Saturday is a “monumental challenge” for his Western Michigan team.
“But our kids are excited about going down there,” he said in a teleconference. “I feel good about our guys. I think they will play hard.”
Cubit, in his third year at the Mid-American Conference school, pointed out that his players have performed well against nationally ranked teams in the past. And since they don’t face Top 25 teams week in and week out, the underdog role brings out the best in them.
He doesn’t think whether the Broncos play up to their potential is really as much of an issue as whether the heavily favored Mountaineer play up to their potential.
“It would be a big issue for us,” Cubit said. “But you never know. As I say, I do feel good about our team.”
Cubit has a 15-9 record for his first two years there. The Broncos went 8-5 last season, including a 17-10 upset victory at Virginia and a narrow 27-24 loss to Big East foe Cincinnati in the inaugural International Bowl at Toronto.
Western Michigan is favored to win the 2007 MAC championship.
“Kids around here traditionally have been pretty good in these types of games,” the veteran coach said. “Even in the first game we ever played here, Virginia was ranked in the Top 25 and Western was coming off a 1-10 season, and we took them down to the wire.”
He thinks his players, many bypassed by bigger schools, cherish the opportunity to deal with challenges. But he said this one is by far the biggest the Broncos have faced since he’s been there.
“There’s always that underdog thing — a little chip on your shoulder,” Cubit said.
He indicated that the WMU defense could be even better than it was last season when limiting opponents to an average of just 76.1 yards rushing and 275.4 yards per game overall.
“The kids are bigger and stronger, defensively, and are doing a lot more different things that, hopefully, will help,” the coach said. “But we also controlled the ball a lot on offense (in 2006) and had some big playmakers that helped.”
He explained that his coaches have been just talking about the process each day, making sure that their players do things right.
“We’ll focus a little bit more on what this thing could mean to the team on Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” he added.
Cubit called WVU an outstanding football team — one of the better offenses that he has seen in all of his years of coaching.
“I think the scheme that Rich (Rodriguez) runs is outstanding,” he said. “He’s got kids that can run it. It causes a lot of issues because of space, and he’s got guys that are really good athletes.”
He also thinks the Mountaineers’ defense is getting better and creates “issues that you don’t see a whole lot.” But he’s confident that his players will go into the 3:30 p.m. kickoff and like the prevailing atmosphere.
Last year Western Michigan took Florida State down to the wire before bowing by just 28-20. He expects a similar show of hard playing here Saturday.
