Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/339722
92 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f No Pressure P.J. Fleck knew he was in for a challenge. When he was hired in December 2012, Western Michigan was com- ing off a 4-8 season and had been to only one bowl in the previous four years. Fleck, a then-32-year-old enthu- siastic former wide receivers coach, said he was brought in to turn the program around and change its cul- ture. "That's what I'm going to do," he told the Detroit News. It'll take time. The Broncos were overmatched in his first season, winning only one game and ranking near the bottom of the FBS in most major categories. They were dead last — No. 123 — in sacks, managing only seven all season. They scored only 17.2 points per game (116th), allowed 35.4 (tied- 104th), averaged only 327 yards (110th) and gave up 419.2 (85th). Help is on the way, though. Fleck signed the highest-rated recruiting class in Mid-American Conference history — No. 57 in the country, according to Rivals.com — in February and a significant amount of those recruits will be expected to play in 2014. "With 24 incoming players, many of which are three-star athletes, it's a safe assumption that the two-deep will feature a handful of young faces," said David Drew, who covers the Broncos for Mlive.com. "I think the running back, defensive line and linebacker positions are likely to see the most freshmen in the depth chart and po- tentially playing." Flecks anticipates his program be- ing one of the youngest in the coun- try, but with that infusion of talent, he said he's willing to experience some growing pains knowing he's building a solid foundation that can sustain success. Really, though, Fleck started the youth movement last season. Redshirt freshman Zach Terrell's first snap at quarterback came be- cause the starting senior got injured, but the youngster quickly impressed, throwing a touchdown on his first (1-11 overall, 1-7 MAC, 6th West) Date Opponent . . . . . . . . . Results 8/30 at Michigan State . . . . L, 13-26 9/7 NICHOLLS STATE . . . . L, 23-27 9/14 at Northwestern . . . . . L, 17-38 9/21 at Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L 3-59 9/28 KENT STATE . . . . . . . . L, 14-32 10/5 at Toledo. . . . . . . . . . . L, 20-47 10/12 BUFFALO . . . . . . . . . . . L, 0-33 10/19 BALL STATE . . . . . . . . L, 17-38 10/26 at UMass . . . . . . . . . . W, 31-30 11/9 at Eastern Michigan L, 32-35 (OT) 11/16 CENTRAL MICHIGAN . L, 22-27 11/26 at Northern Illinois . . . L, 14-33 Who's in Charge? COACH P.J. FLECK Record at Western Michigan: 1-11 (one season) Record vs. Purdue: 0-0 GS Photo/WMU Athletics Corey Davis is a good place to start for an offense that needs to make signifi- cant strides in Coach P.J. Fleck's second season. Davis was one of the nation's top freshman receivers in 2013 with 941 yards and six TDs. Western Michigan Broncos 2014 OPPONENT PREVIEW • AUG. 30 • ROSS-ADE STADIUM • TIME: TBA • TV: TBD Date Opponent 8/30 at Purdue 9/13 at Idaho 9/20 MURRAY STATE 9/27 at Virginia Tech 10/11 at Ball State 10/18 at Bowling Green 10/25 OHIO 11/1 at Miami (OH) 11/15 EASTERN MICHIGAN 11/22 at Central Michigan 11/28 NORTHERN ILLINIOS 2013 RESULTS 2014 SCHEDULE EARLY LINE: PURDUE -7 Purdue and Western Michigan both finished in the bottom 10 of the FBS in sacks. 115. Purdue (14) Miami (14) Air Force (14) 118. UTEP (13) Southern Miss (13) 120. Massachussetts (11) New Mexico State (11) Navy (11) 123. Western Michigan (7)