GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 1 • 8
better, joining Purdue in triple-
digit NCAA statistical rankings in
scoring offense, total offense and
rushing offense.
As with everything else, it
seems like, when it comes to pre-
game storylines, the statistics mir-
ror one another closely on both
sides of the ball.
Defensively, Western Michigan
was one of the few teams worse
than Purdue against the run in
2013, allowing a staggering 3,000
rushing yards.
If Western Michigan's going to
be improved in 2014, it must get
better at the line of scrimmage, it's
generally believed.
Purdue can say the same, with
physicality all across the board like
-
ly to be a significant factor in
both teams' opener.
Last season, Purdue en-
dured a deficit in that area,
as well as in experience,
in part because it was so
young, playing numerous
freshmen or other under-
experienced young players
all over the field for the ma-
jority of the season.
Saturday, the tables
might be turned, for one
week anyway.
Western Michigan has
18 freshmen in its publicly
released depth chart, many
of them products of what
the school pushes as the
"highest-ranked recruiting
class in MAC history," a group of
signees that was ranked 58th na-
tionally by Rivals.com.
That might not sound like
much to the common observer,
but that's a level in the rankings
not often seen by Mid-American
Conference programs, though
not all of those signed in February
made it to Kalamazoo.
This is a matchup Saturday of
two teams in very similar situa-
tions looking to break out of those
situations.
One will match its win total of
all of last season this season.
Western Michigan says it will
visit Ross-Ade
Stadium moti-
vated.
"Honestly,
we just look at
our record from
last year," Ter-
rell told the Ga-
zette. "We have
a lot to prove. We're hungry. We
can only control what we can con-
trol and we're preparing as hard as
we can. We're definitely going to
get up for this game because we
have a bad taste in our mouth from
last year. Coach Fleck has really re-
minded us of that and we're going
to do whatever it takes to not do
that again this year."
Purdue would say the exact
same thing.
j
Western Michigan
Senior strong safety Justin Currie had three interceptions last season.
OPPONENT NEWSSTAND
WMUBroncos.com: Western Michigan game notes
WMUBroncos.com: Football luncheon with Coach P.J. Fleck and
quarterback Zach Terrell
MLive.com: 5 things to watch: Western Michigan opens season
at Purdue looking for strong showing
MLive.com: Terrell believes Purdue's Danny Etling shares same
hunger for redemption
MLive.com: Veteran WMU football secondary has new name
but looking to play same 'money' game for Broncos
BroncoBlitz.com: Fleck previews the upcoming season
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