Sports: Fleck Gets 6 Year WMU Deal

Fleck Gets 6-year Deal at WMU

Western Michigan University coach P.J. Fleck is the highest-paid head-coach in the Mid American Conference.  WMU just gave Fleck a six-year contract extension worth $800,000 a year.  Terms of the agreement include a base salary of $225,000 per year and other guaranteed compensation — secured from external donors — that pushes Fleck's guaranteed total compensation to the $800,000 figure.  Fleck, in his second year as head coach, has guided the Broncos to the best turnaround in WMU and Mid-American Conference history, improving from 1-11 his first season to 8-4 this season. The Broncos became bowl eligible for the first time since 2011, and will face Air Force in Saturday's Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

U of M Coach

Michigan officials are not commenting on various media reports the school has made 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh a six-year offer for as much as $49 million, to be its new football coach. The 50-year old Harbaugh, a former quarterback at Michigan, has been rumored to be the top candidate for the job which became vacant when Brady Hoke was fired earlier this month. Michigan officials made it clear they will not comment on the coaching search until it is completed. At eight-million-dollars per season, the deal at Michigan would make Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in college football.

Red Wings

The Red Wings host the New York Islanders tonight at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings have dropped four out of their last five games, including three shootout losses. Johan Franzen is expected to be back on the ice for Detroit tonight after missing Tuesday's game with Columbus because of the flu. Stephen Weiss, who was placed on seven-day injured reserve after hurting his shoulder against Florida last Friday, will not be eligible to return until Sunday against the Avalanche. Weiss skated during practice Thursday, but it's not known if he'll be back in the lineup for the Colorado game.

Big Ten Basketball

MSU’s Women’s Basketball team takes on Baylor this Saturday and Syracuse on Sunday in Winter Park, Florida.

The MSU Spartan Men’s team will host Texas Southern on Saturday. Michigan State senior forward Branden Dawson will miss at least the next two games after he broke his wrist in the Spartans win over Eastern Michigan on Wednesday.   Dawson fell awkwardly on his left arm as he was trying to dunk early in the second half and didn't return to the game. He will be out of Saturday's contest against Texas Southern and Monday's game against The Citadel. Dawson will be re-evaluated and could return for the Big Ten opener against Maryland December 30th.

Pistons

The Pistons host Toronto tonight.    Detroit has lost its last two games, and eleven straight at home, while Toronto has won its last four.   The Pistons are 5-21 on the season and are in last place in the Central, 11 games behind division leading Chicago.  Detroit will travel to Brooklyn to tip off against the Nets on Sunday.

Thursday Night Football

Jordan Todman's 62-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter highlighted the Jacksonville Jaguars' 21-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Thursday nigh

Lions

The Lions head to Chicago Sunday.   Detroit is preparing to face its third backup quarterback this season, as Chicago has decided to start Jimmy Clausen instead of Jay Cutler this weekend. Drew Stanton with Arizona and Kyle Orton with Buffalo took over for their starting QBs and led their teams to wins over the Lions. Clausen is 1-9 in his career as a starter, all with Carolina. Meanwhile, Detroit claimed cornerback Josh Thomas off waivers earlier this week and he took part in his first practice with the Lions Thursday.
High School Basketball

St. Philip boys' basketball team beat Waldron 51-43.  Dreyson English had 16 points.  Hunter Haley finished with 13 points, three assists and four steals.

Union City is 4-0 after beating Springport 65-33.  Darren Austin had 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and seven steals.

Bellevue 65, Litchfield 23.  Tony Reid recorded a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six steals.

Girls Basketball

Bronson 45, St. Philip 27:.  Bronson's Kinslea Blouin scored 16 points, while Skyler Sobeski added 12.

It took 4 overtimes, as Hastings beat Battle Creek Central, 77-73. Ka-Leah Ryan had 30 points in the loss for Battle Creek Central.

Waldron 48, Bellevue 31

Tonight, in Boys & Girls Basketball:

Barry Co. Christian at Calhoun Christian

Harper Creek at Charlotte

Pennfield at Marshall

Will Carleton at Coldwater Pansophia

Galesburg-Augusta at Comstock

Gull Lake at P-Central

Rudolph Steiner at Marshall Academy

Stockbridge at Olivet

Boys’ Games….

Jonesville at Homer

Perry at Maple Valley

Girls’ Games….

Concord at Athens

Climax-Scotts at Hillsdale Academy

Union City at Springport

Colon at North Adams-Jerome

Wolves Hockey This Weekend

The West Michigan Wolves Junior A hockey team plays a home-and-home series against Toledo this weekend.   The Wolves host the Cherokee at 7 p.m. tonight at The Rink  and then the two teams head to Ohio for Game 2 on Saturday night.  The Wolves are currently in third place in the six-team Central Division at 16-11-1.

Tigers Odds On Favorite in Scherzer Bidding

The Tigers are the most likely landing spot for No. 1 free agent Max Scherzer, in the estimation of ESPN MLB Insider Jim Bowden.  Bowden says the odds of Scherzer returning to Detroit are 2-1. The former GM of the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals says it just comes down to big business decisions on both sides.  Bowden says agent Scott Boras has a strong relationship with team owner Mike Ilitch and president Dave Dombrowski, which works in the Tigers' favor. He expects Scherzer to sign with the highest bidder, and both sides are waiting to see if anyone will beat Detroit's best offer. That offer - six years and $144 million - was made prior to the start of the 2014 season. It was rejected by Scherzer and Boras.

Rondo to Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks traded for Rajon Rondo on Thursday, dealing three players and two draft picks to the Boston Celtics for the All-Star point guard, the teams said. The Mavericks landed Rondo amid reports the Celtics were talking to several other teams about a possible trade, including the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.

They also acquired rookie forward Dwight Powell in the deal. In return, the Celtics got point guard Jameer Nelson,  forwards Brandan Wright and Jae Crowder, a conditional 2015 first-round draft pick, a 2016 second-round pick and a $12.9 million trade exception.

Athlete of the Week

Go on line today to nominate our WBCK/Meijer Athlete of the Week!   It’s easy to nominate someone you think is deserving of an award.  The winner will get mentioned on WBCK and at wbckfm.com and also get a trophy from Recognition Inc. in Battle Creek. We’ll announce a new WBCK/Meijer Athlete of the Week each Wednesday.