Broncos Defend the Cannon This Week Against the Chippewas
Rivalries in college football are a known commodity. Other than the two big schools in Michigan, Saturday's game between the Western Michigan Broncos and Central Michigan Chippewas ranks up there with best rivalries in the Great Lakes State.
The Broncos will look to open Mid-American Conference play with a victory over the Chippewas to retain the Cannon trophy in their annual battle, the 11th that involves the trophy itself. The student governments from both schools created the trophy in 2008. The wood pedestal is shaded brown and gold on one side (Western) and maroon and gold on the other (Central). The cannon represents what both schools use following touchdowns at their respective home stadiums, Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo and Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mt. Pleasant.
The Broncos brought the Cannon back home last season in a 35-10 rout at Central Michigan, stretching their overall record against the Chippewas to 49-38-2. Central has only won twice in the last eight contests with both wins in Kalamazoo.
Both teams enter this season's contest at 2-2, but the Chippewas already have a conference win under their belt in a 45-24 victory against the Akron Zips September 14th. Both teams lost last week to Atlantic Coast Conference foes, with Western's 52-33 defeat to Syracuse and Central's 17-12 loss to Miami (FL).
Broncos head coach Tim Lester talks about the preparation of a rivalry game, the Hall of Fame weekend being celebrated at Waldo, facing a different head coach in the rivalry and the loss of a pivotal two-way player for the rest of the season in his weekly press conference.
Extra details into the contest can be found here in Western's weekly rundown.
Kick-off in Kalamazoo is at Noon Saturday. Several great tickets are still available for the game. It's also a "Black Out", where fans are asked to wear black in support of the Broncos.
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