Your mega guide to the Western Michigan vs. Michigan football game
The 132nd Michigan football team takes the field for the first time this season at 3:30 p.m. today.
AnnArbor.com file photo
WHO: Western Michigan (0-0) at Michigan (0-0).
WHERE: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
WHEN: 3:30 p.m. today.
ODDS: Michigan is favored by 14 points, according to sportsbook.com.
SERIES RECORD: Michigan leads, 5-0.
LAST MEETING: Michigan won 31-7 on Sept. 5, 2009. (AnnArbor.com coverage)
WEATHER: Latest forecast.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: TV: ABC; Radio: Michigan Sports Network (local affiliates).
MICHIGAN: Roster | 2010 Stats | 2010 Team Rankings
WESTERN MICHIGAN: Roster | 2010 Stats | 2010 Team Rankings
FAST FACTS: Michigan is 108-18-2 all-time in home openers. ... Michigan is 27-1 all-time against the Mid-American Conference, its only loss coming against Toledo in 2008, the last time it had a first-year coach. ... Brady Hoke is 4-2 all-time against Western Michigan, and 3-1 against current Broncos coach Bill Cubit. ... Only 0.5 point separated last year's per-game scoring averages for Michigan and Western Michigan. ... Michigan hasn't lost a season opener since falling to Appalachian State 34-32 in 2007.
RUNDOWN: New coaches. New systems. Anybody remember the last time this all happened? It wasn't long ago. The year was 2008, first-year coach Rich Rodriguez and his spread option attack lost the opener, 25-23, to Utah and the Wolverines finished the season 3-9.
Today, Brady Hoke gets his first shot against Western Michigan. He comes to Ann Arbor from San Diego State with promises of a smash-mouth, power-running, defense-oriented brand of football. Physicality, he calls it.
What will happen? We'll find out together beginning at 3:30 p.m. (join our live game day chat and we'll really find out together), and AnnArbor.com will bring you extensive coverage after the game.
Until then, take a moment to recap the news, notes and quotes from the week leading up kickoff.
First, a recap of some general interest stories for people visiting Ann Arbor for the game.
'Big House' ready to host football crowd on 90-degree day.Open that jacket: Michigan outlines security changes for 2011 football season.
Ann Arbor warns fans to expect 'excessive traffic delays' on Saturday.
Follow Kyle Meinke and the rest of the AnnArbor.com sports staff on Twitter:
Quick, take our poll:
And now, a look at some on-the-field stories:
FRIDAY
Check out Kyle Meinke's video preview of three key players to watch:
Sophomore Fitzgerald Toussaint was named Michigan's starting tailback hours before the opener.Meinke writes that Junior Hemingway is the biggest winner in Michigan's scheme changes. Who are other winners and losers?
Michigan's biggest worry Saturday? Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder, coaches say.
It's not all about the football team. It's also opening day for the marching band, which got a new practice field this year. Check out Angela Cesere's video:
THURSDAY
Two years later, Denard Robinson still has Western Michigan buzzing.Meinke hosted a lunchtime chat, with Kalamazoo Gazette sports reporter Graham Couch stopping by to offer some WMU perspective. Check out the transcript here.
WMU's Dann O'Neill, a former Michigan recruit, looks forward to his return.
Couch is back for our Beat Writer Breakdown, and he calls Alex Carder the best college QB in the state.
WEDNESDAY
Brady Hoke is using personalized tridents to motivate his players (plus plenty more info in this notebook).Some Wolverines recall their most memorable season-opening games.
Ann Arbor native and surprise starter Will Heininger sat down for a Q&A session with our Pete Cunningham.
TUESDAY
Hoke acknowledges he's nervous for season opener (and more notes).Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison says will use 'two starting lineups' in an effort to improve Michigan's dismal defense.
Older and wiser? Veterans appear to top youth on Hoke's first depth chart.
Toussaint was still in the thick of the starting tailback battle, Meinke learned while covering an open Tuesday practice.
We have video footage of Mattison and offensive coordinator Al Borges from their Tuesday press conference.
MONDAY
Captains David Molk, Mike Martin and Kevin Koger are honored to lead the Wolverines in 2011.Video of Hoke talking about Western Michigan and his own position battles.
Michigan's first depth chart was revealed on Monday.
Comments
Dr. Vag
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 4:17 p.m.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QkAjXcLHLE" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QkAjXcLHLE</a>
snoopdog
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 1:59 p.m.
Go Broncos, let's make a "joke" out of Hoke ! Good Day
musicnerdsftw
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 2:04 p.m.
Does Kzoo not have its own crappy news site? haha gotta love friendly banter
BlueGator
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 11:01 a.m.
At last, we get to see if (1) all the hard work and planning will pay off for our defense, and (2) our offense doesn't lose too much after the transition to a pro-style[ish] format. Here's hoping that the Brady Hoke era starts off with a win. I'm guessing we struggle a bit. Michigan, 27-17. GO BLUE!
DonAZ
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 2:59 a.m.
8:00pm Tucson time ... watching TCU v. Baylor ... Baylor looks great. GO BLUE!! My Vice President sent me a Notre Dame T-shirt in prep for ND game week after tomorrow. That's in response to me sending Meeechigan shirt to him. I told my wife -- starting at 3:30pm ET I am UNAVAILABLE. If the house is on fire call someone else. I'm watching the game. GO BLUE!!!!
DonAZ
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 3:17 a.m.
Frogs are coming back ... GREAT college game! Love it.
GoblueinNE_PA
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 2:55 a.m.
Are we going to have a chat session going during the game like the last few years?
Rich Rezler
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 5:39 a.m.
Yessir! The link will be up at 9 a.m. Or go straight to our Michigan football page to check out our cool new Game Day treatment, which includes an embedded live chat. See you there!
DonAZ
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 2:57 a.m.
Answer in another post is -- yes.
Terry Star21
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 1:31 a.m.
Ok Michigan Faithful - this is it, This Is Michigan Football. This is my last post until mid-February (some cheers in the background). This is going to be a great year as Michigan football players and coaches are going to give us everything they've got - and we in turn will give them every bit of positive support we've got. Support Michigan Football, be a faithful - keep your notre dame, nebraska and ohio state tickets. We're gonna have a great time at the Greatest Show on earth - Michigan Football. MgoBlueForTiM...........................yep, MgoBlueForTim.......Amen.
DonAZ
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 3:16 a.m.
Seriously ... why drop away? We need lots of anti-Theo voices! :-)
GoblueinNE_PA
Sat, Sep 3, 2011 : 2:53 a.m.
Terry, why the heck are you leaving till Mid February? All opinions should be (are) welcomed. We also need as many Michigan voices as possible to help drown out the goofs from MSU and OSU.