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WMU Broncos arrive in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl

Posted at 1:12 PM, Dec 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-26 20:05:51-05

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Glenn Morgan snapped a few pictures of the Atlas Air airplane sitting on the runway at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International airport. He’d done it before in 2014 when the Western Michigan football team flew out for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Monday morning, he took pictures again.

“It’s really exciting to see the Broncos go to the Cotton Bowl,” said Morgan wearing a black cap with Broncos embroidered in gold. “It’s something they don’t ordinarily get a chance to do.”

It’s the Broncos first time ever in a major bowl game. The team and Coach P.J. Fleck boarded onto four buses at Waldo Stadium before walking up a ramp and onto a 767 Boeing airplane. It's the largest commercial jet the airport has seen this year.

“I like the planes,” said the 61-year-old alum. “You don’t see this often here at this airport.”

Morgan, like many fans, said this year has been unbelievable for the Broncos. They began the season by beating two Big 10 teams in Northwestern and Illinois. Their success continued throughout the season when they reached 13-0 after winning the Mid-American Conference Championship in Detroit. Now they’re deservedly in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl to take on the Wisconsin Badgers (10-3). Morgan said it's all because of Coach Fleck.

“With P.J. Fleck coaching them right now, he just got them rolling,” said Morgan during an interview at the airport. “He’s the key to the success, the building of the program,”

Morgan said he hopes Fleck sticks around and continues building the program. He knows one day he’ll go elsewhere. However he’d like to see Western become a football powerhouse.

“Similar success would be Boise state,” said Morgan. “All of sudden they had a coach out there that built their program. Now they’re a top team every year. I’d like to see Western become [that].”

The Broncos plane landed in Dallas Monday afternoon. The team has a full week of activities, press conferences and practices before Monday’s big game. Tickets are still available for the event. Morgan's been rooting for Western his whole life and he can’t wait for it.

“I'm a big fan,” said Morgan with a smile. “Go Broncos. Row the boat.”