Sports

Actions

WMU brings new energy, intensity to 2014 season

Posted at 8:09 PM, Aug 27, 2014
and last updated 2014-08-27 20:09:40-04

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- In his second year as Western Michigan head football coach, P.J. Fleck is cranking the energy level up a notch - and that's saying something.

"It's so much higher than it was before," senior running back Dareyon Chance said after morning practice on Wednesday. "You can't hide this energy. You can't even try to bottle this energy up."

"We work hard - at a different level than everybody else," sophomore quarterback Zach Terrell said. "That's definitely something Coach Fleck has brought in. He's made it the standard. Either you've adapted to it or you've gone elsewhere."

Fleck is truly in his element now, finally getting to game plan for the Broncos' 2014 opener on Saturday at Purdue (12:00 p.m. ET, ESPNU.)

"This is what we love to do: we love to practice," he said. "We love to get into the games - love to get into the season and the grind. The grind's the funnest part."

It's that grind that has WMU dreaming big heading into the season - despite a 1-11 finish in 2013.

"We've come a long way since last year," sophomore wide receiver Corey Davis said.

"I strongly believe we're gonna go from worst to first. We're confident and we're ready."