My freshman year at WMU was quite the letdown in terms of college football, as the Broncos finished the season with a 1-11 record. With the hiring of head coach P.J. Fleck and the incorporation of the ‘Row the Boat’ mantra, it was an unsettling year for fans of the team that left many considering jumping ship. For me, seeing the energy this new coach had, that apparently never ran out, seemed inspiring. I felt that there was something coming that we as a university had not yet witnessed, and boy was I right.
The next two years resulted in 8-5 records for the team, with Fleck and the Broncos making back-to-back bowl game appearances.