The Broncos were champions in 1988, but finishes anywhere from second to fifth were more the norm. The difference in Western Michigan now and in 1996, Darnell said, is his players ability to run. Guys who run fast can make up for things we forget to tell them. When we ve been fast, we ve been good. We ve been working toward this team for three years.
Nothing happens in one year.
You recruit speed and let it go. Much of the MAC learned that from Marshall, which overwhelmed teams for three seasons with speed, not just at wide receiver and defensive back, but at linebacker, on the defensive line and in the kicking game. Western Michigan s most-notable gains in speed have come on defense. Linebackers crash into the backfield quickly, disrupting plays and forcing quarterbacks into rushed decisions. One of the players Darnell points to is junior strong safety Jermaine Lewis, who runs 40 yards in a blazing 4.33 seconds.