13-r0w. Western Michigan keeps rowing to a MAC Championship
Row The Boat. It's been a mantra since P.J. Fleck took over as the head football coach at Western Michigan University.
Western Michigan continued their perfect season on Friday night with a win over Ohio University in the MAC Championship game. The Broncos moved to 13-0 on the season and won their first MAC title since 1988. Coach Fleck made sure to secure the new luggage that the team would be taking home to Kalamazoo with them.
All buckled up and heading home!! #MACChampions #RTB pic.twitter.com/AIdzuZgo5V
— P.J. Fleck (@Coach_Fleck) December 3, 2016
It was a wild scene in the Western Michigan locker room after the game. After a complete turnaround for the program in just four years, who can blame them?
It's a party in the @WMU_Football locker room. @Coach_Fleck & the Broncos are 13-r0w & MAC Champs! #RTB #MAC pic.twitter.com/jbiy1izf9T
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 3, 2016
As emotions were running high, Corey Davis took to Twitter to channel his inner Drake on the way home.
& we need some really big rings!
— CD84 (@c_davis_81) December 3, 2016
Zach Terrell let the world know about a promise that Coach P.J. Fleck made after the 1-11 season.
4 years ago @Coach_Fleck said, "Those who stay will be champions." 4 years later, we are champions! Love this team! #13-0 #MacChamps
— Zach Terrell (@Zach_Terrell11) December 3, 2016
After the game, Corey Davis was asked about the difference between that 1-11 season and the feelings he was experiencing as a conference champion. Davis said, "Everything. That first year was pretty brutal, pretty tough but like they said, this is a foundation year, just gave us our strength and gave us what we needed to overcome everything over the past few years. We should be proud of these guys for everything they overcame and how far we've come. A lot of work, a lot of blood, sweat and tears those past years and it paid off."
Will we end up seeing Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl? Coach Fleck says the team belongs there.
"I expect and YOU DESERVE to be playing in the @CottonBowlGame." -- @Coach_Fleck #RTB #MACtion pic.twitter.com/zKBA3GUArv
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 3, 2016
Here's the full answer on the Cotton Bowl from P.J. Fleck. It's terrific. pic.twitter.com/QBpUSpp7EW
— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) December 3, 2016
Quarterback Zach Terrell also thinks that Western Michigan has made a great case that they belong in the Cotton Bowl. "Honestly, we've done all we can do. I'm just so proud of this team. Going 13?0 is a tremendous feat. Whether or not we are in the Cotton Bowl or we aren't, we can't control that. All we can control is winning the games that are on our schedule and we've done that. I couldn't be prouder to be on this team, to represent this university and to see where we've come from. Kind of like Robert said, Coach Fleck said three years ago when he first got here those at this table will be champions and now we're champions."
Coach Fleck also spoke on what this championship meant for the city of Kalamazoo.
#westernmichigan coach PJ Fleck on how the MAC Championship helped heal #kalamazoo and everything it has been through in the last year. pic.twitter.com/gTS0KK1Zq6
— Geno Green (@TheGenoGreen) December 3, 2016
With the MAC Championship being played at Ford Field in Detroit, and a perfect season on the line, plenty of Western Michigan fans showed up to support the Broncos. A total of 45,615 fans were in attendance to see Western Michigan make history. This smashed the previous MAC Championship Game attendance record of 28,085 (1998 Toledo at Marshall).
Thank you, Fans!#MACtion pic.twitter.com/9v7EI8HBox
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 3, 2016
Don't be surprised if Western Michigan gets their name called to continue rowing the boat into Arlington, Texas on January 2, 2017.
-Jon Opiela, @jonopiela24