The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

As players and coaching staff become accustomed to the novelty of being in the Bahamas, they returned to some familiar confines yesterday as they hit the gridiron for one of the final tune-ups ahead of the 2015 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.

The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders took to the Roscow Davies Soccer Field while Western Michigan Broncos took to the Thomas A Robinson Stadium for two-hour practice sessions, the final full sessions before the Christmas Eve showdown.

“I thought we came out with a lot of energy today,” Middle Tennessee offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said. “I was excited just to get down here and get out in this heat on the field. We’ve actually been fortunate enough to have good weather back home. (I was) real encouraged by the work we put in today. Now we just have to put one good one in tomorrow and start winding down and get ready to play.”

The Broncos coaching staff highlighted the change in climate as the biggest standout from practice.

“It was sharp,” WMU defensive coordinator Ed Pinkham said. “I think the kids executed well today. The heat is definitely a little different from what we left in Kalamazoo, but they responded pretty well. I thought we had a real good practice.”

From the players’ perspective it was a quick adjustment from vacation to business once they put the pads on and hit the practice field.

“I’ve been on a cruise to the Bahamas before. I’ve been by Atlantis on a boat but hadn’t stayed there until now. Everybody was jacked up and excited to get down here. I think when you get to a place like this with the weather and the atmosphere it kind of gets you in good spirits,” Blue Raiders quarterback Brent Stockstill said. “As long as you have a field and a ball, you’re ready to roll. It was good for us to get out here, perfect the game plan and continue to fine-tune things. We’ll have another good day tomorrow then wind down for Thursday.”

“It was a great practice,” Broncos defensive end Keion Adams said. “We came out with a lot of energy. We knew, even though being in the Bahamas, we still are here to play a game. That’s what we are here for. There’s a time to have fun and there’s a place to work and do our business. We got after it (today). There was a lot of intensity. Most of our guys are from Florida and the South. I don’t think it will be much of a problem [this week]. We prepared ourselves by practicing in our indoor facility and coach Fleck pumped the heat up, so we’ll be used to it when gametime comes around.”

Broncos safety Asantay Brown had a  unique take on the perceived effect the possible distraction of playing in the Bahamas and becoming accustomed to the surroundings.

“We don’t let the circus tent dictate our behaviour,” he said. “It was fun. We just came to practice (and) came prepared. It’s a lot hotter than it is in Michigan. “Their receivers, their running backs… they are just a sound football team, there’s no other way around it. You just have to continue to prepare and do our best to stop them.”

Blue Raiders offensive lineman Jaylen Hunter said he and his teammates intend to take full advantage of the opportunity both on and off the field. “It was awesome. This is my first time in the Bahamas. Seeing all the sights and the different cultures was pretty cool. I’ve been to Mexico on a cruise before but this is a whole other experience. Everybody’s excited, most of the guys probably won’t go to the Bahamas again so it’s a once in a lifetime experience. We’re going to enjoy it.”

The Blue Raiders will represent Conference-USA in the bowl. They concluded the season with a 7-5 record and a 42-7 win in their regular season finale. This will be the fifth bowl game appearance, and the first since the 2013 Armed Forces Bowl, for the Blue Raiders, all under head coach Rick Stockstill, who is in his 10th season at the school.

The Broncos will be favoured by three points over the Blue Raiders when the teams face off.

The Broncos, 7-5 overall, will come into the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl with a share of the MAC West Division title after posting six victories in their last eight games, including a 35-30 victory over No. 24 Toledo in WMU’s last game.

It will mark Western Michigan’s seventh overall bowl game appearance, and it will be the second straight for the Broncos under head coach PJ Fleck, who is in his third season at the school and is the youngest head coach at the FBS level.