NEWS RELEASES

Western Michigan put the finishing touches on its preparation for the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl by conducting a light practice Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium.

The Broncos (13-0, 9-0 Mid-American) have completed their 15 allotted bowl workouts and Head Coach P.J. Fleck proclaimed his team his ready to face Wisconsin (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten) on Monday.

“Our players are anxious to play … and tired of practicing,” Head Coach P.J. Fleck said earlier in the day.

Western Michigan polished its game plan during a 45-minute practice Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

It’s the same practice during a regular-season game week that falls on a Thursday, so the Broncos refer to it as Technique Thursday. They work without pads and helmets and they step moderately instead of running as they execute plays.

“There’s absolutely zero energy exerted physically. It’s all mental energy,” Head Coach P.J.

After a day away from the practice field, Wisconsin got back to business for its matchup with the No. 15 Western Michigan Broncos in the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

The Badgers (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten) went through their final full workout at AT&T Stadium with a 90-minute workout, thoroughly going through the final touches of their preparation in helmets and shorts. Head coach Paul Chryst said he was pleased with how his squad responded from taking the much-needed respite.

Western Michigan on Friday completed its last heavy practice before the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and appeared right on schedule physically and mentally.

The Broncos (13-0, 9-0 Mid-American), ranked 15th in the College Football Playoff poll, take their undefeated record into the Jan. 2 game against No. 8 Wisconsin (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten), which did not practice on Friday.

Western Michigan’s fourth practice at AT&T Stadium was one of “high energy … incredible focus from our players,” Head Coach P.

Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst and the entire Badger football team spent their afternoon
visiting Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The team spent an hour signing autographs and playing
games with patients.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital President and CEO, Robert Walker, welcomed the team and Coach Chryst,
along with Jay McAuley, Chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association.

During the program, Seth Klugherz, Director of Marketing for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company,
presented Texas Scottish Rite Hospital a $10,000 check, as well as a certificate for two people to ride the
Goodyear blimp.

Wisconsin continued its preparation for the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic with another nearly two-hour practice Thursday morning.

Donning shells and helmets, the Badgers hit the AT&T Stadium turf with enthusiasm, working through situational plays on offense and defense in their third practice in North Texas.

“I’ve been really happy with the way the kids have approached the mornings in practice and in meetings. They had good energy today,” said head coach Paul Chryst.

If grades were being handed out for practice quality, then Western Michigan would have earned an ‘A’ on Thursday.

“This was one of the best practices we’ve had in the last two months,” Head Coach P.J. Fleck said.

The 15th-ranked Broncos (13-0, 9-0 Mid-American) continued their preparation for the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 2 at AT&T Stadium. They’ll face No. 8 Wisconsin (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten).

When the Broncos arrived, they were a little wide-eyed at the bowl hospitality and the grandeur of AT&T Stadium, where they watched the Dallas Cowboys game on Monday night.

Spend any time around Western Michigan Head Coach P.J. Fleck and
you’re likely to hear about serving and giving being fundamental parts of the program’s values.

A few of his players demonstrated those values by coming to the aid of an injured man this week, a story that was shared with the rest of the players after their walk-through on Wednesday at AT&T Stadium.

The 15th-ranked Broncos (13-0, 9-0 Mid-American) are preparing to meet No. 8 Wisconsin (10- 3, 7-2 Big Ten) on Jan.

Western Michigan Head Coach PJ Fleck and the entire Broncos football team spent the afternoon sharing inspiration and “Row the Boat” motivation to patients at Children's Medical Center Dallas.

The team spent an hour signing autographs and making crafts with patients in the Butterfly Atrium. Coach Fleck and the seniors made personal visits to rooms throughout the hospital. He reflected on what the visit meant to him on a personal level, as he shared the story of how the battle cry of “Row the Boat” began.

Wisconsin was back on the practice field Wednesday morning for a nearly two-hour workout at AT&T Stadium.

The No. 8 Badgers (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten) conducted a spirited practice session in helmets and pads that touched on all three phases of the team’s game plan to face the No. 15 Western Michigan Broncos (13-0, 9-0 Mid-American) in the 81st edition of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

“It was a heavier work day. The kids approached it the right way. We got some work done so it was good,” said head coach Paul Chryst.

Wisconsin got back to work after a short holiday break Tuesday morning with its first practice at AT&T Stadium in preparation for the No. 15 Western Michigan Broncos and the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

“I thought the kids came out worked hard,” said head coach Paul Chryst. “It wasn’t a long practice but I thought it was good. I liked what they did.”
The No. 8 Badgers (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten) got their first work in earnest in four days in helmets and shells, beginning the final phase of their game plan to take on an undefeated Western Michigan team.

Different location, similar results for Western Michigan and its effective practice habits.

The Broncos conducted their first on-site practice at AT&T Stadium on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and it went a lot like the ones they’ve held back home in Kalamazoo, Mich. Coach P.J. Fleck described the 90-minute, high-energy session as “elite.”

Consistently generating high-level practices has helped propel the Broncos (13-0, 9-0 Mid-American) to No.

Wisconsin touched down safely in North Texas Monday evening, traveling from Madison via private charter, for the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

All players and coaches were accounted for as the entire travel party arrived at their team hotel in Dallas. The Badgers exuded excitement in taking festive atmosphere at the hotel, while settling into their home away from home for the next seven days.

No. 8 Wisconsin (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten) clashes with No. 15 Western Michigan Broncos (13-0, 9-0 Mid-American) in a matchup that features two, first-time Cotton Bowl Classic participants.

Western Michigan didn’t have to wait long to start enjoying some of the perks of participating in its first New Year’s Six bowl game.

The Broncos arrived Monday and deplaned to find waiting for them charter buses fully wrapped in colorful team photos, including a post-game celebration shot from their Mid-American Conference championship game. Later, it was on to watch the Dallas Cowboys play the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium, where the Broncos will meet Wisconsin on Jan.

Row the Boat vs. Bucky Badger... Mid-American Conference Champion vs. Big Ten West Division Champion... a battle with abundant storylines will ensue on Jan. 2nd as No. 15 ranked Western Michigan will face off against No. 8 Wisconsin in the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium.

The Broncos and Badgers will be making their first appearances at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl and meet for only the fifth time in series history. All four meetings have occurred at Madison with Wisconsin holding a 3-1 advantage.