When Western Michigan’s 2002 schedule was announced, head coach Gary Darnell did not hear one complaint from his players.

With back-to-back trips to Michigan and Purdue, and then a home date against Virginia Tech in September, nobody can accuse the Broncos of playing a soft schedule.

The seventh-year head coach just laughed when he was asked what he did to deserve such a schedule.

"Why don’t you ask our athletic director [Kathy Beauregard]," the former Oklahoma State linebacker said. "We don’t feel out of place playing any of those people.

"The players like it. Most of the guys are from Michigan any ways."

As far as the Broncos are concerned, they just want to play some football -- anywhere and against anyone -- to try to atone for last year’s disappointing 5-6 record. It was the first time WMU had a losing mark since 1997, Darnell’s first season, when it finished 2-9.

The primary problem for the Broncos last year was injuries, with the biggest being to quarterback Jeff Welsh. The senior suffered a collapsed lung and broken collarbone at different points in the season and was limited to seven games.

WMU was not the same team without him.

"We’re not going to use it as an excuse," said Darnell, who had more injuries on his team last year than in his previous four seasons combined.

On the bright side, the loss of Welsh allowed junior Jon Drach (6-4, 215) a chance to play in seven games. He threw for 988 yards on 92-of-191 passing with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The performance was not enough to lock up the job this year, though. Drach played well in the spring, but red-shirt freshman Blayne Baggett (6-2, 205) is pushing him for the job. The Broncos also need someone to run with the ball after averaging a mere 99.9 yards per game -- worst in the MAC -- on last year.

The Broncos have other offensive positions to fill with only three starters back -- senior linemen Kevin Kramer (6-4, 289) and center Jake Gasaway (6-3, 278) and senior tight end Mobolaji Afariogun (6-4, 238) -- on a unit that averaged 25 points and 357.7 yards per game last year.

The defense is another story at WMU. With three standouts back on the line -- seniors Chris Browning (6-2, 235) and Anthony Allsbury (6-2, 253) and junior Jason Babin (6-4, 255) -- there might not be a better front group in the MAC West.

The trio helped the Broncos post a league-high 31 sacks last year and finish second in scoring defense with 24.2 points allowed per game. WMU has three other starters back, including standout senior linebacker Bryan Lape (6-3, 220), but needs help at defensive back.

Instead of trying to replace Welsh on the fly, WMU will have had about nine months to search for the new leader of its one-back offense.

Drach is penciled in as the starter based on his experience in the system, but there are plenty of people around hoping to take his job. Baggett, an option quarterback at Central High in Michigan, and Mitch John (6-3, 182) learned the offense last year as red-shirt freshmen, but the latter sat out spring workouts with a broken hand.

Jim Kirby (6-1, 200) also took snaps during the spring, but is not expected to be the answer.

Two JUCO signal callers arrive in August in sophomore Robbie Haas (6-2, 190) and junior Chad Munson (6-3, 210), who possess strong leadership skills.

Haas threw for 2,487 yards on 166-of-290 passing with 30 touchdowns and five interceptions at Ricks College, but the Idaho school is dropping its athletic programs to become BYU-Idaho.

The Broncos also need to find a full-time running back who can do it all in their one-back system. That means block and catch the ball in addition to carrying it.

Charles Woods decided not to come back for his senior year after graduating, which leaves junior Philip Reed (5-10, 200) as the main man. The duo split time last season, combining for 905 yards and six touchdowns while each missed time with a host of ailments. Reed had 539 yards, which led the team.

For the first time in four years, the Broncos did not have a 1,000-yard rusher, as no one was able to replace Robert Sanford, who piled up 18 touchdowns and 1,571 yards in 2000.

If Reed can’t do the job, red-shirt freshmen Daniel Marks (6-0, 207) and Trovon Riley (5-11, 190) will be given a shot in the backfield.

Reed had a touchdown in the spring game, but Marks ran for 91 yards on only nine carries, bringing back memories of his days in Miami Beach, where he rushed for 3,500 yards in two seasons and was an all-state second-team selection. Marks runs the 40 in 4.48 seconds.

Freshman Ameer Ismail (6-2, 235) might be the best of the bunch at some point with his speed and size. He rushed for 1,546 yards and 26 touchdowns as a sophomore at West Ottawa High in Holland, Mich., but injuries slowed him down his final two years.

"We will use him if we have to," Darnell said.

Senior Jermaine Lewis (6-4, 202) was chosen to the All-MAC second team last year trying to stop people from catching the ball as a safety. This year, he’s hoping to earn a spot on the team as a receiver.

The talented Mr. Lewis returns to his more natural position, and already was a hit in spring ball, scoring on a 65-yard touchdown pass off a trick play.

"It didn’t take long for Lewis to fit in," Darnell said. "He’s one of the fastest players in the league."

Lewis figures to fill one of the three starting spots, after last year’s trio moved on. Lewis has the size and speed to be a playmaker in the WMU offense if someone can get him the ball.

The other frontrunners for starting jobs are senior Kendrick Mosley (6-3, 185) and junior Antonio Thomas (6-4, 203). Mosley had 26 receptions for 301 yards and two touchdowns last year, while Thomas had 22 catches for 307 yards and three touchdowns.

This might be the deepest position on the team with senior Brandon Johnson (6-3, 201), sophomore Tyrone Walker (6-3, 190) and red-shirt freshman Greg Jennings (6-1, 190) backing up the starting trio. Johnson was the third leading receiver last year with 27 receptions for 312 yards and four scores.

Red-shirt freshman Pat Graham (6-0, 180) has also played well in the spring and should add some depth along with JUCO transfer Christopher Chestnut (6-0, 191), who comes from College of the Canyons in Santa Clara.

Red-shirt freshmen Osborn Curtis (6-1, 175) and Tony Scheffler (6-5, 223) also have potential, the later also having the ability to play tight end.

Junior Anthony Kiner (6-5, 244) has good hands and blocks better than Afariogun, which gives WMU two solid tight ends.

"[Kiner] is a guy who’s going to show up this year," Darnell said.

One of the keys to the Broncos’ season will be how well the offensive line comes together after losing three starters and adding a new coach in Cummings.

"The offensive line is another question mark like a year ago," Darnell said.

The linemen might look the part with their size and strength, but it remains to be seen if they can play their roles. Gasaway started at center last year and Kramer returns as the left guard to give Cummings two veteran building blocks. Cummings planned to install his own techniques in camp, so the lack of veterans might not be such a big problem.

Several linemen, who could turn out to be starters, are coming off injuries, though. Junior guard Jon Garcia (6-5,334) had back surgery and junior tackle C.R. Moultry (6-6, 330) missed last season after breaking his leg a week before the season started.

Garcia could start at right guard with sophomore Mike McCord (6-7, 288) moving into the right tackle spot. Red-shirt freshmen Mark Ottney (6-5, 270), who had a strong spring, and tackle Shawn Wiza (6-7, 293) are also in the mix.

Moultry is expected to back up senior giant Fred McCants (6-6, 344) at left tackle. Sophomore guard Kyle Ras (6-6, 281) and centers Chris Montgomery (6-4, 269), a senior, and sophomore Brandon Boone (6-4, 282) fit right in with the rest of the big line.

As if the Broncos don’t have enough big bodies to work with already, two more are on the way in freshman Dominic Moran (6-5, 275) and JUCO transfer Jason Grigsby (6-3, 325).

WMU stayed in state to land Moran, who played at Rochester Adams High and was also a standout defensive tackle. Grigsby comes in after playing two seasons at El Camino College in California, where he was a preseason All-American last year.

Second-year kicker Robert Menchinger (5-10, 150) knows how to keep his job -- make game-winning kicks like he did against Central Michigan last year. The sophomore converted 8-of-11 field goals (72 percent) and 31-of-33 extra points to finish with 55 points in his first year as a starter.

Menchinger’s one shortcoming might be kicking for distance, his season long was 35 yards and he was 0-for-2 on kicks more than 40 yards.

The two other kickers on the roster are junior Anthony Apa (5-7, 185) and red-shirt freshman Brian Henderson (6-0, 195). But it appears to be Menchinger’s job to lose.

Opposing quarterbacks will remember the names of Babin, Allsbury and Browning after they play WMU this season. The unit might not be the biggest, but with its speed and athleticism the players can get the job done.

The trio makes up the top returning line in the MAC West, with Allsbury coming off an All-MAC first-team season, his second straight. He made 54 tackles and seven sacks at defensive end. Allsbury is a preseason candidate for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and the Lombardi Award.

Babin, who was not a full-time starter last year at defensive tackle, had comparable numbers (55 tackles, seven sacks), but ended up with a second-team honor.

"He a super talent with his speed and athleticism," Darnell said of the former high school running back from in-state Paw Paw.

Browning had 55 tackles and five sacks, but no postseason honors at the other end spot.

Also back on the line is senior nose guard Jeff Westgate (6-5, 267), who will be pushed inside for playing time by senior Ryan Iorillo (6-3, 285) and sophomore Jack Gitler (6-2, 245). Red-shirt freshman Paul Moersch (6-4, 275) impressed the coaching staff in spring ball.

Lape walked on to the Broncos’ program in 1998 and earned a spot on special teams. Last year, he started at linebacker for the first time and turned in a 122-tackle season with a MAC-high six forced fumbles. He was an all-conference honorable mention choice and the team MVP.

"He’s a real success story," Darnell said.

Lape is one-half of WMU’s starting linebacker tandem that is back. Junior Jason Malloy (6-1, 238), who played with Lape since his freshman year, was second on the team in stops with 76. He also had two sacks despite battling some injuries.

The Broncos play only two linebackers in their 4-2-5 defense, and the team’s backups are a little on the inexperienced side.

"We have to get the whiskers knocked off them," Darnell said.

Included in that group are sophomores Willie Miller (6-2, 228) and Erik Oleson (6-3, 235), who earned their stripes in a hurry with strong spring workouts. Senior Jo Jo Mesa (5-11, 238) can also dish out some hits, which he displayed last year.

The secondary was remodeled in the off-season, with Lewis switching sides and three other starters -- cornerbacks Ronald Rogers and Joe Ballard and safety Brandon Brown -- moving on after a combined 141 games.

The only starter back is junior safety Jason Feldpausch (5-9, 178), who’s also a former walk-on. Last year, he had 54 tackles, two sacks and one interception.

"He’s a walk-on guy who captured everybody’s heart," Darnell said. "He makes a lot of plays."

The Broncos figure to fill the other four starting spots with current players and newcomers.

In the first group, senior Sam Reynolds (6-2, 187) is expected to take one cornerback spot, while sophomore Tony Carr (6-1, 180) was penciled in on the other side. Seniors Mike Johnson (5-9, 164) and Kevin Coleman (5-10, 190) are also in the hunt.

At safety, senior Carlos Smith (6-4, 220), junior Stephen Gubernick (5-11, 174) and senior Jermaine Foreste (5-10, 199) are fighting for the other two spots along with red-shirt freshman Kevin Ford (5-11, 185).

Two newcomers who could have an immediate impact are transfers -- junior safety Christian Hodges (6-2, 195) and sophomore cornerback Willie Pope (6-2, 185). Pope’s JUCO teammate, cornerback Eugene Childs (6-0, 193) also came over from Compton College.

Sophomore Adam Anderson (6-0, 188) did most of the punting last season, but senior Matt Steffen (6-1, 197) also wants the job. Both of them turned in excellent springs to extend the battle into the fall.

Each punter has his strong points. Anderson, who averaged 37.9 yards per kick on 44 attempts last year, has a quick release and good hang time. Steffen, who averaged 34.6 yards on 17 punts, has better distance and more experience.

The special teams lost top punt returner Josh Bush and kick returner Ron Rogers.

Darnell prides himself on being sound in this area and will make sure whoever takes over will get the job done. Jennings appears to be the favorite to return kicks and could also handle some punt duty. Mosley looks like the top candidate to field punts, but prospects for both jobs will be considered in the fall as well. Riley could also fit in here.

"We need to get the kicking game into the upper tier," the head coach said.

The Broncos were fourth in the MAC in kickoff returns last year (21.3 yards per return), but 10th in punt returns (6.6 yards per return).

The Broncos had some holes to fill, and Darnell went the quick route by nabbing about a dozen JUCO players to patch up some areas. The big questions will be if they can play at the NCAA Division I-A level, and if they can they do it right away.

A nightmare early schedule should be impressive for future recruits, but the Broncos might need some of this year’s class to step in and help them get through it.

The Broncos did a good job landing more competition at quarterback and made a deep receiver position even better with Chestnut and freshman speedster Joe Chapple (6-0, 180) from Glades Central coming aboard.

The defensive line, another strong point, beefed up with Faleofa and the defensive backfield improved with Pope’s and Vincent’s arrival.

With some star seniors heading into their final season and the influx of JUCO players, Darnell appears to be loading up for another run at a league title. It almost seems as though WMU is following the lead of some NFL teams by loading up on veterans for that one big push for a championship. Who knows, maybe those perpetual rumors about Darnell moving on really are true this time around and he wants to try and go out with a bang.

The receivers and defensive line are the strengths of the team, but how well the rest of the positions shake out will determine where the Broncos are heading this season. Someone has to get those receivers the ball, and someone needs to carry it, too.

The offensive line is huge, but chemistry does not come overnight there. Sometimes it takes years to develop, which could cause big problems with an inexperienced quarterback.

Everybody will be battled test early with Michigan, Purdue and Virginia Tech, so a 1-3 start is a very real possibility. The key will be how the Broncos come through those games mentally.

If everything works out and injuries don’t mount, WMU will be one of the MAC’s top teams. Otherwise, another .500 season could be in store for the Broncos.