KALAMAZOO MI (WKZO AM/FM) – THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY THE WMU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Saturday is just the second meeting all-time between Western Michigan and Pitt. The Broncos won the first meeting last season, 44-41, in Pittsburgh. The game can be watched live on ESPNU with Clay Matvick, Rocky Boiman and Dawn Davenport on the call. Robin Hook and John Creek will have the call on the Bronco Radio Network.
A week after hitting eight different receivers in a game for the first time since Nov. 4, 2020 (Kaleb Eleby), redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Salopek did it again in the 37-30 win at Ball State. Corey Crooms (10), Jehlani Galloway (4), Anthony Sambucci (2), La’Darius Jefferson (2), A.J. Abbott (2), Blake Bosma (2), and Sean Tyler (2) all had receptions in the victory.
Saturday’s game against the Panthers will mark just the fifth time in program history that the Broncos have hosted a nationally ranked team at Waldo Stadium. WMU is 0-4 in those games, with the last one coming against No. 5 Michigan State in 2015. No. 5 Virginia Tech, led by Michael Vick, visited Waldo Stadium back in 2002, while the other two ranked games were against Miami Ohio back in 1975 and 1973.
Jack Salopek, La’Darius Jefferson and Corey Crooms all had career days in the win over Ball State. Salopek set new career marks in completions (25), yards (230) and he threw his first career touchdown pass. Jefferson had a career-high three touchdown runs. Crooms had a career-high 10 receptions on the day, with 102 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Western Michigan has several connections to Pitt. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Salopek, graduate transfer safety Bricen Garner, senior cornerback Dorian Jackson and graduate transfer cornerback Gio Vonne Sanders are all from the greater Pittsburgh area. Garner played four seasons at Pitt before transferring over to Western Michigan, while Jackson and Sanders both transferred from St. Francis (Pa.), located just outside of Pittsburgh.
New Western Michigan Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae, a Pittsburgh native, also spent 15 years in Pitt’s athletic department.
The game can be heard Saturday on 106.5 Jack FM, beginning at 6 pm, with Robin Hook on the call.
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