After tonight's game at the University of Southern California, the series between Western Michigan and the Trojans will be no more. Like often happens, the contract expires and there is no plan to renew.
Yet, this three-game set won't fade out of WMU's memory bank any time soon. The reason: The meeting on Nov. 21, 2003, and the significance of that 83-65 win on the Bronco program.
``For me, it was huge on so many levels. So many subplots went into that game,'' said WMU head coach Steve Hawkins, who grew up in southern California and whose father was in attendance. ``No. 1, it was my first game as head coach. It was important from a program standpoint and the kids' standpoint because we had never played that system until that year and it worked in the game. We had never run the ball before here. ... That day we got out and ran.
``It was also against a Pac-10 team that was picked to do pretty well that year. It let us know how good we could be.''
That confidence was the catalyst in what turned into a 26-5 season that included a Mid-American Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
It was also the beginning of ``The Zoo,'' WMU's black-shirt student section at University Arena.
``We spent a lot of time in the residence halls trying to get the students out,'' Hawkins said. ``We had an incredible turnout and it hasn't let up since.
``I have very fond memories. I'd be lying if I didn't say that game was special.''
For senior Brian Snider, one of only three players remaining from the Broncos' roster that season, the 2003 USC contest was more valuable for its contrast with WMU's next game than anything else.
``We beat USC by 18 and then lost to a just average Detroit team just as badly,'' Snider said. ``The two games were extreme opposites. It showed how good we could be if we played the way coach Hawkins wanted and how bad we could be if we didn't.''
Yet, this three-game set won't fade out of WMU's memory bank any time soon. The reason: The meeting on Nov. 21, 2003, and the significance of that 83-65 win on the Bronco program.
``For me, it was huge on so many levels. So many subplots went into that game,'' said WMU head coach Steve Hawkins, who grew up in southern California and whose father was in attendance. ``No. 1, it was my first game as head coach. It was important from a program standpoint and the kids' standpoint because we had never played that system until that year and it worked in the game. We had never run the ball before here. ... That day we got out and ran.
``It was also against a Pac-10 team that was picked to do pretty well that year. It let us know how good we could be.''
That confidence was the catalyst in what turned into a 26-5 season that included a Mid-American Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
It was also the beginning of ``The Zoo,'' WMU's black-shirt student section at University Arena.
``We spent a lot of time in the residence halls trying to get the students out,'' Hawkins said. ``We had an incredible turnout and it hasn't let up since.
``I have very fond memories. I'd be lying if I didn't say that game was special.''
For senior Brian Snider, one of only three players remaining from the Broncos' roster that season, the 2003 USC contest was more valuable for its contrast with WMU's next game than anything else.
``We beat USC by 18 and then lost to a just average Detroit team just as badly,'' Snider said. ``The two games were extreme opposites. It showed how good we could be if we played the way coach Hawkins wanted and how bad we could be if we didn't.''
