So take me through that even before we get to the first hill, Mary, and what you're seeing and what looks to be one of the big wins for Western Michigan's history.

Well, it certainly would have been the biggest win in Bronco football history, I think, despite having won some championships and that kind of thing.

But to beat Michigan in front of a national television audience and 110,000 Mason Blue fans at the big house, that would have been incredible.

But late there in the second half, I thought just one more first down was going to do it.

They had a little mix-up on a play that they had drawn up to snap directly to Jalen Buckley in a wildcat formation, and they had a freshman center in there making his first start.

I thought he played really well, but there was a little bit of confusion on that particular play, and they ended up having to kick a field goal rather than getting the first down and running out the clock.

They get a first down there, the game is over.

Like I said before... it's unacceptable to tell me that there's another clock forget the fans even forget us broadcasters the coaches and players they have a right to know how much time is left and i just find it unacceptable to say well you know there's a clock in the stadium but then there's this other clock and this is why we had a second put back on there your thoughts

It's a 12-7 game, and you look at the clock and you're like, "Okay, I don't know, Michigan's gonna do this." So take me through that, even before we get to the first Hail Mary, and, and, and what you're seeing and, and what looks to be one of the big wins for Western Michigan's history.

Well, it certainly would have been the biggest win in Bronco football history, I think, despite having won some championships and that kind of thing.

But to beat Michigan in front of a national television audience and 110,000 Maize and Blue fans at, at The Big House, uh, that would've been, uh, incredible.

But, um, late there in the second half, I thought just one more first down was gonna do it.

They had a little mix-up on a play that they had drawn up to snap directly to Jalen Buckley in a wildcat formation.

And w- uh, they had a freshman center in there making his first start.

I thought he played really well, but, uh, there was a little bit of confusion on that particular play, and they ended up having to kick a field goal rather than getting the first down and running out the clock.

Mm-hmm.

So what did you learn about this Broncos team?

Well, I learned that over on defense, we knew the secondary was really good.

Man, did they play well.

J.J. Buchanan made – three ridiculous catches.

And if not for his acrobatics, I mean, the, the secondary was spectacular.

Well, we knew that was going to be the factor because three starters back for four starters back from last year's team question was the front seven on defense, Jack.

And I saw him in practice.

Yeah, I want to ask you a question about Bartholomew before we left, but I want to stay with this game Saturday, and when you believe, I mean, going into the game, I'm sure you thought that there was a chance that Western could come out on top, but when did you start to believe that, you know what, this is going to happen?

Just

took the air out of Michigan stadium and, and they shorten the game the other team doesn't have the ball to score and make a four touchdown lead so that was ridiculous i don't know who set that up and uh so i knew that wasn't gonna happen i felt that they had a chance now michigan went right down the field in the opening drive you kind of expect them to do that but then the broncos answered went right back down and They got a field goal, and then the defense took over.

They just took over and dominated.

Michigan's offensive line could not block the Bronco front.

And Dylan Moore, a senior linebacker, was all over the field making plays along with Joey Pope and Micah Davis, the two starting safeties.

And then the new guys up front, you've got Tunkara at tackle.

He's a transfer from Ohio State.

The first Hail Mary, how did you call that?

What's the sell job for Lance Taylor? When he goes to North Carolina and he brings a guy, he goes to Houston, he brings a guy over, what's he telling them, do you think, about Western Michigan that convinces them to step into a mid-major program like that?

Well, they just look at the success that they've had and they look at the opportunity.

They knew that there were going to be a lot of spots available on defense in particular, and that's where they really focus their attention in the recruiting process.

And Broncos have some NIL to play with.

It's not like Michigan, but they've got a little NIL they can throw around, and they did that, and they got some guys, and we'll see if it's going to work.

In the practice, the defense looks really good, really good, very active, very Sims.

um, is a stud and he plays very emotionally sometimes maybe too much, but, and then you got Josh Franklin is a stud and two safeties.

Through your homework, what do you like about U of M, and where do you see a weakness for this team that perhaps Western Michigan can exploit?

Wow

...

he, he's got a great eye for talent.

Uh, I mentioned some of these coaching hires he made, and they've all been phenomenal.

Uh, and, and I think DJ was a great hire, too.

It just didn't work out.

And, um, so I think you're gonna see that.

... and hockey too, right? Both sports will be in there?

Wow.

So, um, he, he's got a great eye for talent.

Uh, I mentioned some of these coaching hires he made, and they've all been phenomenal.

Uh, and, and I think DJ was a great hire, too.

It just didn't work out.

And, um, so I think you're gonna see that.

And sh- y- in this day and age, i- in Division I athletics, you gotta be able to stand in front of some big donors and, um, ask for their help to get things done, and he's not afraid to do that.

... and hockey, too, right? Both sports will be in there?

So, uh, obviously I was, uh, I was not, uh, up to speed on, uh, what Western Michigan is about in hockey, but maybe talk a little bit about that national championship and how, what role Hampton Slukinski played in that.

Well, he played a huge role, uh, in 2024-25.

He would rotate in goal with a senior who had been around for a while, Cam Rowe, and those two team, those two, uh, goaltenders would rotate in there.

Cam would usually play the Friday game, and Hampton would play on Saturday.

And then as the season progressed, and we got closer to the end of the year, Coach Pat Forshawler, who, uh, was the national coach of the year that year, decided that Hampton was his guy moving forward for postseason play, and he kinda took over the reins in goal and, uh, took off from there.

And, uh, he was a huge part of that national championship run.

Had multiple overtime games during the postseason that, uh, he excelled in and allowed the Broncos to make it all the way to the national championship game, where they kind of, uh, blew out Boston University in the title game.

Uh, maybe just a little bit about, uh, his older brother, Grant, and, and what kind of game he plays.