This year, however, the Broncos know they’ll need an extra effort from their entire team as they break in a new starting quarterback sophomore Alex Carder and new starters at other positions as well.

The Broncos will draw on the experience of playing Michigan and Nebraska the past two years in season openers for Saturday’s game.

“MSU is another tough challenge for us in the opening game,” Western Michigan head coach Bill Cubit said. “I know there’s high expectations in East Lansing and rightfully so. … We have a tough challenge ahead of us.”

The Broncos are led by Carder, who saw limited action last season behind standout Tim Hiller last season, and a steady group of receivers.

MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said Carder is a dual-threat who will challenge the Spartans.

The Broncos finished 5-7 last year, losing three of their last four games.

The Broncos return
roughly 13 starters from last year and have an offensive line that averages close to 300 pounds.

“Traditionally they have great offenses,” Dantonio said. “Look at them to be very successful on offense.”

The Broncos’ success will hinge on Carder, who Cubit said has comparable ability to Hiller at this stage of his career, but is more emotional than the even-keeled Hiller.

“He was cerebral and even-keeled,” Cubit said of Hiller. “(Alex) wears his emotion on his sleeve and is more excited.”

For a player new to the starting role making a start in front of the 70,000-plus audience who will be in attendance at Spartan Stadium, Carder will be challenged.

But Cubit said he has the talent to be a great football player for a long time.

Western Michigan will face a similar test Saturday as opening at Michigan last year on Sept. 5, a game which the Broncos lost, 31-7.

The Spartans have won their last nine home openers, and the last time the teams met to open the season, the Spartans defeated Western Michigan, 26-21, in 2003.

MSU’s 29-27 loss against Central Michigan on Sept. 5 last season serves as a reminder of why taking smaller-conference teams seriously is a must.

The Chippewas surprised the Spartans, but players
said they remember the embarrassment of that loss last season.

One of the biggest questions for concerned Spartans is which kicker will replace departed star Brett Swenson. Dantonio said he hasn’t named a starter between sophomore Dan Conroy and redshirt freshman Kevin Muma, but whichever player sees action, Saturday will be a good test.

The MSU secondary, which struggled last season but only allowed 117 passing yards against Western Michigan last season, will try to match that and start 2010 on a good note.

MSU fans might remember the Spartans’ 49-14 win against the Broncos on Nov. 7, which featured MSU running back Ashton Leggett’s four touchdown runs.

This year’s team hopes to use Saturday’s game to start off a good season.

“With the energy we’ve had coming out of camp, it’s going to be crazy,” MSU junior safety Trenton Robinson said.

“We’re excited. We’re sick of hitting each other.”