DETROIT — The Western Michigan football team earned two first place votes and was picked to finish third in the West Division according to the Mid-American Conference Preseason Media Poll.

The Broncos return 2009 All-MAC selections Ben Armer (P), Robert Arnheim (WR), Juan Nunez (WR) and Anthony Parker (OT).

“We’re coming off a year where we did not achieve our goals and we are looking to improve on those aspects of our game in 2010,” commented head coach Bill Cubit. “Earning a pair of first place votes shows that there are expectations for our program and we need to continue to do the little things during fall camp, during each practice and during games to get to where we want to be.”

Western Michigan earned 77 points to claim the third spot in the West Division, two votes ahead of Toledo and behind Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, the predicted MAC West champion. WMU was one of five teams to earn first place votes with two. NIU and CMU earned 15 and three votes, respectively, while Temple and Ohio received 17 and three, respectively, to lead the East Division.

The Owls are the overwhelming favorite to claim their first MAC East title and represent their division in the Marathon MAC Championship Game. Eleven media members voting in the poll selected Temple to win the title game with the Huskies earning five votes to win the championship and Ohio claiming one vote to win the big game.

Temple received 137 overall points to lead all teams with the Bobcats earning 116. Kent State is picked to finish third, garnering 94 points followed by Bowling Green (74), Miami (53), Buffalo (48) and Akron (38). NIU led the West with 115 overall points followed the Chippewas’ 83.  WMU’s 77 points bested the Rockets’ 75 ovrerall points followed by Ball State (50) and Eastern Michigan (20).

Including the four returning All-MAC honorees, Western Michigan returns 34 letterwinners, with 14 on offense and 18 on defense, and 15 starters, with seven on offense and 6 on defense. The Broncos open fall camp with its first practice on Monday, Aug. 9. WMU’s annual media day will take place on Friday, Aug. 13 at the Bill Brown Alumni Football Center and the Seelye Athletic Center.