DETROIT — The Western Michigan football team begins the 2011 campaign predicted to finish behind Toledo and Northern Illinois University in the Preseason Mid-American Conference Poll.  WMU did receive two first-place votes.

The Broncos return seven starters on offense and all but two on defense in 2011, including sixth-year receiver and 2010 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist Jordan White, but the media selected Toledo and Northern Illinois to finish ahead of WMU in the preseason poll.

Western Michigan also returns its leading tackler from a year ago, senior linebacker Mitch Zajac, as well as its entire defensive line, one that proves to be very important to WMU’s success in 2011.

Toledo received 83 points and eight first place votes to lead the way in the West followed very closely by Northern Illinois with 81 points and five first place votes.

The Rockets, Huskies and Broncos all received first place votes as well as Central Michigan, which was predicted to finish fourth in the division.

The East goes to Miami according to the preseason poll, leading the way with a league best 97 votes. Ohio was picked second with 96 but had double the number of first place votes (8) that Miami garnered (4).  Temple was selected third followed by Kent State, Bowling Green, Buffalo and Akron. Central Michigan, Ball State and Eastern Michigan rounded out the West voting.

WMU opens the 2011 campaign on ABC/ESPN2 at Michigan Sept. 3 at 3:30 p.m.  The Broncos open Waldo Stadium Sept. 10 against Nicholls and kickoff the 2011 MAC slate Sept. 17 against CMU at noon on ESPN Regional.