WOLFRAM: It's A Family Affair With Bronco Football

by Emily Wolfram
Bronco Sports First Beat Writer

Today members of the media were officially invited to the Bill Brown Alumni Center to chat about some football, have a little lunch and get an opportunity to meet with the team and coaches.

Various members of the media showed, the usual exchanges were made and some old familiar faces caught up with one another. That’s the great thing about Bronco football—the majority of these functions have a sense of family and familiarity to them. Today was like a media Christmas—old friends coming together after a long absence to open gifts of parking passes and credentials.

You can find Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard bright and smiling while making her rounds throughout the day. Nearby, and often side-by-side, Nancy Cubit greets each and every person warmly, fulfilling the motherly role perfectly.



In the back of the room you’ll see fellow photographers, camera operators, writers and other personalities blend together while catching up on what has taken place since last season. In the front of the room “the guys” like Coach Cubit, Media Relations Director Mat Kanan, Voice-of-the-Broncos Robin Hook and other chums laugh often over their casual banter and one-liners.

The room was not stiff with stern professionals and unsmiling faces but rather inviting and almost endearing.

Eventually three selected players enter the room, signaling the conference will begin shortly. Cubit looks up from his conversation and nods. He does so in the manner of a General greeting his proud soldiers. After roughly 600 pounds of hungry football player is satisfied, the conference officially begins.

Cubit sits to the left of the podium listening to his players opening remarks and nodding in approval as they answer questions. He faintly smiles a time or two as they say something that apparently touches him. And then QB Tim Hiller stands.



Much has been said about their budding relationship as Hiller is continually called upon to be a shining leader and Cubit ensures he is prepared to handle the role. Hiller begins with thanking the crowd—the only player to do so—and from that moment on Cubit was quite engaged by Hiller’s words.

Typically Cubit’s eyes will stay forward while his players speak but instead his head was cocked up watching. In fact, after Cubit took his place at the mic he continued his father-like mannerism with a small jab at Hiller for unintentionally holding up the conference after begin directed to the wrong location. A slightly embarrassed Hiller shook his head as the room collectively chuckled.

The crowd moved over to the indoor practice fields post-conference to what appeared to be designated nap time for the obviously overheated and exhausted players while they awaited their team photo and various interviews.

Today the atmosphere did not feel like that of work. But rather it was a day of entertainment and can almost be described as an afternoon of bonding over Bronco football and those who support it. There were handshakes and hugs and references on first name basis.

After all, it’s a family affair and Kalamazoo just may be on it’s way to becoming a football town.