KALAMAZOO, Mich. – It's about the players, Mark Dantonio reminded more than usual in an offseason crammed with coaching talk, and his new wave got right to helping in Friday's season opener at Western Michigan.
There was starting running back Madre London, sprinting for a touchdown in his first game as a redshirt freshman. There was sophomore safety Montae Nicholson, rising to snag a tipped ball for an interception. There was redshirt freshman cornerback Vayante Copeland, saving a touchdown on the opening kickoff – then delivering big hits to snuff screen passes, then making the late interception to end any chance of drama.