Our directions to Western Michigan University had us parking far from the stadium.  Opting to walk through campus instead of taking the shuttle, we became somewhat lost among the labyrinth of buildings between the parking lot and stadium.  At certain points, the scene felt like a ghost campus.  Standing completely still among this concrete wonderland, we could not see or hear anything aside from the chirping crickets in the bushes.  I expected to see tumbleweed drift across the sidewalks during our little game of "Where's Waldo Stadium?"  The eerie silence soon broke with the sound of drum cadences reflecting off the campus buildings.  Following the beat, it became clear why the campus had emptied out.  Every dorm, frat house, and school building had drained into Waldo Stadium.  We finally caught a glimpse of a few fraternity boys rounding a corner and we quickly followed.  Around the bend, we located the band and colorguard lining up to march toward the stadium.  Crowds of fans lined up in front of the scene to view the action and we used the band to lead us to our destination.  At various points along the path, the band would stop and play and then sing the WMU fight song while brown and gold clad fans clapped and sang in unison.  Just outside Waldo Stadium, a large lot occupied by enough tents to accommodate a circus had fans tailgating and anticipating the season opener.  The stadium gave off a cozy appearance with the high side being built into a hill and trees and buildings surrounding the rest.  Entering the nearly-packed stadium required fighting through band members, tipsy students, and football players being escorted off the field after pregame warm-ups.  The Broncos bucked onto the field through gates that were fitting for the Kentucky Derby.  The crowd and a jarring canon exploded as they made their entrance.  The reaction illustrated the importance of Western Michigan football in this area.  At halftime, a fireworks show kept the electricity connected into the third quarter.  We watched the colorful explosives from the hillside that the stadium is built into.  Kids and their families tossed around the football and watched the game from this perspective.  With the hill being across from the student section, it was hard to avoid the incessant play of the WMU fight song.  Most school songs tend to be catchy, but this one was like crazy glue to your memory.  With a victory, the band and football team collected by the students and raised their helmets while the catchy anthem was played once more.  Waldo Stadium proves that college football exudes an exciting atmosphere regardless of attendance capacity or national acclaim for the home team.  The denizens of Kalamazoo involve themselves so deeply into their team and the after effect leaves a lasting impression.

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All fight songs provided by FightMusic.com