GAINESVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- Fifth-ranked Florida begins a season-opening three-game homestand by welcoming Mid-American Conference member Western Michigan to "The Swamp."

The Gators have two games to prepare for the visit of second-ranked Tennessee on September 18. Central Florida comes calling next weekend, severly depleted from its 9-2 campaign of 1998.

Florida has made a habit of beginning its season against over-matched opponents. Last season, the Gators beat The Citadel, 49-10, and Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette), 42-10. The 1997 season saw an 82-6 humilation of Central Michigan and early in their 1996 national championship campaign there was a 55-21 beating of Northeast Lousiana (now Louisiana-Monroe) and a 62-14 pounding of Georgia Southern.

"The SEC frowns upon us taking on the extra game, because we have the SEC championship game," Gators coach Steve Spurrier said. We haven't pursued them (preseason games)."

This game could be different. Although the Broncos are considered by many the favorites to win the Western Division of the MAC, they probably do not have enough talent to stay on the same field with Florida.

The Gators were able to beat Syracuse in the Orange Bowl in January, but this game marks their first regular-season contest since 1995 without defensive coordinator Bob Stoops, who is now the coach at Oklahoma.

The job of new defensive coordinator John Hoke will be to rebuild a defense that lost almost all of its key performers, with the exception of safety Rod Graddy and cornerback Bernie Alexander. Florida ranked fourth against the run and seventh against the pass in 1998.

"The unknown of so many new defensive players playing, plus we have four or five suspended for this game," said Spurrier. "We're missing (defensive tackle) Gerard Warren and (defensive end) Anthony Mitchell. It always seems we have a couple of guys that have a little trouble following the rules around here."

On offense, the Gators, as usual, are loaded. Senior Doug Johnson is the starting quarterback but junior Jesse Palmer is ready, if needed. Johnson did not play baseball in the offseason and coach Steve Spurrier said it made a big difference in development.

Travis Taylor leads a wide receiver corps that includes Darell Jackson and speedsters John Capel and Reche Caldwell.

Florida is 68-24 in season openers, including a 50-6 mark in when starting the season in Gainesville.

To keep up, Western Michigan will need a stellar effort from quarterback Tim Lester, who averaged 301 yards per game in total offense in 1998. Lester needs 2,384 yards of total offense and 2,629 passing yards to become the MAC's all-time leader in those respective categories.

The Broncos have nine returning starters from the MAC's most prolific scoring offense, averaging 32.7 points per game.

The schools have never met.

WESTERN MICHIGAN Season schedule and results	FLORIDA Season schedule and results
Sep. 4 @Florida 6:00pm ET Sep. 11 Youngstown St 6:00pm ET Sep. 18 @Missouri 7:30pm ET Sep. 25 @Northern Illinois 7:35pm ET Oct. 2 Central Michigan 6:00pm ET Oct. 9 @Eastern Michigan 6:00pm ET Oct. 16 Buffalo 6:00pm ET Oct. 23 Ball State 1:00pm ET Oct. 30 @Akron 1:30pm ET Nov. 13 Marshall 1:00pm ET Nov. 20 @Toledo 1:00pm ET	Sep. 4 Western Michigan 6:00pm ET Sep. 11 Central Florida 6:00pm ET Sep. 18 Tennessee 8:00pm ET Sep. 25 @Kentucky 1:30pm ET Oct. 2 Alabama 1:00pm ET Oct. 9 @LSU 8:00pm ET Oct. 16 @Auburn 2:00pm ET Oct. 30 Georgia 1:00pm ET Nov. 6 Vanderbilt 1:00pm ET Nov. 13 @South Carolina 1:00pm ET Nov. 20 Florida State 3:30pm ET