BG is in a true bowl funk

[BGSU33]

There are a ton of bowl games out there to be played in nowadays, and many would agree that there are too many bowls in general, but BG sure isn't having much luck in any of them. After last night's debacle, BG is now on a 1-5 skid in its last 6 bowl games played since 2007. We have found ways to be blasted such as the worst loss in bowl history (63-7 in 2007) and last night's 58-27 second-half collapse, we have found ways to lose on last-second plays (43-42 in 2009) and in the closing minutes (30-27 in 2013 and 29-20 in 2012), and managed to avoid a late collapse last year by pulling out a game we nearly gave away. In two of these bowls we've come in without our head coach and a staff leaving for another school, but we also came in both times as MAC Champs. I don't think there was a single team we faced in that stretch that we thought we couldn't beat as we were a favorite in two of them, were a pcik in one and a small dog in the other three. But for whatever reason, we just can't seem to put it together in these bowls.

[Falconwriter]

There are a ton of bowl games out there to be played in nowadays, and many would agree that there are too many bowls in general, but BG sure isn't having much luck in any of them. After last night's debacle, BG is now on a 1-5 skid in its last 6 bowl games played since 2007. We have found ways to be blasted such as the worst loss in bowl history (63-7 in 2007) and last night's 58-27 second-half collapse, we have found ways to lose on last-second plays (43-42 in 2009) and in the closing minutes (30-27 in 2013 and 29-20 in 2012), and managed to avoid a late collapse last year by pulling out a game we nearly gave away. In two of these bowls we've come in without our head coach and a staff leaving for another school, but we also came in both times as MAC Champs. I don't think there was a single team we faced in that stretch that we thought we couldn't beat as we were a favorite in two of them, were a pcik in one and a small dog in the other three. But for whatever reason, we just can't seem to put it together in these bowls.

Not gonna disagree with anything you wrote, but let's add some perspective.

BG football has won two MAC titles in three years. That's outstanding.

On the other hand, BG basketball is one of only five (?) teams in the US that hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since Nixon was President (or was it still Johnson). In any event...if you want to be embarrassed about something, I'd pick men's basketball over football, no matter how many bowl games they lose and how badly.

Hopefully, that's going to change soon...but then again, I've been saying that for more than 50 years!

[BGSU33]

There are a ton of bowl games out there to be played in nowadays, and many would agree that there are too many bowls in general, but BG sure isn't having much luck in any of them. After last night's debacle, BG is now on a 1-5 skid in its last 6 bowl games played since 2007. We have found ways to be blasted such as the worst loss in bowl history (63-7 in 2007) and last night's 58-27 second-half collapse, we have found ways to lose on last-second plays (43-42 in 2009) and in the closing minutes (30-27 in 2013 and 29-20 in 2012), and managed to avoid a late collapse last year by pulling out a game we nearly gave away. In two of these bowls we've come in without our head coach and a staff leaving for another school, but we also came in both times as MAC Champs. I don't think there was a single team we faced in that stretch that we thought we couldn't beat as we were a favorite in two of them, were a pcik in one and a small dog in the other three. But for whatever reason, we just can't seem to put it together in these bowls.

Not gonna disagree with anything you wrote, but let's add some perspective.

BG football has won two MAC titles in three years. That's outstanding.

On the other hand, BG basketball is one of only five (?) teams in the US that hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since Nixon was President (or was it still Johnson). In any event...if you want to be embarrassed about something, I'd pick men's basketball over football, no matter how many bowl games they lose and how badly.

Hopefully, that's going to change soon...but then again, I've been saying that for more than 50 years!

I'm not embarrassed about football whatsoever, only frustrated with the recent trend in bowls. The MAC Championships and Power 5 wins have been awesome! I'd just like to see us start winning bowls again like we used to. Now as for basketball? Yes, that is beyond embarrassing. Pathetic would be a more suitable word.

[Flipper]

We got schlonged this year having to play a no name team with a lot of talent and freak offense.

These games have become worthless and non descript....Man, back in the 70's and 80's college football was perfect. Sensible conference alignments, some TV but not too much. The MAC had a nice bowl out there in Fresno. Slowly but surely the money has killed much of the fun.

[BGSU33]

Looking at this stretch we've had going 1-5 in these bowls, Georgia Southern was really the only matchup I disliked because I worried about trying to stop that offense. When teams have hurt us the most, it's been with the run. And that was against a traditional rush offense. This option offense simply destroyed us.

Tulsa had me concerned with their offense but they're defense appeared weak, but they completely shut us down (we scored on a kickoff return). We had Idaho beat until they hit us with a couple bombs and a 2-point conversion at then end. We had San Jose State on the ropes but couldn't close the door. And we were neck and neck with Pitt but couldn't close them out.

[Falconwriter]

We got schlonged this year having to play a no name team with a lot of talent and freak offense.

These games have become worthless and non descript....Man, back in the 70's and 80's college football was perfect. Sensible conference alignments, some TV but not too much. The MAC had a nice bowl out there in Fresno. Slowly but surely the money has killed much of the fun.

You can go back further than that. In the early to mid 1970s, the MAC had a wonderful tie in with the Tangerine Bowl and it had some great games and memorable wins by MAC teams over what are now Power 5 conference members. It was a great destination (Florida in winter) and not every team that won half its games got to go to a bowl game. Sadly, BG never got to that bowl. They came close, but lost out once to Kent State (in its one MAC title in the last half century) and another time lost it to Miami because the coach forgot what down it was. That was back when the "Miami Whammy" was real and BG could find all kinds of creative ways to lose to the Redshawks nee Redskins. Those teams featured players like Dave Preston and Paul Miles, and still couldn't get it done.

That's why winning two MAC titles in three years seems almost surreal to those of us who watched BG find all kinds of creative ways to blow titles when we were in school (BG also blew two golden chances to win the MAC in basketball during that time and couldn't close the deal even though they had some very talented teams.)

[PX15]

We got schlonged this year having to play a no name team with a lot of talent and freak offense.

These games have become worthless and non descript....Man, back in the 70's and 80's college football was perfect. Sensible conference alignments, some TV but not too much. The MAC had a nice bowl out there in Fresno. Slowly but surely the money has killed much of the fun.

Well Flipper...

No offense, but before the game many of your fans were whining about having to play our Georgia Southern Eagles because were not "worthy" opponents..

You know, the "Champions Of the MAC" having to share a bowl bid with the lowly, THIRD BEST team in the Sun Belt?

THE SUN BELT?

Kinda makes ya wonder, if the THIRD best team in the Sun Belt could beat your team by 31 points?

Guess you guys were lucky you didn't have to play the better teams in the Sun Belt, App State or, heaven forbid, Arkansas State, right?

Your team didn't get "schlonged" by a "no name team" with lot of talent and a "freak offense"..

Your team got "schlonged" by the Georgia Southern Eagles, a team with a history of winning football games and in fact has won more FCS championships than anyone (6) in that division, and we also won the SUN BELT Championship in our first year as members.

I have no doubt that the name, or University, "Georgia Southern" is not well known in OHIO, where ever that is, but then in Georgia the name Bowling Green College is seldom dinner conversation.

Basically no one in Ohio cares a flip about Georgia in general, much less Georgia Southern University, and the reverse is true of Georgians and the State of Ohio or Bowling Green College..

Except this past Wednesday night in a rainy stadium in Mobile, Al.

As with all sports the object is WINNING, and I would respectfully suggest that on this particular occasion the talented players from Georgia Southern and the "freak offense" put your vaunted Falcons's "best passing attack in the nation" back on the bus..

Most football games are decided by inches, and missed catches, missed or called offenses or tackles, and this one was no different..

Had your receivers held on to easy catches, the quarterback NOT fumbled twice on OUR end of the field, had our QB, who is simply not a passer, not completed that basic "hail Mary" touchdown the score could well have been different..

Would have been I do believe..

But on this night?

Our Georgia Southern Eagles flew back to Statesboro, Ga. winners, with the "Go Daddy" trophies and the Bowling Green Falcon's limped back into Bowling Green sorely defeated, embarrassed and miserable...

Missed catches, poor tackling, multiple fumbles,no clue how to defend the "freak offense" all combined to make the Falcons the 2nd best team on the field.

On this one night...

In conclusion remember, before the game, everyone (well almost everyone) was assuming that the team from Ohio, and their high scoring passing attack would clean our clocks, take us to the woodshed, and after the game was over make fun of that "no name team" from somewhere in Georgia.

Because it was a foregone conclusion, to the Bowling Green faithful anyway, that the Bowling Green Falcons DESERVED a better opponent in the Go Daddy bowl game than that little old Georgia Southern football team from the sticks, and that freak offense...

Betch'a wish now it HAD been ANY other team than the Georgia Southern Eagles (and that "freak offense)....

My apologies to any Bowling Green fans who might misunderstand my comments..

I mean no disrespect to the Falcons, nor their faithful fans..

I'm bright enough to know if the game were replayed ten times it's very likely your Falcons would win the majority of them.

But on this particular night in Mobile the stars were aligned in the favor of our Eagles, and fortune fell our way...

There's always next year, and the potential for revenge...

J.

[apollo]

I think most BG fans were in not meaning to disrespect GA Southern, but more just disappointed in the fact that they were sent back to Mobile to play a third place team....I think GA Southern fans would feel the same if they won the Sun Belt and had to play Ohio University in Indianapolis.

It's not so much disrespect as it is a letdown. You guys won fair and square and deserve any and all bragging rights. Hopefully our team is embarrassed and it serves for some motivation moving forward.

[daspollak]

I don't care about bowl games anymore. They are ways for people to make money, and in most cases the schools are the ones getting hosed. There are a few other reasons I feel bowl games are worthless, and shouldn't be used to hold final judgement over a team. First you play a season, now get three or more weeks of down time before playing again. This can make most teams rusty, and lead to some bad football. Second, how many games did we play with Dino as our head man this year, and we don't get him for the bowl game. If they were that important coaches would stay on through them. Instead we don't have our head coach and most of the assistants coaching this game already are looking ahead to what was needed for their new job. Finally, not necessarily BG, kids are looking ahead to the pros. They are playing the game not to get hurt and to protect their future. All these things combined make for these games meaning squat.

GSU handed our asses to us, and the only thing hurt is our pride. This is not a bellwether game for the program, and if we knock off OSU next fall this game will be erased from everyone's minds. Hope everyone has a good 2016, and let the game go.

[Flipper]

We got schlonged this year having to play a no name team with a lot of talent and freak offense.

These games have become worthless and non descript....Man, back in the 70's and 80's college football was perfect. Sensible conference alignments, some TV but not too much. The MAC had a nice bowl out there in Fresno. Slowly but surely the money has killed much of the fun.

Well Flipper...

No offense, but before the game many of your fans were whining about having to play our Georgia Southern Eagles because were not "worthy" opponents..

You know, the "Champions Of the MAC" having to share a bowl bid with the lowly, THIRD BEST team in the Sun Belt?

THE SUN BELT?

Kinda makes ya wonder, if the THIRD best team in the Sun Belt could beat your team by 31 points?

Guess you guys were lucky you didn't have to play the better teams in the Sun Belt, App State or, heaven forbid, Arkansas State, right?

Your team didn't get "schlonged" by a "no name team" with lot of talent and a "freak offense"..

Your team got "schlonged" by the Georgia Southern Eagles, a team with a history of winning football games and in fact has won more FCS championships than anyone (6) in that division, and we also won the SUN BELT Championship in our first year as members.

I have no doubt that the name, or University, "Georgia Southern" is not well known in OHIO, where ever that is, but then in Georgia the name Bowling Green College is seldom dinner conversation.

Basically no one in Ohio cares a flip about Georgia in general, much less Georgia Southern University, and the reverse is true of Georgians and the State of Ohio or Bowling Green College..

Except this past Wednesday night in a rainy stadium in Mobile, Al.

As with all sports the object is WINNING, and I would respectfully suggest that on this particular occasion the talented players from Georgia Southern and the "freak offense" put your vaunted Falcons's "best passing attack in the nation" back on the bus..

Most football games are decided by inches, and missed catches, missed or called offenses or tackles, and this one was no different..

Had your receivers held on to easy catches, the quarterback NOT fumbled twice on OUR end of the field, had our QB, who is simply not a passer, not completed that basic "hail Mary" touchdown the score could well have been different..

Would have been I do believe..

But on this night?

Our Georgia Southern Eagles flew back to Statesboro, Ga. winners, with the "Go Daddy" trophies and the Bowling Green Falcon's limped back into Bowling Green sorely defeated, embarrassed and miserable...

Missed catches, poor tackling, multiple fumbles,no clue how to defend the "freak offense" all combined to make the Falcons the 2nd best team on the field.

On this one night...

In conclusion remember, before the game, everyone (well almost everyone) was assuming that the team from Ohio, and their high scoring passing attack would clean our clocks, take us to the woodshed, and after the game was over make fun of that "no name team" from somewhere in Georgia.

Because it was a foregone conclusion, to the Bowling Green faithful anyway, that the Bowling Green Falcons DESERVED a better opponent in the Go Daddy bowl game than that little old Georgia Southern football team from the sticks, and that freak offense...

Betch'a wish now it HAD been ANY other team than the Georgia Southern Eagles (and that "freak offense)....

My apologies to any Bowling Green fans who might misunderstand my comments..

I mean no disrespect to the Falcons, nor their faithful fans..

I'm bright enough to know if the game were replayed ten times it's very likely your Falcons would win the majority of them.

But on this particular night in Mobile the stars were aligned in the favor of our Eagles, and fortune fell our way...

There's always next year, and the potential for revenge...

J.

Blah blah blah.... yes your team runs a "freak offense"... that's why it's hard to prepare for. you run it well... you have the players to win running most any system I imagine. We have little in the way of a national rep... you have none. Beating you would have meant nothing. So..yeah..playing a talented team that executes an offense we never see really well with no national rep with 90% of our coaches heading out the door in weather conditions ill suited to our strengths adds up to us getting schlonged. Would have rather had an easier match up like Temple or Minnesota.... teams that have a national rep and systems we've seen. You were a terrible high risk, low reward match up.

Having said all that ...love to see a home and home against you freaks...

[PX15]

Flipper..

Respectfully.

Sorry the weather conditions were not to your liking.. Sorry your team had critical players injured. Sorry your team was left in the lurch when your Head Coach took a new job and bailed on ya.. Sorry your quarterback had trouble holding on to the ball. Sorry 2.3 million football fans saw a "freak" running offense knock off a leading passing team. But truthfully? Rainy weather is not a friend of the triple option.. (too many opportunities for fumbles when the ball is being exchanged). Not sure you noticed but our first string quarterback (Ellison) had shoulder and wrist injuries and our 2nd string quarterback (what was his name?) played most of the game in that position.. Our best back (Brieda) had an ankle sprain and was iffy up to game time, and when he was on the field his performance was less than it would have had he been healthy. Oh yeah, our Head Coach (Fritz) had bailed on us so our Eagles were coached by an assistant. No matter the reasons our Georgia Southern Eagle football team dominated the Bowling Green Falcons on THIS ONE night. (You saw that, right?) Georgia Southern needed the exposure on TV, and I think it will be beneficial in the future in recruiting. Chances are our Eagles will NEVER play the Falcons again and that is fine with me because I KNOW, and I think most Eagle fans know, that everything fell our way in the Go-Daddy bowl on that one night and the result of a future game will probably be the opposite. But in the meantime I'm guessing the vast majority of those 2.3 million viewers are left with the IMPRESSION that the vastly superior team on the field THAT night was the little school with no reputation, from South Georgia with the "freak" offense. I might suggest a lesson to be learned is to NEVER announce to the football world your opponent is not worthy* because, it's not classy, and fraught with danger should your "better" team get it's head handed to it in front of millions of viewers. "Happy New Year" !

* We were guilty of the same sin against our rival (Georgia State) in the last regular season game and they put a serious whipping on us we'll never forget..

[kdog27]

You're still here?

[Flipper]

PX15....do you understand the difference between perception and reality?
Perception often sets the value of reality. Few people wanted to play you because a win against you has no perceived value. Thankfully, a relatively small audience probably viewed the game and we're wiping the slate clean with a new coaching staff, so our reputation shouldn't suffer too much.

A new staff at GSU installing a more conventional system could benefit you in the long run by dispelling the notion that you win solely because you employ a freak offense

[hammb]

The funny thing is I don't think anybody ever disrespected the TEAM that we played. I know I expected a loss, and I think several other people here probably felt that it would be, at best, a tough win. GSU is a good team with a system that is tough to stop when you don't see it often. More importantly it plays EXACTLY into our weakness: an inability to play disciplined tough-nosed defense.

The fact that it felt like a crap bowl bid has absolutely NOTHING to do with the quality of the GSU team on the field. It's a no name school, playing its first ever bowl game, in a city we've already played in recently, against a 3rd place team from a conference that AT BEST is considered our equal.

It was a crap bowl berth regardless of the quality of the team, that's what PX doesn't seem to grasp. Don't think anybody ever badmouthed their team, and for that matter now that we've seen the game they completely dominated us. They're a damn fine team. A damn fine team that was still a crappy bowl berth for us...hell the quality of their team is one of the things that MADE it a crappy bowl berth. Given the choice I'd much rather play one of the teams that finished ahead of them in the Sunbelt...

[Flipper]

Exactly...