Let’s not forget how big the Ball State game is!

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:11 pm

It’s funny, because this is our MAC-opener, and there’s not a lot of buzz going on here about this game. We can’t forget that the key to getting to the MAC Championship and going to a bowl game hinges on games just like this one. I know Ball State got rocked last week and that we are “supposed” to win, but that’s just the kind of attitude that leads to teams getting knocked off. If the fans are that confident and feel assured of a win, you can see how the players can get lulled into thinking the same thing.

We have already lost to Wisconsin, so we can put those BCS dreams back up on the shelf where frankly, they belonged. All that preseason BCS talk was so premature and why I refused to get into it, because one game into the season, they are already over. Now, we need to buckle down and take care of business in the MAC. This is the game Coach Brandon was talking about in the preseason, especially because it was sandwiched in between Wisconsin and Boise State. For us now, this game is much bigger than Wisconsin or Boise State.

I’m extremely excited about this game, and I feel pretty confident we will win. But that’s why we play the game. I think a lot of us also felt we were better than Wisconsin and that we would win that game too. Again, that’s why we play the game. Anyway, it’s the opening MAC weekend. BG plays at Ball State, CMU plays at Miami and WMU is at Toledo. Obviously, I’ll be pulling for BG, and I’ll be hoping for CMU and WMU to win as well. I hope to see a lot of you in Munice……let’s go Falcons!

04forheisman · Post by **04forheisman** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:19 pm

If BG loses this game I will eat a bug and set fire to the Doyt.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:21 pm

I'll bet some Oklahoma fans said the same thing before TCU rolled into town...

I'm 99% sure we'll destroy ball state. But there's always that chance.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:35 pm

BGSU33:

Yep, the winning streak starts Saturday. I've said all along, if we lose all three OOC games and sweep the MAC, I'll swallow my pride and take the heat from Temple fans tired of hearing me rag on their team!

Win the MAC!

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:36 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:I'll bet some Oklahoma fans said the same thing before TCU rolled into town...

I'm 99% sure we'll destroy ball state. But there's always that chance.

No doubt, that's exactly my point.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:13 pm

Note from Maureen's notes in the Blade today: BG has not won a MAC opener on the road since 1996.

I am betting that streak ends Saturday.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:18 pm

Warthog wrote:Note from Maureen's notes in the Blade today: BG has not won a MAC opener on the road since 1996.

I am betting that streak ends Saturday.

Me too. The history:

2004: Northern Illinois 34, Bowling Green 16
2000: Buffalo 20, Bowling Green 17
1999: Marshall 35, Bowling Green 16

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:22 pm

you know what your right...last year at halftime in the toledo game we all thought we were gona win...taht stands as testiment to the fact that anything can and will happen on the field of play on any given day. We have the skills and stats to win, so I hope we go out there and put up the good numbers and keep the Ball staters from scoring.

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:30 pm

MACMAN wrote:you know what your right...last year at halftime in the toledo game we all thought we were gona win...taht stands as testiment to the fact that anything can and will happen on the field of play on any given day. We have the skills and stats to win, so I hope we go out there and put up the good numbers and keep the Ball staters from scoring.

Oddly enough, I didn't. I turned to my wife at half time and said "It isn't enough of a lead." I had a bad feeling going into the second half and, unfortunately, it came true.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:36 pm

BGFan wrote:
MACMAN wrote:you know what your right...last year at halftime in the toledo game we all thought we were gona win...taht stands as testiment to the fact that anything can and will happen on the field of play on any given day. We have the skills and stats to win, so I hope we go out there and put up the good numbers and keep the Ball staters from scoring.
Oddly enough, I didn't. I turned to my wife at half time and said "It isn't enough of a lead." I had a bad feeling going into the second half and, unfortunately, it came true.

Me too. I was happy we led by 20 but still concerned. We should have been up 41-7 if not for a couple overthrown TD passes. Same thing in 2002...we led UT 24-14 at the half and lost 42-24.

ANY game can be won or lost....ANY game. Doyt Perry used to say that all the time and I believe it.
We need to come out on fire and put any upset hopes to rest. The longer the Cards hang around, the more nervous we'll be.

GO FALCONS!!