Story in Today's Repository
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 1:11 pm
“Any time you have in-state competition, that’s going to occur,” Brandon said. “ ... We can’t control who cheers for us.”
http://cantonrep.com/printable.php?ID=311758
BG draws No. 1 for first time
By TODD PORTER REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - Maybe somewhere, buried deep in his psyche, Gregg Brandon knows he is a longshot.
Maybe.
The Bowling Green head football coach isn’t admitting or conceding anything to Ohio State before the teams kick off Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The Falcons have turned around a slow start but have to turn their attention away from Mid-American Conference play to go make a chunk of money for the university.
Yes, Saturday’s game, in which BG is a five-touchdown underdog, is a money game. When the NCAA added a 12th game to the schedule, mid-majors charged premiums to go on the road against elite programs, and occasionally, those mid-majors get an upset.
“All those concerns are legitimate. That isn’t going to go away,” Brandon said of taking a break from conference play to go to OSU. “But we have a shot to play the No. 1-ranked team in the country. If we can take advantage of that, good things will happen. If we don’t, good things probably won’t happen. ... I told our players this is a once-in-a-lifetime shot to play a game like this.”
This isn’t BG’s first rodeo in Columbus. The Falcons left Ohio Stadium in 2003 with a 24-17 loss. It was 17-6 in 1992. The only time Bowling Green let the game get out of hand was 1997 with a 44-13 loss.
But this OSU team features a high-powered offense and a defense that leads the country with 11 interceptions and is second in turnover margin.
“They’re as good a team I’ve seen on film this season. There is no weak spot top to bottom,” Brandon said. “Every name there is out there for award candidates. That’s just the type of program Ohio State is. It’s one of the top five jobs in the country. They have great resources and great support.”
That support will be 105,000 strong, including some who will buy BG’s small allotment.
Brandon is aware he will have a divided alumni base. Some BGSU grads will wear scarlet and gray on Saturday.
“Any time you have in-state competition, that’s going to occur,” Brandon said. “ ... We can’t control who cheers for us.”
The Falcons are playing a No. 1 team for the first time. They’ve never beaten a Top 10 program. The program’s best win came against No. 12 Northern Illinois in 2003.
Still, BG has done enough the last two weeks to catch Ohio State’s attention. At least they say the Falcons have.
Coming off road wins at Texas and Iowa, this normally would be a bye week for OSU.
“It will be a nice change of pace. They are an opponent that we haven’t played in at least the last few years,” Buckeye receiver Anthony Gonzalez said. “We are at a point in the season where the grind takes place. Early on, it’s hard not to look ahead, because the season is so long. After Game 5, the pace is a bit slower.”
This Bowling Green team is vastly different than the one that came within a touchdown of taking OSU to overtime in 2003. Brandon has played 15 true freshmen in five games.
“I would challenge anybody in the country to say they’ve played that many true freshmen,” Branson said. “That’s what we’re working through at Bowling Green. That has nothing to do with Ohio State. Getting them prepared to play in this venue is a huge challenge.”
The offense is led by redshirt freshman running back Chris Bullock and quarterback Anthony Turner. Turner missed two games, one because of injury, one because of a suspension.
“They’re playing much better than they did five weeks ago,” OSU Coach Jim Tressel said. “Early in the year, with so many young people in the game and their quarterback out, they weren’t playing to the level that Bowling Green has grown to expect.”
Against Ohio University, Bullock rushed for 114 yards. Turner, a dual threat, hit Buffalo for 127 yards on the ground, 204 through the air. Freddie Barnes may rotate at QB, where he started two games this season, but he will line up at receiver and tailback.
Brandon said the Falcons have a few tricks they’ll use.
“But I’m not going to tell you guys,” he said.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected]
http://cantonrep.com/printable.php?ID=311758
BG draws No. 1 for first time
By TODD PORTER REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - Maybe somewhere, buried deep in his psyche, Gregg Brandon knows he is a longshot.
Maybe.
The Bowling Green head football coach isn’t admitting or conceding anything to Ohio State before the teams kick off Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The Falcons have turned around a slow start but have to turn their attention away from Mid-American Conference play to go make a chunk of money for the university.
Yes, Saturday’s game, in which BG is a five-touchdown underdog, is a money game. When the NCAA added a 12th game to the schedule, mid-majors charged premiums to go on the road against elite programs, and occasionally, those mid-majors get an upset.
“All those concerns are legitimate. That isn’t going to go away,” Brandon said of taking a break from conference play to go to OSU. “But we have a shot to play the No. 1-ranked team in the country. If we can take advantage of that, good things will happen. If we don’t, good things probably won’t happen. ... I told our players this is a once-in-a-lifetime shot to play a game like this.”
This isn’t BG’s first rodeo in Columbus. The Falcons left Ohio Stadium in 2003 with a 24-17 loss. It was 17-6 in 1992. The only time Bowling Green let the game get out of hand was 1997 with a 44-13 loss.
But this OSU team features a high-powered offense and a defense that leads the country with 11 interceptions and is second in turnover margin.
“They’re as good a team I’ve seen on film this season. There is no weak spot top to bottom,” Brandon said. “Every name there is out there for award candidates. That’s just the type of program Ohio State is. It’s one of the top five jobs in the country. They have great resources and great support.”
That support will be 105,000 strong, including some who will buy BG’s small allotment.
Brandon is aware he will have a divided alumni base. Some BGSU grads will wear scarlet and gray on Saturday.
“Any time you have in-state competition, that’s going to occur,” Brandon said. “ ... We can’t control who cheers for us.”
The Falcons are playing a No. 1 team for the first time. They’ve never beaten a Top 10 program. The program’s best win came against No. 12 Northern Illinois in 2003.
Still, BG has done enough the last two weeks to catch Ohio State’s attention. At least they say the Falcons have.
Coming off road wins at Texas and Iowa, this normally would be a bye week for OSU.
“It will be a nice change of pace. They are an opponent that we haven’t played in at least the last few years,” Buckeye receiver Anthony Gonzalez said. “We are at a point in the season where the grind takes place. Early on, it’s hard not to look ahead, because the season is so long. After Game 5, the pace is a bit slower.”
This Bowling Green team is vastly different than the one that came within a touchdown of taking OSU to overtime in 2003. Brandon has played 15 true freshmen in five games.
“I would challenge anybody in the country to say they’ve played that many true freshmen,” Branson said. “That’s what we’re working through at Bowling Green. That has nothing to do with Ohio State. Getting them prepared to play in this venue is a huge challenge.”
The offense is led by redshirt freshman running back Chris Bullock and quarterback Anthony Turner. Turner missed two games, one because of injury, one because of a suspension.
“They’re playing much better than they did five weeks ago,” OSU Coach Jim Tressel said. “Early in the year, with so many young people in the game and their quarterback out, they weren’t playing to the level that Bowling Green has grown to expect.”
Against Ohio University, Bullock rushed for 114 yards. Turner, a dual threat, hit Buffalo for 127 yards on the ground, 204 through the air. Freddie Barnes may rotate at QB, where he started two games this season, but he will line up at receiver and tailback.
Brandon said the Falcons have a few tricks they’ll use.
“But I’m not going to tell you guys,” he said.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected]