Found this in the Ft. Myers, Florida New Press
Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:28 am
Pete Stella
As Bowling Green grad, must I now worship Temple?
Originally posted on November 02, 2006
I have said many times before that I love my school, but I love my team more. As a Bowling Green State University graduate, I took great pride in watching the Falcons ascend to the top of the Mid-American Conference and crack The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since Joe Paterno was in high school.
Ah, those were the good ol’ days in the — dare I say — glory years of Bowling Green. It was thanks to a young coach named Urban Meyer (yes, that Urban Meyer) who took his first coaching job at Bowling Green and helped the Falcons go from 2-9 in 2000 to 17-6 during his two-year stint from 2001-02.
Meyer’s whacked-out spread offense left a positive impact in northwest Ohio. In 2003, Meyer’s first year at Utah, BG went 11-3 and won the MAC West. That’s all fine and dandy and — most importantly — in the past.
Saturday, my alma matter had the pleasure of being the school that helped Temple snap its 20-game losing streak, 28-14 in Philadelphia — despite gaining more first downs (27 to 12) and 151 more yards. Keep in mind that a year ago the Falcons beat Temple 70-7.
I find it hard to believe that last season’s whipping left a hurtful mark with the Owls, considering that in this season alone, Temple has been outscored 351-71. My Sunday morning flag football team could beat the Owls, but the university where I spent four years of my life can’t? Wow. It is safe to say that after Saturday, I am embarrassed to be a BGSU graduate.
Time does heel all wounds and with the Game of the Century weeks away, my mind has been elsewhere. I do, however, have great friends who have taken any chance they can to talk a little smack and rub it in my face.
After Saturday’s humiliating defeat, I couldn’t help but reminisce about when I covered the Falcons during my senior year of college — the year before Meyer arrived at Bowling Green.
The Falcons were easily the worst team in college football. The opened the season with a 42-7 loss at Michigan then proceeded to — ironically enough — lose to Temple 38-31. Then came the 20-17 defeat to Buffalo — yes, that Buffalo — which prompted then-coach Gary Blackney to resign but stay on until the end of the season. Needless to say, it didn’t get much better.
The next year, wouldn’t you know, I watched the Falcons knock off Missouri (20-13) and Northwestern (43-42), then drop 56 on cross-town rival Toledo.
With no superstar quarterback left in the wake of Josh Harris and Omar Jacobs — the only player in BG history stupid enough to leave early despite missing a good part of the 2005 season because of an injury — I guess it’s back to the bottom for the Falcons.
But, it’s OK. We Ohioans are used to teams that stink. That is why so many of us worship Ohio State, which generally doesn’t disappoint.
And where is the law that states that you can’t like a team if you didn’t go to the school? Give me a break. If you grew up with the Cavaliers, Browns and Indians, who would you root for? Go Buckeyes! Boo Falcons.
As Bowling Green grad, must I now worship Temple?
Originally posted on November 02, 2006
I have said many times before that I love my school, but I love my team more. As a Bowling Green State University graduate, I took great pride in watching the Falcons ascend to the top of the Mid-American Conference and crack The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since Joe Paterno was in high school.
Ah, those were the good ol’ days in the — dare I say — glory years of Bowling Green. It was thanks to a young coach named Urban Meyer (yes, that Urban Meyer) who took his first coaching job at Bowling Green and helped the Falcons go from 2-9 in 2000 to 17-6 during his two-year stint from 2001-02.
Meyer’s whacked-out spread offense left a positive impact in northwest Ohio. In 2003, Meyer’s first year at Utah, BG went 11-3 and won the MAC West. That’s all fine and dandy and — most importantly — in the past.
Saturday, my alma matter had the pleasure of being the school that helped Temple snap its 20-game losing streak, 28-14 in Philadelphia — despite gaining more first downs (27 to 12) and 151 more yards. Keep in mind that a year ago the Falcons beat Temple 70-7.
I find it hard to believe that last season’s whipping left a hurtful mark with the Owls, considering that in this season alone, Temple has been outscored 351-71. My Sunday morning flag football team could beat the Owls, but the university where I spent four years of my life can’t? Wow. It is safe to say that after Saturday, I am embarrassed to be a BGSU graduate.
Time does heel all wounds and with the Game of the Century weeks away, my mind has been elsewhere. I do, however, have great friends who have taken any chance they can to talk a little smack and rub it in my face.
After Saturday’s humiliating defeat, I couldn’t help but reminisce about when I covered the Falcons during my senior year of college — the year before Meyer arrived at Bowling Green.
The Falcons were easily the worst team in college football. The opened the season with a 42-7 loss at Michigan then proceeded to — ironically enough — lose to Temple 38-31. Then came the 20-17 defeat to Buffalo — yes, that Buffalo — which prompted then-coach Gary Blackney to resign but stay on until the end of the season. Needless to say, it didn’t get much better.
The next year, wouldn’t you know, I watched the Falcons knock off Missouri (20-13) and Northwestern (43-42), then drop 56 on cross-town rival Toledo.
With no superstar quarterback left in the wake of Josh Harris and Omar Jacobs — the only player in BG history stupid enough to leave early despite missing a good part of the 2005 season because of an injury — I guess it’s back to the bottom for the Falcons.
But, it’s OK. We Ohioans are used to teams that stink. That is why so many of us worship Ohio State, which generally doesn’t disappoint.
And where is the law that states that you can’t like a team if you didn’t go to the school? Give me a break. If you grew up with the Cavaliers, Browns and Indians, who would you root for? Go Buckeyes! Boo Falcons.
