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Both having surgery in the near future.

Gradkowski for broken hand and McDougle for a torn ACL.

Neither will play in the bowl game.

Im glad that this wasnt their senior season. Especially Bruce. For the career he has and will have there, to miss a bowl game is a kick in the groin. Hope he gets another shot at a bowl, just not at BG's expense

Redwingtom wrote:Both having surgery in the near future.

Gradkowski for broken hand and McDougle for a torn ACL.

Neither will play in the bowl game.

That really stinks for both of them and for the Rockets. I really thought McDougle was the difference for them this year.

Only saw a few minutes of the MACC game... early on I saw MU was up 14-7, then got home in time for last 3 min. or so... and UT was up.... McDougle hurt us big time, busted off another big run that eventually clinched the game for the, but I said as soon as I saw the tackle it looked like he really got twisted in an awkward position.... I don't thing any of us on this website wants to see a player get seriously injured, no matter who they play for. Cincy's QB also has a broken hand, didn't play in the Louisville fiasco, 50-50 for bowl game according to my brother, whom many of you met last year at the NIU game.

No matter how much I dislike Bancroft Correctional Center, this is sad news. I never want to see a player injured, much less something that will cause them to miss a big game.

Gradkowski will be fine for the Motor City Bowl. They are not worried. McDougal is still pretty hush hush.

I have to say that I think BG is WAY better than Miami. In some regards, I think you guys are more talented than us too. But the difference is done on the field and on the scoreboard. Since we beat you guys, MIU and Miami, and even though you guys lost to NIU, this is what I think:

1. Toledo
2. BGSU (not far behind)
3. Northern Illinois
4. Miami
5. Marshall (even though they lost to Akron)
6. Akron

I think that the MAC has a great shot at going 5-1 in bowl games (if Akron gets a game) or 5-0 if Akron does not.

Sorry to here that these guys got hurt. The McDougle tackle did look awkward. The sad part is that it only happened because he was trying to go down in-bounds and keep the clock running. He could have just jogged out of bounds without even getting hit. In reality, it didn't matter since Miami was out of timeouts and UT just ran out the clock anyway. Sad way to end a season.

As for Gradkowski, he played the whole second half with his injuries. If he needs surgery, why would the doctors allow him to play and risk hurting himself worse? On the other hand, if it wasn't that serious and it was ok to play, why doesn't he postpone surgery until after the bowl game? :shrug:

Casualobserver wrote:Gradkowski will be fine for the Motor City Bowl. They are not worried. McDougal is still pretty hush hush.

I have to say that I think BG is WAY better than Miami. In some regards, I think you guys are more talented than us too. But the difference is done on the field and on the scoreboard. Since we beat you guys, MIU and Miami, and even though you guys lost to NIU, this is what I think:

1. Toledo
2. BGSU (not far behind)
3. Northern Illinois
4. Miami
5. Marshall (even though they lost to Akron)
6. Akron

I think that the MAC has a great shot at going 5-1 in bowl games (if Akron gets a game) or 5-0 if Akron does not.

As much as I'd love to... It's really hard to argue that post. I hope Gradkowski CAN play in the MCB... and I really think Scooter will be sorely missed if he can't play.

I'm glad to hear Bruce will be back and I hope Scooter can play as well. I agree with Grant, I think Scooter has been the difference for you guys his year. He reminds me a little of Keith Byars when he was tearing it up for OSU in the early to mid 80's.

Didn't Scooter spend last spring on crutches because of a broken foot? Could durability be the chink in his armour?

My source says that as of right now Bruce is not going to play in the MCB. He is having a pin put in his hand during the surgery which will probably require some type of cast which would make throwing a football very difficult.

Although we do know that the Pennsylvania Pollock (sorry, I just thought of that) is pretty tough so who knows for certain at this point.

Bruce was on WSPD this morning and said they have told him he will be able to play.

Obviously he will be able to play since it is only a hand injury, but how effective he will be is the real determination.

I expect him to probably play as I don't see a career threatening situation here.

I am just reporting what I was told from a reliable source who had breakfast early this morning with several players.

Casualobserver wrote:Gradkowski will be fine for the Motor City Bowl. They are not worried. McDougal is still pretty hush hush.

I have to say that I think BG is WAY better than Miami. In some regards, I think you guys are more talented than us too. But the difference is done on the field and on the scoreboard. Since we beat you guys, MIU and Miami, and even though you guys lost to NIU, this is what I think:

1. Toledo
2. BGSU (not far behind)
3. Northern Illinois
4. Miami
5. Marshall (even though they lost to Akron)
6. Akron

I think that the MAC has a great shot at going 5-1 in bowl games (if Akron gets a game) or 5-0 if Akron does not.

I agree with your post on many accounts. Nice to see a rational post from ya too! Congrats on the win last night, a great win & a gutsy performance by Bruce.

I also agree with your opening statement. I think we ARE more talented than UT. That's why the loss sticks in my gut so much. I think we were outplayed, outhustled, and outcoached which more than made up for the advantage we have in talent. I disagree with a lot of what Amstutz does up there, but no doubt he's a great coach.

I think that part of talent is the ability to play to your talent level. Amstutz is loved by the Toledo faithful. In terms of college football coaches, he is not the cocky, arrogant type like most. This is what makes him popular. One sign of a great coach is your ability to lead in the face of adversity.

I think you guys have a good coach and he is well-liked. However, he needs to grow into the leadership role required of a head coach as opposed to an assistant coach or coordinator.

Tom has a great staff, which helps.

You guys may not agree with a lot of what he does, but the things he does do not hurt other people or other programs. He will stand up for his team and his players like they are his own kids. Yes, we have had some problem children, but what parent doesn't want to believe their kids and believe that bad things happen to good people?

I think they need to move you guys back to the East so that we can have a real MAC Championship game.

Casualobserver wrote:I think that part of talent is the ability to play to your talent level. Amstutz is loved by the Toledo faithful. In terms of college football coaches, he is not the cocky, arrogant type like most. This is what makes him popular. One sign of a great coach is your ability to lead in the face of adversity.

That is true, but I think playing to your talent level is also a great indictment on a coaching staff. UT continually plays up to and beyond their talent level. They also make halftime adjustments. Those things scream at me: "WELL COACHED"

I think you guys have a good coach and he is well-liked. However, he needs to grow into the leadership role required of a head coach as opposed to an assistant coach or coordinator.

I think Brandon is a great coordinator and a good football coach. I'm not convinced that he quite understands how being a HEAD coach differs from being an assistant. He's doing a good job recruiting talent here, and he's winning the games he's supposed to, which is worth something, but we continually get outcoached in the halftime adjustments, and show up not quite ready to play in big games. Those things scream at me: "Poorly Coached" I'm hoping that he learns from his mistakes.

You guys may not agree with a lot of what he does, but the things he does do not hurt other people or other programs. He will stand up for his team and his players like they are his own kids. Yes, we have had some problem children, but what parent doesn't want to believe their kids and believe that bad things happen to good people?

I just think that he doesn't discipline his stars quite like he does his lesser players. I have respect for giving somebody a second chance, but there still has to be some punishment. I think Leininger's situation (if true) is the proper way to handle something like this. He was suspended for a couple games at the beginning of the year. After a repeat infraction he has been kicked off the team (according to rumors, nothing official yet). All this and he was a star player for our defense. I'm not convinced that Amstutz would handle things in the same manner.

I think they need to move you guys back to the East so that we can have a real MAC Championship game.

Originally I was enjoying the west, but I do think going back to the East would make things interesting. But if we closed the season with UT every year, and then played in the MACC game immediately after that would be sorta dull wouldn't it? I'm still not sure which way works best for BG, but I do agree that BG & UT were the best two teams this year (although we chocked @ NIU), and woulda made a good MACC game matchup.