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It has become a complete and utter frustration to be a fan of Bowling Green football these days. Perhaps the best case in point is that BG has lost an incredible 6 times on the final play in under 2 years. That's right folks, count em, SIX!

@ Troy - L 30-27 - last second fg made
Buffalo - L 28-26 - missed fg
@ Temple - L 28-27 - missed 2pt conversion attempt
Miami - L 24-21 - last second fg made
Wyoming - 28-27 - extra point blocked
Ohio - L 29-28 - last second fg made

Meanwhile, how many walk-off wins do we have over the same span? That's right. ZERO!

That is simply unbelievable, and a reflection on the poor game day coaching and motivation by Dave Clawson and his staff of coaches. They aren't getting the job done late in games, and it reflects in how the players perform in late game situations. All we needed was one stinking big play to force Ohio into a situation they weren't likely to succeed late in tonight's game, and that never happened. We got hosed on the 4th and 1 because the MAC refs are too f*cking stupid to see a false start on the Ohio OL, but even with that its like the players all knew we were going to lose once they got across the 50. There was no agressiveness, no fight, no pride on the part of the defense at the end of the game tonight, and Clawson mucked it up further by not using his timeouts early when they could have had a desirable effect on the outcome.

This is ugly as sin folks. The worst this program has seen at least since 1999/2000, maybe ever. And as many of you have stated on this very message board this season, games like these make it very hard to be a fan of Bowling Green football.

I have made my peace for this season. I can only hope for better things next year but I have no reason whatsoever behind such optimism and so I must retain my realist (some would say pessimist) nature.

and don't forget Idaho the year before on the last play of the game going for 2

Come off the ledge, Moe Ankney would like a word....

I can't stand losing close. If we lose, beat us by 20. But a one-point loss on the final play after all the mistakes we made, it KILLS ME!!!!! In these type of close games, we don't find ways to win them, we find more ways to lose them. It's terrible!

I think we can all agree a lot of it comes down to energy and focus. You learn how to win just like you learn how to lose, and this team still plays with that defeated attitude they had prior to Clawson coming here. You can see it from the time they come out of the locker room before the game, there is just no energy or passion. They look like they're just going through the motions.

Dayons_Den wrote:Come off the ledge, Moe Ankney would like a word....

I don't go back that far in my BG football history,but unless we were 1-win or winless during that era...

camkru9701 wrote:I think we can all agree a lot of it comes down to energy and focus. You learn how to win just like you learn how to lose, and this team still plays with that defeated attitude they had prior to Clawson coming here. You can see it from the time they come out of the locker room before the game, there is just no energy or passion. They look like they're just going through the motions.

Not sure I agree. Gates and Woods looked pretty focused and excitable after making big plays. Jorden, who generally puts his head down and just plays, even made a pretty animated first down motion after a nice catch. There is energy and passion but perhaps it is continued focus or being put in bad situations by play calls (Shilz keepers) that are the problems.

We play hard...we just don't play well when we need to...

Flipper wrote:We play hard...we just don't play well when we need to...

Agreed. But what is so concerning is how we don't seem to make forward progress while other teams do (Miami last year, EMU this year, etc.). And I don't want to hear about how it's because we are young, because even a few years ago when not only were we a veteran team, and we had a great MAC schedule, we lost to both EMU (24-21) and Buffalo (blew 27-7 lead in the fourth quarter) at home. We just can't get it done. Until we start winning these kind of game, we're going to keep losing them. Because when the game is in the balance and we start wondering how we're going to fall short, I promise there are guys in uniform that have that thought creep in their head too. And who could blame them? It's been instilled in their minds the last few years.

bgsufalcon24 wrote:And as many of you have stated on this very message board this season, games like these make it very hard to be a fan of Bowling Green football.

I disagree, and not to just go against prevailing opinion. If the team was being outclassed or was getting blown out, that would be very difficult to accept.

BG is now 4-11 in one-scores games under Clawson and we've had no MAC Championship appearances and mad on bowl game. For comparison sake with our opponent tonight, Ohio is 10-6 in one-score games the last three years under Solich making three bowls and two MAC Championship appearances. The bottom line is, good teams find ways to win. These kind of games will make or break your season.

Dayons_Den wrote:Come off the ledge, Moe Ankney would like a word....

Knowing we used to suck doesn't make me any less pissed or feel better about sucking right now.

We sucked last year..this year we're a cut below the top teams in the MAC...we've played them all...and on the cusp of being a good team. We'll see if we can get over the hump....

BGSU33 wrote:BG is now 4-11 in one-scores games under Clawson and we've had no MAC Championship appearances and mad on bowl game. For comparison sake with our opponent tonight, Ohio is 10-6 in one-score games the last three years under Solich making three bowls and two MAC Championship appearances. The bottom line is, good teams find ways to win. These kind of games will make or break your season.

That is a VERY poor comparison! I believe this is Solich's 7th season at OU, and if you want to compare, look at his first 3-4 sesons at OU. When you build a program the correct way, it normally takes 4-5 years becasuse you basically loose your first two recruiting classses between getting hired, sometimes rather late, and redshirting almost all of your classes to give them time to grow and get stronger. Flip makes a great point on our making progress over the past two years and being competitive against most of the best teams in the conference. We'll be fine next year.

I think Clawson CAN get it done and I like him, yet I am beginning to run out of patience. I like the youth we have, so maybe 1 more year for the coach to get all his guys in place. However, if we lose to UB I think we should see about getting another coach. If next season is not at least a 6-2 MAC record then I'd see if someone like Studrawa is interested as well.