South Dakota put up 77 points today!

[BGSU33]

To say our next opponent will be coming in firing on all cylinders would be a huge understatement. South Dakota has a Minnesota transfer at QB and threw for 5 TD's and ran for another - all in the first half! Yes, I know they played Drake, but it was still an FCS peer, and it was on the road, and we know all too well what it's like to have 70+ points scored against you. Our offense managed just 3 measley points today. We'd better find a way to get going next week and fast.

[BillyLP]

Nothing against either team because 77 points is impressive, but Drake is like D-2 FCS. They're in the Pioneer League which is a non-scholarship conference. They probably wouldn't beat a decent D-2 team.

[MarkL]

South Dakota runs an offense reminiscent of our 2003 offense. They can pass well, the QB is part of the run game, they attack the perimeter, they score a lot of points, and they come back from a deficit well. Our offense better be ready to score far better than yesterday because I'd hate to think how our tired defense would fare.

[yoteforever]

USD fan here checking in before the game Saturday. Interested in everyone's take on the game. USD played Drake Saturday night and had their way with them, but as one of you noted, although they are FCS, they are non-scholly. There's no way to judge our performance because it's hard to tell if Drake was that poor or we played that well. Probably a combination of both.

My guess is that we will come in with a ton of confidence and be fired up because you're perceived as certainly a level above ours. It's your home opener, so probably your team will be fired up, but maybe not as much as normal because they see USD as an automatic win??

We are pretty decent on offense. Our QB is the former quarterback at Minnesota and has lightening fast speed. We have a stable of good receivers but none I would call great. The jury is out on our running backs, but we had a couple show promise last night, so who knows. Our defense is the million dollar question. We start (2) freshman on the D line so that's a concern. This game will tell us a lot about who we are. We play in the Missouri Valley with a bunch of really good teams at our level. Youngstown State took Pitt to OT yesterday, and one of our weakest teams hung 40 or so on Missouri. I'm just hopeful we play you tough.

On another note, I'll be coming in Friday for the game. Can anyone give me some recommendations for supper that night? It will be my wife and I, and probably 10-15 others. Also, is there a sports bar there where I can watch the Iowa/Iowa State game prior to our game? Last question, do I need a rental car or is BG easy to get around in? Any input or suggestions I would be grateful.

Do you tailgate prior to the game?

What would you like to know about the Coyotes? Looking forward to seeing your University and town.

[mbenecke]

I think it'll be a closer game than a lot of us BG fans would care to see.

Pizza Pub 516, Campus Pollyeyes, or Pisanellos pizza are the way to go dinner-wise when you come visit. Buffalo WIld Wings is sure to have any games you want to see on Friday and Saturday.

The tailgating scene is tremendous, and BG is super easy to get around.

I hope you enjoy your visit! Maybe write-up a review for us after this weekend!

Go BG!

[MarkL]

To answer questions ...
- we let North Dakota (not NDSU) hang around way too long last year and the game was decided in the final seconds. UND had a solid defense. Now we get another FCS team, this time with a solid offense. I wish I felt more comfortable than I do
- I've watched some SD games and I kinda wish we ran your offensive scheme. It is versatile and efficient. I expect our defense will play well. I also expect our offense will look a bit rusty and ultimately get it figured out.
- several good sports bars in town. There's a decent Irish place near Wooster and Main (can't remember the name, it opened after I graduated), there's Trotters on Main, and my personal favorite, Campus Pollyeyes.
- rent a car. Not sure how you would get to and from the airport otherwise. Town is small and walkable though, especially if you stay at a hotel across from the stadium.
- definitely tailgate. Plenty of space and always fun
- BG fans have a reputation of being polite and friendly. You're going to a Bowling Green game, not an Ohio State game. It's a nice town that I truly miss

[yoteforever]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I'm flying in and have transportation lined up if I don't rent a car. I'm assuming that the stadium is close to all these eating places/sports bars.

Is there a tailgate we can join and bring whatever is needed to participate? I think USD has an alumni tailgate but they are usually snoozers. I want to party with the locals and have a good time win or lose.

[MarkL]

If I were coming you could certainly drop by but I only make one BG trip a year. It will be homecoming this year.

[mbenecke]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I'm flying in and have transportation lined up if I don't rent a car. I'm assuming that the stadium is close to all these eating places/sports bars.

Is there a tailgate we can join and bring whatever is needed to participate? I think USD has an alumni tailgate but they are usually snoozers. I want to party with the locals and have a good time win or lose.

Buffalo Wild Wings is right across the street from the stadium. The other bars listed are further into town, but still walkable if necessary. I would say downtown is about a 15-25 minute walk from the stadium, depending on where you go.

[footballguy51]

Friday night for dinner, it depends on what you're looking for. I would not recommend Pizza Pub 516. There is an Irish Pub called Stones Throw, a Mediterranean place called Naslada Bistro, a good Mexican place called Guajillos, and a great steak and bar place called Trotter's Tavern. We also have a great breakfast option downtown called Kermit's Family Restaurant. Expect to wait at Kermit's and Trotter's. Campus Polleyes has really good stuffed breadsticks, but expect to wait for a seat there as well.

There are plenty of sports bars in town. Near the stadium there is Buffalo Wild Wings and Frickers. Stones Throw Irish Pub also has a lot of TVs and is further downtown. Downtown there are a lot of regular bars that will have some games on, so you could probably catch your game there as well (City Tap has good burgers and Beckett's Burger Bar also has good burgers).

Bowling Green is walkable; I did it all the time as a college student. It just depends on how much walking you want to do.

[lookimrory]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Reverends for food and TVs. Buffalo Wild Wings is closer to the stadium, but its a chain. Stones Throw has a good atmosphere but I don't care for the food. Last two times I was at polleyes, I felt as though its gone downhill. Reverends is locally owned, have a awesome rotating selection of craft beers, and lots of TVs. At night it turns into more of a college bar, but during the day its a great place to go. In my opinion, its the best and only place to go.
Tailgating is hit or miss. It'll probably be good because its the opening game. A lot of people tailgate, get wasted, and never make it into the stadium. Our stadium is surrounded by tons of grass and parking lots, so its easy to navigate.

[footballguy51]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Reverends for food and TVs. Buffalo Wild Wings is closer to the stadium, but its a chain. Stones Throw has a good atmosphere but I don't care for the food. Last two times I was at polleyes, I felt as though its gone downhill. Reverends is locally owned, have a awesome rotating selection of craft beers, and lots of TVs. At night it turns into more of a college bar, but during the day its a great place to go. In my opinion, its the best and only place to go.
Tailgating is hit or miss. It'll probably be good because its the opening game. A lot of people tailgate, get wasted, and never make it into the stadium. Our stadium is surrounded by tons of grass and parking lots, so its easy to navigate.

I've never been to Reverends. I've heard good things about it, but the people I know that frequent there get completely plastered while they are there, so I haven't been able to trust that recommendation as of yet.

[hammb]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Reverends for food and TVs. Buffalo Wild Wings is closer to the stadium, but its a chain. Stones Throw has a good atmosphere but I don't care for the food. Last two times I was at polleyes, I felt as though its gone downhill. Reverends is locally owned, have a awesome rotating selection of craft beers, and lots of TVs. At night it turns into more of a college bar, but during the day its a great place to go. In my opinion, its the best and only place to go.
Tailgating is hit or miss. It'll probably be good because its the opening game. A lot of people tailgate, get wasted, and never make it into the stadium. Our stadium is surrounded by tons of grass and parking lots, so its easy to navigate.

I've never been to Reverends. I've heard good things about it, but the people I know that frequent there get completely plastered while they are there, so I haven't been able to trust that recommendation as of yet.

Then they can't coach here anymore


In all seriousness, I'm in my late 30s. Went to college in BG, and never left until just this past year we moved out of town. Reverend's is the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place I'd recommend for anybody to eat dinner. ESPECIALLY if we're mentioning burgers, they are the best in all of Northwest Ohio, IMO. Blows every other BG burger completely out of the water, and I don't think anyplace in Toledo can compete either. Even if you're not feeling burgers the apps are great, the weekend specials are usually creative and delicious (albeit more pricey than I would generally spend), they make quality scratch cocktails and have the best rotating beer taps in town. Reverend's is the one place in town that, to me, stacks up as a great NW Ohio restaurant, not merely a great BG restaurant. It does become a hopping college bar if you're there late into the evenings, but it's far more of a townie restuarant/bar during normal lunch/dinner hours.

Now that said Guajillos is a very solid Mexican option. It's superior, IMO, to the family's older more well-known El Zarape.

And of course we all have the places we crave from our college days. Campus Pollyeye's for the stuffed sticks, and you can save a stop now because I think their pizza is superior to imitation Myle's. Mr. Spots ranks above the pizza places for my cravings, though. South Side 6 Gyros fit into this category as well (I have several friends that make this their first and last stop when back in town), but it's carryout only.

As for sports bars, I think BG is lacking (as is most of the world, really). BWW and Frickers are there, and both practically across the street from the Doyt. I'll assume everybody knows what they'll get at BWW (crap food, likely crap beer, definitely crap service, but an awesome TV environment). Frickers is a more local version wing chain/sports bar. It's been a long time since I've been in a Frickers...I've held their food and beer selection in even lower esteem than BWW, but I could be wrong since it's probably been 5-10 years since I've been in one. The downtown bar scene is a very solid typical college bar area and all of Reverend's, City Tap, Stones Throw, and Doc Hollidays will have games on the TVs, but none will have as many large projections to watch at once as a BWW.

As somebody stated elsewhere, a rental car is a requirement in NWO. I don't know how you'd get TO BG without one, and public transportation in BG is virtually nonexistent.

[gmartin]

Public transportation in BG. Uber!!! If you trust that service. I've had several people tell me they get Uber to take them from Main St bars to Copper Beach for $5-$6. To me that's a no brainer if you trust Uber and your driver especially at 2am. Read a story the other day that Detroit is thinking about eliminating it's taxi service because it's only being used 12% of the time as everyone is using Uber.

[Cork]

This weekend is the town's art & music festival:
http://www.blackswampfest.org

Getting around can be difficult as will parking, but far from impossible. Just know it's a great fest but the town will be packed and Main Street is closed to traffic.

The dining advice above is good. I grew up in the town but the restaurant scene has changed a lot since I lived there and worked at the best restaurant. I'm not a fan but will add SamBe's on Main St as decent food, more seating options, better mixed drinks than the typical college bars, and you'll be able to hear each other talk. Even though the fest will be in full swing, the restaurants downtown don't do great business that weekend so you'll find seating. A table of 10 is a challenge anywhere.

I join a few tailgates/friends or I would invite you but setting up next to a large RV near Wooster St can work well.

Good luck and enjoy