A Moment Between Mediocrity

[BGSU Falconz]

All the success the Falcon football team has built for themselves these past few years has been nothing short of monumental. It has truly been a good nearly-half-decade to be a BGSU fan.

But, for all that success and all that has been accomplished, a curious nagging feeling comes over me from time to time. The feeling seems to question whether this really is the beginning of a continuing upward trend for our program, or just A Moment Between Mediocrity.

Look at the past. We've had good teams before. Some might say incredible teams. Teams just as, or nearly as talented as the teams we've fielded within the last 5 years. Look at the years of Brian McClure. The years Erik White. I don't know their eras in detail, but I know enough to know that we've won bowl games before - AND conference championships.

When you think about it, we haven't done much in these last five years that we haven't accomplished in the past. In fact, if this year is fated to be another championshipless year for the Falcons, one could argue that the teams in the past had actually accomplished MORE than the Falcons of this millennium. But yet not even the greatness of the teams back in Brian McClure' and Erik White's days could stop this program from slipping back into mediocrity (and oftentimes less-than-mediocrity) ?

So what, in all seriousness, indicates that this ISN'T just another moment between mediocrity? What happens after Jacobs? After Turner? After Brandon? Will we be able to continue this uphill struggle?

This, ladies and gentlemen, has been my biggest fear the past several years. The simple fact that we could be a single losing season short of losing all we've struggled to attain.

[ZiggyZoomba]

oooooooooooooooooooooh, you're gonna get flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamed!!

Interesting point though, and one I've pondered myself. I don't have an answer, nor do I really care. I just take each day as it happens and am thankful for what it brings. If that's a BG team in the top 20, so be it... if it's the resurrection of the Poe Ditch Rat... again, I'll live with it...

Only time will tell....

[BGSU Falconz]

oooooooooooooooooooooh, you're gonna get flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamed!!

Interesting point though, and one I've pondered myself. I don't have an answer, nor do I really care. I just take each day as it happens and am thankful for what it brings. If that's a BG team in the top 20, so be it... if it's the resurrection of the Poe Ditch Rat... again, I'll live with it...

Only time will tell....

They can't flame me, I'm an ADMIN!

:puts on flame-retardant suit anyway, just in case:

But yeah, I take one day at a time as well, and am having a HELL of a time being a Falcon fan while doing it.

However, I can't help but to think about what might come to pass. Be it either good or bad.

[Flipper]

Oh no, we suck again!!!

Complacency is always a danger. That's why it pays to be paranoid and insecure

[ZiggyZoomba]

Oh no, we suck again!!!

Complacency is always a danger. That's why it pays to be paranoid and insecure

Why would you say such a thing?? Does that mean you think my butt looks fat??

[kdog27]

When you think about it, we haven't done much in these last five years that we haven't accomplished in the past. In fact, if this year is fated to be another championshipless year for the Falcons, one could argue that the teams in the past had actually accomplished MORE than the Falcons of this millennium. But yet not even the greatness of the teams back in Brian McClure' and Erik White's days could stop this program from slipping back into mediocrity (and oftentimes less-than-mediocrity) ?

So what, in all seriousness, indicates that this ISN'T just another moment between mediocrity? What happens after Jacobs? After Turner? After Brandon? Will we be able to continue this uphill struggle?

This, ladies and gentlemen, has been my biggest fear the past several years. The simple fact that we could be a single losing season short of losing all we've struggled to attain.

Well I think the biggest difference now with the internet and weekday games is that our name gets out there. I'm just guessing because I don't really know for sure but in the late 80's if a MAC team was 10-0 they would probably just be cracking the top 25. We can be breaking that barrier in week one this year. Most informed fans know who BG, UT, NIU, and Miami are. Most of them do not think of us as a division II school. The internet and extra TV exposure has put our name out there and people see and hear about us who never would have in 1994. I wouldn't know the first thing about numerous schools without the internet.

I admit, I fear the same things you do but I try to bury the them in the back of my head.

I

[Metz]

Does that mean you think my butt looks fat??

I'll answer for everyone...

YES.

[TG1996]

Does that mean you think my butt looks fat??

I'll answer for everyone...

YES.

but only in those jeans. And that other pair of pants you have. And some of the shorts. Yeah, I guess your butt is fat.

[Metz]

but only in those jeans. And that other pair of pants you have. And some of the shorts. Yeah, I guess your butt is fat.

That orange sport coat he has probablys hangs down past it, maybe he should wear that more often. And maybe I should stop talking about Grant's butt cause it's just not right...

[Falconfreak90]

Actually, that isn't a bad thought. BG was very good in the early to mid 80's then fell back thru 1990. BG was excellent from 91-94, then fell back and crashed by 2000. Seems like a pattern has been happening. But I don't see BG falling back at this point. Way too much momentum these days.

Kdog brings up good points about the difference between the past and the present.

[Bleeding Orange]

Two things that BG has never had the benefit of in the past, in my opinion, will keep this cycle from repeating itself:

(1) a MAC contract with ESPN and a new national interest in the BG/TU rivalry.

(2) the construction of "The Bob." It is going to be one of the best athletic facilities in the country and all of our sports will benefit from it.

[TG1996]

I'm with Kdog, too, but will add that the scholarship limitations weren't in place the last time we had a drop off (I don't think, at least, for the mid-90s). Nowadays, not only do we have more exposure, but we theoretically have a larger pool to choose from because the so-called big boys (thanks coach B! ) can't horde and stash as many recruits.

While anything's possible, I think success will continue to breed success. As long as we choose our coaches wisely as they move through (until we can land a guy that wants to, or become a place where people want to stay until retirement), our successes will build upon themselves. The QB tree you stated looks like its headed that way, and I would be surprised if we didn't keep bringing in quality WRs.

[Schadenfreude]

When you think about it, we haven't done much in these last five years that we haven't accomplished in the past.

We've gone 3-1 against the Big Ten, been ranked three years in a row and finished a season in the Top 25 for the first time in school history.

Throw in the bowl games, the ESPN appearances and -- in my mind, if the Falcons do nothing else, this run already compares well with 1982-85 and 1991-94.

Good post, BGSU Falconz, but that's my take.

[Falcon30]

When you think about it, we haven't done much in these last five years that we haven't accomplished in the past.

We've gone 3-1 against the Big Ten, been ranked three years in a row and finished a season in the Top 25 for the first time in school history.

Throw in the bowl games, the ESPN appearances and -- in my mind, if the Falcons do nothing else, this run already compares well with 1982-85 and 1991-94.

Good post, BGSU Falconz, but that's my take.

How many Heisman candidates and NFL draft picks did we have then? Has our logo ever been a green falcon head on TV since 1992?

[Bleeding Orange]

Has our logo ever been a green falcon head on TV since 1992?

ZING!