Greastest Victory For BGSU Football

[TG1996]

1959 against Miami(OH). Bernie Casey is God.

[MarkL]

In my years as a BG student (2004 season to 2008 season), my favorite wins (in no particular order)

2005 over Miami - first game with Jacobs after the injury, three safeties, four "Miami snaps", five picks - W 42-14
2006 over Buffalo - terrible season, awesome win, really fun game in 3OT - W 48 - 40, 3OT
2007 over Minny - the Falcons proved that they can overcome a terrible season and showed signs of things to come. Coach Brewster later pointed toward the loss to BG as the reason the season was a failure as the season never really started. Also a personal note - awesome trip. I gave the game ball to my then girlfriend, now fiance, who enjoyed the trip with me - W 32 - 31, OT
2008 over Pitt - Falcons proved that whatever happened at the GMAC Bowl was a fluke and that they can play with anyone. Biggest upset by a MAC team since 2003. - W 27 - 17

Biggest wins in school history in my opinion, no particular order:
1959 championship win - 'nuff said.
2001 over Northwestern - Falcons knocked off defending Big 10 champs and made a name for Bowling Green, along with a very entertaining game. 2001 turnaround season layed the ground for the great successes of modern BG football history and this win capped it all.
2003 over Purdue - 2003 was IMO the best BG team in history and the best year for the MAC in history and this win jumpstarted an unbelievable season.

[JoeFalcon]

Many worth candidates from the 'modern era':

3. 2003 vs. NIU (Gameday game)
2. 2001 vs. Toledo (2000 game payback; as complete and total a destruction of a football team as has ever taken place)
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.
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1. 2001 vs. Northwestern. The country was just beginning to find out about Urban Meyer, the spread offense and Bowling Green. The night before, they ate dinner on the campus of Notre Dame and got a VIP tour of the College Football Hall of Fame. The Executive Director of the Hall spoke to the team and said something along the lines of "The entire college football community took notice of your win against Missouri. You have another opportunity to show them again."

They were down by a 14 point margin for virtually the entire game but kept clawing their way back. With just a couple minutes remaining, all Northwestern had to do was run the clock out to seal the win. Miraculosuly, their running back had the ball pried out of his hands (I think by Karl Rose) and recovered by Ryan Wingrove. Harris takes the field and leads the team down the field for another score to put us down by 1. The classic reverse to Magner puts us ahead by a point, but what most people forget is that is still wasn't over yet! They got decent field position after the kick, and their QB Zac Kustok had been destroying the secondary all day. It ended on either a sack or interception (I can't recall) and total delirium ensued.

[SB-50]

I see this has become an 'old school vs new school' debate. Denny Stolz, Brian McClure et al., paved the way for modern day Falcon Football. The 1985 team's national ranking set those wheels in motion. The BCS wins are important, but the 1985 Miracle Against Miami did something none of those wins did; delivered a MAC Championship. I witnessed the wins vs Missouri in 02, Northwestern 03, Minnesota 07, Pittsburgh 09, and I would trade them all for a MAC Championship. Don't kid yourselves, that is ALL that matters. It's why Brandon is no longer employed at BGSU. If Clawson does not achieve that, he will meet with the same fate. It's been since 1992. That's long enough. These 16 seasons has equalled our longest league championship drought (1966-1981, 16 seasons). A MAC Championship is all that matters. STAY FOCUSED, accept nothing less!!!!!!

[FortWayneFalcon]

I see this has become an 'old school vs new school' debate. Denny Stolz, Brian McClure et al., paved the way for modern day Falcon Football. The 1985 team's national ranking set those wheels in motion. The BCS wins are important, but the 1985 Miracle Against Miami did something none of those wins did; delivered a MAC Championship. I witnessed the wins vs Missouri in 02, Northwestern 03, Minnesota 07, Pittsburgh 09, and I would trade them all for a MAC Championship. Don't kid yourselves, that is ALL that matters. It's why Brandon is no longer employed at BGSU. If Clawson does not achieve that, he will meet with the same fate. It's been since 1992. That's long enough. These 16 seasons has equalled our longest league championship drought (1966-1981, 16 seasons). A MAC Championship is all that matters. STAY FOCUSED, accept nothing less!!!!!!

True, Thank you.
The greatest victory for this Falcon team IMO was the Pitt game. This team has proved that they can take it to the next level. They did it in Pittsburgh under harsh conditions (HEAT), and they should realize that they can do it again this year. I believe. They have the ability. Do it.
WIN THE MAC!
GO FALCONS!

[UK Peregrine]

My blog entry from right after that Minnesota win addresses the best wins of the last 10 years:

http://blog.bgsusports.com/?p=51" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Noel,

Speaking of the Purdue game (which I also think was a great one), I have a former offensive guard from Purdue in my Human Physiology lecture this summer. He was a senior at Purdue when the Falcons beat them and said it was the toughest loss he had ever experienced, but he did say it got them all motivated for one of their better seasons when Purdue made the Capital One Bowl. He did give BG props and said they hit much harder than they thought possible.

[hamjunior]

Fantastic Post!!! No Contest, 2003 Purdue game!!!! That is one fantastic memory with my dad, Dave Sr., that I will never forget. Late in the fourth quarter Josh Harris to Charles Sharon in the corner of the end zone right in front of us, beautiful!!!

[SaxyIrishTenor]

Probably the best game that I've been at would have to be the 2004 GMAC Bowl Game against Memphis.

Minus the monsoon.

[Falconfreak90]

1. 2001 vs. Northwestern. The country was just beginning to find out about Urban Meyer, the spread offense and Bowling Green. The night before, they ate dinner on the campus of Notre Dame and got a VIP tour of the College Football Hall of Fame. The Executive Director of the Hall spoke to the team and said something along the lines of "The entire college football community took notice of your win against Missouri. You have another opportunity to show them again."

They were down by a 14 point margin for virtually the entire game but kept clawing their way back. With just a couple minutes remaining, all Northwestern had to do was run the clock out to seal the win. Miraculosuly, their running back had the ball pried out of his hands (I think by Karl Rose) and recovered by Ryan Wingrove. Harris takes the field and leads the team down the field for another score to put us down by 1. The classic reverse to Magner puts us ahead by a point, but what most people forget is that is still wasn't over yet! They got decent field position after the kick, and their QB Zac Kustok had been destroying the secondary all day. It ended on either a sack or interception (I can't recall) and total delirium ensued.

Dude, one of the greatest BG games I've ever been to. It was a 7 hour drive home but after witnessing that game, I could have driven to the Atlantic Coast. Truly a wild and exciting game by both teams. NW ended with 622 years of total offense, BG had 616.

Then we wasted the hated rockettes a week later.

The 2003 game at Purdue is right up there as well as the 2002 Missouri game at the Doyt.

[Falconfreak90]

I see this has become an 'old school vs new school' debate. Denny Stolz, Brian McClure et al., paved the way for modern day Falcon Football. The 1985 team's national ranking set those wheels in motion. The BCS wins are important, but the 1985 Miracle Against Miami did something none of those wins did; delivered a MAC Championship. I witnessed the wins vs Missouri in 02, Northwestern 03, Minnesota 07, Pittsburgh 09, and I would trade them all for a MAC Championship. Don't kid yourselves, that is ALL that matters. It's why Brandon is no longer employed at BGSU. If Clawson does not achieve that, he will meet with the same fate. It's been since 1992. That's long enough. These 16 seasons has equalled our longest league championship drought (1966-1981, 16 seasons). A MAC Championship is all that matters. STAY FOCUSED, accept nothing less!!!!!!

+1!!!!!!!!!!! BRING HOME THE TITLE!!!!!

[Strouse]

Probably the best game that I've been at would have to be the 2004 GMAC Bowl Game against Memphis.

Minus the monsoon.

under my umbrella of a tuba, I stayed relatively dry...I think most of the rain went in the horn and not on me!

[redskins4ever]

There might be a few more... a win over Marshall or a Big win over Toledo but below are some of the best wins for the program during the last 25 years.

1985 Over Kentucky
1991 California Raisin Bowl over Fresno State
2002 over Missouri
2003 over NIU

[MACMAN]

Best season for Falcon football. In the modern game, I would say 1985 season was right there, but I would go with 91, I was older and it was fun.

[david4falcons]

YES....I agree with all the previous posts etc. as I either saw them (via ESPNU) or heard about them via the phone-alerts etc.......HOWEVER, the greatest victories for me ( I was there during the "slim years" of 87-91) but we all remember in 92 the 11-1 season with a MAC Championship and the win in the LAST California Raisin Bowl, and the Bands FIRST trip to a bowl game.....and finally, ANY of the games BG won during the 87-91 years were the greatest, as they usually were the ONLY ones they won that season, and the only people that remember those were the Band members & the Cheerleaders, Freddy & Fredia, and of course the parents etc.....because WE were the only ones there

but of course, the Greatest victories that BG has, are going to be these this season!!
GO BG!!

[Father Brown]

Focusing on the modern era (sorry Doyt), I would have to pick the 2001 win over Northwestern. A bowl game win against a Big 10 team. No other MAC program has such a victory on such a large stage. The pitch/catch between Josh and Cole for the clinching TD was a NFL caliber play. You can see why both received interest from the pros on that play alone. It also highlights the 'what if' Urban had stayed longer even though we will enjoy his association with the program for many years to come (just think, we will be listed in every Florida football program going to the masses).