something we need to do away with

[bgsufalcon24]

I haven't made many original posts this season, because for once, I've been content to let the season play out and not go crazy following any individual game. I'm sure at this point that we've got a decent team, not one without flaws, but a team that's fairly capable of getting the job done from week to week. We're 3-4, 2-1 in MAC play. I'd say our chances of going bowling are a little bit less than even money, and our chances of getting to Detroit are long, but we've still got a shot. But in order to make our chances of accomplishing these goals go way up, Bowling Green must upset Central Michigan this weekend. To do that, there's something that our beloved falcons must defeat and bury forever.

The Family Weekend Jinx.

For those of you not in the know, the family weekend jinx first reared it's ugly head on October 22, 2005. That afternoon, BG was 4-2 and riding a 3-game winning streak as the Western Michigan Broncos came to Doyt Perry Stadium. BG was already up 7-0 and driving for a 14-0 lead when, on one play, Omar Jacobs was hit from behind, seperated his shoulder, and fumbled, which was picked up and ran all the way back for a touchdown. The dye was cast, and in one of the worst games in history of BGSU football, WMU crushed BG 45-14, in a blowout that was totally and completely unexpected. The '05 team never recovered, losing a stinker to Akron the next week and falling at home against Toledo in a 44-41 double overtime thriller to finish 6-5, no bowl, no MAC Championship.

The next three years, the jinx would continue to haunt the Falcons. September 23, 2006 was another low point, as BGSU got humiliated 38-3 by Kent State. Kent scored on a reverse on their first play from scrimmage (sound familiar?), and the rout was on. The '06 team shook off that blemish to play well the next few weeks to remain in contention until the bottom fell out late in the year. But that loss hurt.

Fast forward ahead to October 27, 2007. With Bowling Green right in the heart of the MAC East race, BG fell behind the Ohio Bobcats and trailed throughout the afternoon. With heart, the team battled back, and was poised to get the ball one last time to try to tie the game, but was done in by not only, but two muffed punts recovered by the opposition. This loss would end up costing BG a trip to the MAC Championship, as they finished in a three way tie with Miami and Buffalo.

The jinx scored it's biggest coup yet, as on October 18, 2008, the lowly Miami Redhawks invaded Doyt Perry Stadium, and scored a 27-20 victory. The team was lifeless and uninspired for most of the day, and the coaches never attempted to fire the guys up. In fact, the guys seemed to know what was coming once they fell behind, as an even lowlier Eastern Michigan team had won in the Doyt on homecoming two weeks previous.

Why exactly does BG always lose on Family Weekend? I don't know. I've hypothesized that having the family and friends in the crowd acts as pressure on the players, that they have to play great and make the big play in front of their closest fans. This causes them to try too hard, to go all-out to make an impact instead of simply playing their assignments, resulting in big plays for the opposition, and all-around nervousness that results in poor snaps, dropped passes, and all around poor execution. Whether this is actually true, or if it's just a big coincidence, I don't know. But with each year's failure, the more I think that the theory has some legs.

So now, it's the 5th year that I've been closely following Bowling Green football as my team, to the death and down with the other 119 teams in I-A. I've heard legends and stories about how BG has been great, and has been terrible, and has in fact, actually won a game on family weekend. Since I've known the program intimately, it's never happened. It's been 4 different days, 4 different opponents, 3 different starting quarterbacks, loads of different players, personnel, and coaches. This time, we have the best team in the MAC coming at us. In order for us to keep alive our dream of reaching a MAC Championship, it's time that we finally lay the family weekend jinx to rest and beat Central Michigan on Saturday. We need this thing gone, for good.

[truth]

This CMU team is very good and probably better than previous Family Weekend opponents. I hope we win too, but I expect a close one.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

I can think of something else I'd like to do away with.

[Peregrinner]

I can think of something else I'd like to do away with.

Me too, and it just so happens to occur every year around this time for the past few years.

[kdog27]

Brilliant.

[cowboyjoe]

Central Michigan doesn't have an overweight punter do they? They haven't had a tendency to fake any punts this year have they? .............