Military Bowl Game Thread

[Rightupinthere]

I had fun this season. Defense was awesome, running game finally hit its stride, and we have a bucket-load of talent coming back.

I had my doubts early but ultimately I love this program and can't wait until next year.

Yes, BG lost today, but it's still a great day to be a Falcon.

Finally, thank you seniors.

[BGSU33]

Good to get back to a bowl game and enjoyed being there today, just hope we can now end this bowl losing streak next season. But we have got to get the offense tweaked next year. The passing game needs to improve, and we need to find some running plays that don't take so long to develop. I do think Schilz regressed this year despite having a younger receiving corps. He looked better as a passer (his techinique and form) as a sophomore than he did as a junior. And BG is just still struggling to close out important games. It was frustrating to see this one come undone at the end, but this season was better than the last few. But we need to improve in a few areas next year no doubt in order to take a step up next season.

[bgsufalcon24]

BGSU team records by year since I started following the program:

2005 - 6-5 (5-3)
2006 - 4-8 (3-5)
2007 - 8-5 (6-2)
2008 - 6-6 (4-4)
2009 - 7-6 (6-2)
2010 - 2-10 (1-7)
2011 - 5-7 (3-5)
2012 - 8-5 (6-2)

Aggregate - 46-52 (34-30)

You can definitely see the trajectory over the past 3 years, where we simply bottomed out and then have been building back up since. The question is whether this will end up being a premature peak like 2007 was, or if next year will be a big breakthrough to where we reach double digit wins for the first time since 2003. I feel like our out of conference schedule is easy enough for us to do that if:

A.Our defense continues to be as stout as it was this year. We lose Woods and Jones, which will be tough to replace but we do return everybody else. I'm feeling pretty confident that we'll meet this goal.

B.Our offense manages to get better, more consistent quarterback play, in the red zone, and in pressure situations in close games. This goal would be more attainable if we do a better job of calling plays in certain situations. This is clearly the big question, and we'll go as far as our offense takes us next season.

I understand why people are down today, but with a clear upward trajectory in wins and 19 of 22 starters returning along with (I presume) the whole coaching staff AND an easier schedule out of conference...I have to believe that we're in good shape entering 2013. Expectations could and should be high. If we succeed, we win the East Division and play for and maybe win the MAC Championship and win double digit games. Failure...would probably look a lot like how 2008 played out.

[NY-BG-FAN]

It was awesome to finally see BG play in a bowl game in person. I thought the Military Bowl was a great host - have lived not too far away from D.C. for a while and it's a great city. Only wish the BG-esque weather turned into a BG win but ah well.

I'm not much for moral victories at all, but no shame in trading punches with the 24th-ranked team in the nation. That team almost knocked off Stanford and had a whole mess of quality wins, including us. Saw they were 1-12 just a couple years ago? Ouch! Good for them, impressive team and their fans just have to feel great about where they've come from to what looks like the best season in school history. Happy for them. Without mulling over every close play and coaching decision, we had the lead on a very good team twice in the second half and just didn't make enough plays. You can re-hash every negative play in a loss, it's easy to play what-if. Had we pulled it out, all that stuff is forgotten. Having said that, if BG had covered that 4th quarter fumble on the botched reverse, we probably win the game. But hey, most fumbles are 50-50 balls and that one just didn't bounce our way. A few breaks did go our way, and coaching decisions are always easy to criticize in hindsight. It was obvious Coach Clawson had them ready to play. I though Schilz was really sharp in the first quarter but then SJSU's secondary tightened up and he struggled.

Seems like the stage is set for what could be a special season next year with all the starters coming back. I know folks are lukewarm on Schilz, but wow with 19 of 22 starters returning that would be a heck of a time to hand the QB reins to someone with zero career starts over a senior who would be a 4-year starter. That's not to say I don't think Schilz couldn't play better, most of the criticism of him is fair. I just have a hard time criticizing an un-paid professional too much. Sorry, I'm just a bleeding heart and a BG apologist, but that's why I'm a fan first. Schilz might struggle, but he has been the QB as this team has gone from 2 wins, to 5 and then to 8 and a bowl. Hopefully the next step is a division title and hopefully a season for the ages.

On that note, Coach Clawson is truly as good as advertised as program builder. If we improve by 3 wins for a 4th straight year...well that would be amazing and probably take us to all our goals. If we have to lose him, I hope it's because we have a 10 or 11 win season in 2013. A scenario like that is to be expected. I just think he runs a heck of a program and is a pretty good coach to boot.

A win today would've been great, but all in all I think things are looking good. It's always a great day to be a Falcon! My posts are always about 3 paragraphs longer for real than in my head. Thanks for reading.

[NY-BG-FAN]

Also, after a long lead up to the game at least we were treated to a competitive game against a good team. Can't imagine how UCLA fans feel right now...yikes! Not a good taste to head into the offseason with.

[Schadenfreude]

I had fun this season. Defense was awesome, running game finally hit its stride, and we have a bucket-load of talent coming back.

I had my doubts early but ultimately I love this program and can't wait until next year.

Yes, BG lost today, but it's still a great day to be a Falcon.

Well put. I had a good time at RFK Stadium last night. We can dwell on what went wrong this season, but a lot went right and this obviously isn't the ceiling for this program.

[svillefalcon]

BGSU team records by year since I started following the program:

2005 - 6-5 (5-3)
2006 - 4-8 (3-5)
2007 - 8-5 (6-2)
2008 - 6-6 (4-4)
2009 - 7-6 (6-2)
2010 - 2-10 (1-7)
2011 - 5-7 (3-5)
2012 - 8-5 (6-2)

Aggregate - 46-52 (34-30)

You can definitely see the trajectory over the past 3 years, where we simply bottomed out and then have been building back up since. The question is whether this will end up being a premature peak like 2007 was, or if next year will be a big breakthrough to where we reach double digit wins for the first time since 2003. I feel like our out of conference schedule is easy enough for us to do that if:

A.Our defense continues to be as stout as it was this year. We lose Woods and Jones, which will be tough to replace but we do return everybody else. I'm feeling pretty confident that we'll meet this goal.

B.Our offense manages to get better, more consistent quarterback play, in the red zone, and in pressure situations in close games. This goal would be more attainable if we do a better job of calling plays in certain situations. This is clearly the big question, and we'll go as far as our offense takes us next season.

I understand why people are down today, but with a clear upward trajectory in wins and 19 of 22 starters returning along with (I presume) the whole coaching staff AND an easier schedule out of conference...I have to believe that we're in good shape entering 2013. Expectations could and should be high. If we succeed, we win the East Division and play for and maybe win the MAC Championship and win double digit games. Failure...would probably look a lot like how 2008 played out.

+1

My expectations going into this season, were pretty high. bgsufalcon24 can attest to that. My expectation for this team, being around it closely when all of the kids who are playing big time minutes now were baby-faced freshman, was sky-high.

I said on numerous occasions that if we were not contending for the MAC CHampionship game all season, it would be a failure. We competed for that goal into November and the game that ultimately decided the MAC East Champion was a thriller. Who would have expected Kent to be as good as they were? No one.

We lose arguably 2 of our best 3 defensive players and one All-American, but we return 19 of 22 Starters next year. I had a ton of fun following this team this year.

Hats of to Coach Clawson and this staff, they came into a mess of a program, guided a sinking ship to a bowl game in their first year with a Senior laden team, then had the dedication to strip the program down and rebuild it from its roots. There were hard times the previous two season, but this season has made that all worth it as we look to the future. 8-5 (6-2) this season with all the players returning certainly makes for even higher expectations for next year from me and all the other fans, but the only expectations that matter come from the players and coaches themselves. For the first time in a long time, I believe that this team believes in themselves.

The only thing that worries me about this team is QB play. If Matt Schilz returns to even his 2011 form, the sky is the limit for this team. I love this team and I love my school. I cannot wait to get it started again next fall!

Go Falcons! Roll Along You BG Warriors...

[Bill-DC]

I had a lot of fun on the sidelines covering both teams. I got a bunch of BG shots which I will edit tonight (after I'm done with my 9 to 5) and will post a link to the photos.

Tough loss, but you all know always be proud of your team no matter what the result.

[Flipper]

"Fun" is the perfect single word description for this season. Now it's time to hit the books and the weight room to prepare for spring....

[jpfalcon09]

Definitely proud of what the team accomplished this year. Took three top-25 teams to the fourth quarter in very competitive games. They found an identity in their defense and now know what they need to do to win football games. We got to see Chris Jones, perhaps the best defensive lineman in school history, dominate all season and earn All-American honors. The bowl loss should serve as motivation going into next season, as should the Kent loss.

An important offseason looms now. Need more playmakers on offense to step up over the Spring and Schilz needs to become a team leader at QB. He'll be a four-year starter and will need to play and lead like one. I would suspect most media types will pick BG to win the East next year, and that will rest on their offense to fulfill those predictions.

Kudos to Coach Clawson and his staff for building this program back up, next year now needs to become to exclamation point.

[Globetrotter]

Qb needs fixed.

[BGorDeath]

Now it's time to hit the books and the weight room to prepare for spring....

Yes, Dad.

[Flipper]

Get off my lawn....

[bgsufalcon24]

Get off my lawn....

You better watch yo back...

[Falcon137]

Just got back from DC, few thoughts.

Met lots of great people, fans, administrators, and parents, also lots of nice San Jose fans.

DC was a blast, tons of things to do, places to go, things to see. Really a great bowl destination. However, RFK is a total dump. Place is literally falling apart. I hope the area keeps this bowl, but they should explore FedEx or moving it to Baltimore.

As far as the game....Schmiedebusch continued his up and down season with a real stinker.

Defense was great, what else can you say. The defense and special teams setup more scores than anything the offense did all day and kept us in it all day.

Going into next year the QB situation has to be addressed. Schilz has clearly regressed, I mean big time. After having 2 weeks and all year to work with his receivers they all still just looked lost. Over throws, under throws, getting happy feet, taking bad sacks, not taking care of the ball. It was all on display.

That said our receiving corps is bad, except for Gallon. He is a flat out stud, who could be one of the better ones to play here. Joplin had a HUGE drop when BG was in the 2 minute drill in the 1st half. Schilz made a great deep throw that hit him in the hands and he just dropped it. Burbrink is a decent little slot receiver, but doesn't seemingly have the speed to be a guy that makes a defense respect him. Bayer is a good tight end who gets forgotten about in the offense sometimes.

I'm optimistic about next year. I think Herve Cobe will be a good compliment to Gallon. But we will need more threats. Teams are just going to keep loading the box. Joplin, Burbrink, and Stokes are just kind of out there. The defense should be great and special teams solid.

Just my 2 cents.