The Greatest BGSU Football Games of the Past Decade

[Falconfreak90]

Was at that NW game in 2001....both teams had more than 600 yrds offense on the day. Cole Magner on the reverse for the 2 pt conversion. J5 and Robert Redd were sick that day.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

What about the 2007 Minnesota game? The very first day of the Big Ten Network, and we made them look a bit silly. Todd Walker's call was fantastic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjYQOluaPDU" target="_blank

Great call indeed, but my favorite part of that video will always be the upset Minnesota kid you see at the very end as Sheehan is celebrating

[BGFalconfromCincy]

For me personally my top 3 of the last decade is a no brainier, all 3 games I was lucky enough to be at in person.

1. 2013 MAC Title Game
2. 2008 at Pitt
3. 2007 at Minnesota

All three games had a common theme, BG pulling an upset. The MAC title game was the best atmosphere I've ever experienced at a sporting event, and is the proudest I've ever felt as a BG student/fan/alumni outside of graduating with my degrees from BG. Ending the title drought and busting NIU's BCS chance in convincing fashion, it was the perfect storm.

I put the Pitt game just ahead of the Pitt game because Pitt was so hyped entering the season. I wasn't buying any of it and to see us go there, comeback from down either 14-0 or 17-0, shutdown Shady McCoy, and dominate the 2nd half, BG proved that I was right in thinking Pitt was over hyped.

While it may not seem like an upset because Minnesota ended their season 1-11, being there it was one. Minnesota people were so amped up about their new coach and new era. Reading the papers at the hotel my friends and I stayed at up there before the game they were talking about how their new coach was going to return them to glory. There was a doubleheader at the Metrodome that day with the Twins playing that afternoon, and my friends and I made the trip to Minny overnight to go to that game as well. We got so many comments from Minnesota fans about how us four college students drove all that way to watch our team lose. Such a satisfying win, and great call from Todd Walker on the winning play

[BGSU33]

I'm gonna stretch it out out a few years past the last decade because 2001 is when things really got interesting, but here's my Top-20 games since 2001:

20. Kent State in 2013 (huge MAC win in Week 2 on the road)
19. Ohio in 2013 (set us up for showdown with Buffalo)
18. Ohio in 2012 (set us up for showdown with Kent State)
17. Marshall in 2004 (going away present for the Herd)
16. Toledo in 2001 (capped a helluva turnaround season)
15. Memphis in 2004 (back-to-back bowl wins)
14. South Alabama in 2014 (last-minute win in a bowl)
13. Kansas in 2002 (BCS team on the road)
12. Pittsburgh in 2008 (ranked BCS team on road)
11. Minnesota in 2007 (2-point conversion in OT vs a BCS team on the road)
10. Indiana in 2014 (last-second win vs a P5 team at the Doyt)
9. Buffalo in 2013 (sent us to Detroit)
8. Toledo in 2003 (probably my favorite BG-UT game)
7. Northwestern in 2003 (Big 10 team in a bowl)
6. Missouri in 2001 (Urban's 1st game)
5. Northwestern in 2001 (9/11 makeup game for South Carolina cancellation)
4. Missouri in 2002 (killed them at the Doyt)
3. Purdue in 2003 (ranked Big 10 team on the road)
2. Northern Illinois in 2003 (College Gameday, ranked & undefeated team)
1. Northern Illinois in 2013 (MAC Championship, ranked and undefeated team)

[kdog27]

A couple of my other favorites that I don't think have been mentioned. 48-45 over WMU in double overtime in 2002. 1999 beat down of UT got me hooked on BG football.

Couple of losses that standout that were still enjoyable for me were the 2003 game against OSU and the MAC championship game at the Doyt the same year.

[BGSU33]

A couple of my other favorites that I don't think have been mentioned. 48-45 over WMU in double overtime in 2002. 1999 beat down of UT got me hooked on BG football.

Couple of losses that standout that were still enjoyable for me were the 2003 game against OSU and the MAC championship game at the Doyt the same year.

I agree with those games too. They sucked because we lost, but they were good games. Others I would toss in that category are:

At Wisconsin in 2005
Vs Toledo in 2005
At Missouri in 2009
Vs Idaho 2009 (bowl)
Vs Kent State in 2012
Vs Mississippi State in 2013

And as much as it has left a lasting thorn in my side every time I think about it, the "Fat Punter" game vs CMU in 1994 for the MAC Championship was a heck of a game. Had we won that game and not lost it, that game would easily been in my top five. That game crippled us for several years and we were never the same. Years after it, Gary Blackney admitted as much.

[bgsufalcon24]

Game #12

Bowling Green 48 - Buffalo 40 F/3OT - September 8, 2006 - Doyt Perry Stadium, Bowling Green, Ohio

The 2006 season started with BG not having much of an identity really. The departures of Omar Jacobs and many of the skill position players left a gaping hole in coach Gregg Brandon's spread offense. The plan appeared to be to run the ball early and often. Freddie Barnes, believe it or not, was the backup quarterback at the time, and he started against Wisconsin, a 35-14 loss in Cleveland. The second game of the season was against Buffalo. Most of BG's games against UB leading up to 2006, save the 2000 loss that ultimately got Gary Blackney sacked, were one sided victories for the Falcons. But boy oh boy, this game was a humdinger.

BG opened the game with a great drive, right down the field for a touchdown. Then came the first weather delay of the game, a lightning delay. When the teams came back for the restart, Buffalo returned the kickoff for a touchdown. The game was nip and tuck after that, and featured another weather delay in the 3rd quarter, this one lasting over an hour as the heavens lit up and thundered over Bowling Green. Trailing 27-20 late in the game, Anthony Turner led BG on a long touchdown drive to tie the game with under a minute left to send it to overtime. Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime, and did so again in the second overtime. By this point, the lights were on at the Doyt for a game that had started in the early afternoon. BG's third possession of OT was perfect, scoring the touchdown and converting the mandatory 2-pt conversion attempt to go up by 8. Buffalo drove inside the 10, but they were stopped on 4th down. After 5 hours and 42 minutes, quite probably the longest game in the history of Doyt Perry Stadium, the Falcons had given the few fans that stuck it out all the way a truly memorable victory.

This game was the beginning of several crazy encounters between the Falcons and the Bulls over the next decade, several of which may show up on this countdown later.

[MarkL]

That 2006 UB game was so much fun. The team was young and woefully inexperienced but they showed their toughness and AT showed flashes of what could have been. I actually have the game on DVD, it is one of my favorite games to revisit, if nothing more than a what-could-have-been with the 2006 season.

That 2006 team was so close and a few bad injuries away from being 8-4, east champs ... and also so close to 1-11 (three of the four wins were one possession). The margin was so thin for that team between the style they played, the inexperience, and the injuries they had. Just imagine if ...
- a quarter of the team didn't get hurt at FIU. No way we get rolled by Kent State the next week if we aren't missing crucial parts of our O line, our QB, LB depth, and our best defensive backs. We may even pull that game off but unlikely. Most likely with better health we keep that a close game.
- a couple bad turnovers don't happen vs CMU. That game was winnable
- better special teams vs Temple. No reason to lose that game but special teams gave it away
- no BS offensive PI call at Akron. AT led a hell of a comeback only for the refs to take it away on an awful offensive PI call against Ruiz. Remember AT's 4th and goal at the 9 scramble? Amazing individual effort. That guy was good.
- better play calling toward the end of the mud bowl. For whatever reason the coaches started passing the ball more in the muddy conditions instead of running the ball which ultimately set up the ill-fated kick. That loss was not on Ellis, it was on the coaching staff. We had run the ball fine most of the game, our offensive line was getting big pushes, and eventually our backs would have broken a big one.
- and if the team were in the MAC race come UT time, no way they pack it in the way they did for that game. They were mentally drained well before kickoff and I can't blame them. Everything went wrong that season.

I know this is a bit of a "when pigs fly" list, but that 2006 team was just experience away from being a great one. We had excellent offensive and defensive lines, an exciting, young backfield, and a growing star in Corey Partridge. And just imagine if a team of first time starters with freshmen all over the place actually improved upon 2005's record, the hype going into 2007 would have been deafening.

Enough reminiscing for the moment. I'll have another extended reminiscing post for a game sure to appear on this list. One of the games I call my number 1 BGSU football moment will be in 24's top 11 but I doubt many others will give it the number 1 spot. I'll have some thoughts when it rolls around.

Great list 24! I'm enjoying this countdown.

[Schadenfreude]

Great call indeed, but my favorite part of that video will always be the upset Minnesota kid you see at the very end as Sheehan is celebrating

That's a great moment.

[Beaker]

Within the last decade I'd add the 2013 Buffalo game that got us to the MACC and overrated NIU. One of the most dominating defenses in BG history flexed its muscles in the second half, Joplin made clutch grabs and Matty J made the run/decision of the year on a QB keeper.

The Buffalo game deserves a mention. Savvy pick.

What about the 2007 Minnesota game? The very first day of the Big Ten Network, and we made them look a bit silly. Todd Walker's call was fantastic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjYQOluaPDU" target="_blank

What an awesome game and finish! Watching that clip will never, ever get old

[BG71]

The 2003 Purdue game is still the best game I have ever attended. Had a perfect view of Chuck's catch. I think we're stealing 24s thunder.

In my top 5.

BG vs Purdue 1.jpg (108.66 KiB) Viewed 437 times

[Beaker]

Still kicking myself for not going to that one. Had every intention of going, but ended up not, for reasons that I can't even recall now. It will no doubt forever stand as "the best game I ever listened to on the radio".

Have the picture of Josh releasing that pass as a framed 8x10 on the wall in my mancave. It serves as a reminder that I should have made that road trip

[hammb]

I made the road trip totally on a whim. Saw my buddy who was working at downtown and had a couple extra tickets if I wanted them. Of course he couldn't leave until close. So we stick around and meet him at 2:30. Went home and slept for a few hours before making the drive to west Lafayette.

So glad I did as that was absolutely the best sporting event I've ever attended.

[jpfalcon09]

I listened to it on the radio and remember Walker's call on Sharon's catch vividly. That play may stand out as one of the biggest in BG football history.

It's also disappointing that game was played before the technological advances of online streaming and the million sports channels of today. I'd love to have a copy of that game as a way to get ready for each season.

[Beaker]

I made the road trip totally on a whim. Saw my buddy who was working at downtown and had a couple extra tickets if I wanted them. Of course he couldn't leave until close. So we stick around and meet him at 2:30. Went home and slept for a few hours before making the drive to west Lafayette.

So glad I did as that was absolutely the best sporting event I've ever attended.

Thanks for rubbing salt in my still-open, 12 year old wound!