Ohio Magazine article help...

[ZiggyZoomba]

I received the follwing email from Bob Beasley who is writing for Ohio Magazine. I answered his questions directly and then also offered to post the questions here on the site to get feedback from all of you. He thought that was a great idea, so please give the questions some thought and respond!

My name is Bob Beasley and I'm a freelance writer for Ohio Magazine. The magazine has assigned me to write a travel piece about Ohio college towns, focusing on travel during the football season. They would like me to include information about Bowling Green, with the focus being on things to do and places to see before and after the game.

I stumbled across your Web site and thought you might be able to help me out by answering a few questions and pointing me in the right direction. Here are my questions:

1. Are there any traditions surrounding football Saturdays that are worth noting? What's the story behind "Ay Ziggy Zoomba?"

2. What are some of the most popular hangouts/places to visit before and after the game for drinks and food?

3. Are Bowling Green games usually sold out, or can you get tickets on game day?

4. If someone were coming into town for the weekend to watch a Bowling Green game, what are some attractions within a 20-mile radius you would suggest visiting?

5. Where are the best places to stay?

6. Any insider tips to give visitors to help them connect with Bowling Green fans?

7. Anything else you would like to add?

Thanks in advance for your help.

-Bob Beasley

[The Orange Guy]

I'm sure you gave a very thorough answer to his questions, but it is much appreciated that you have given us the opportunity to provide feedback!

If the focus is on things to do before/after games for someone who is visiting...

...I would definitely recommend a trip to Trotter's for "The Brown Jug." I have yet to disappoint anyone when I tell them that The Brown Jug will be one of the best steaks they have ever had, especially when you consider that it is ~$20.

I would also recommend ordering an extra roll. If you do not, you will regret it when you get to the end of the steak and there is still sauce on your plate!

P.S. Richard Osborne (Editorial Director for Ohio Magazine) is my Uncle...I'll be sure to lobby for expanded print space for BG!

[BGmom2022]

The article sounds like a great idea. I am going to concentrate on question number 4, things to do in the BG area. Grand Rapids, Ohio is awonderful place to tour. It has an historical downtown which is wonderful for antique shopping and great food. Early in football season visitors can utilize Grand Rapids' canoeing and other water ventures such as traveling the river in an authentic canal boat. Later in the season Grand Rapids hosts one of Ohio's best known and awesome festivals. The apple butter festival takes place on the third weekend in October. It is a great place to pick up unique holiday gifts. The festival attracts thousands of people every year (as a former reporter for the BG Sentinel Tribune I covered the festival two years in a row. It makes for great copy).

Good luck with your piece. I can't wait to read it.

[redskins4ever]

Traditions... I think you have to talk about Sic Sic... The walk through the crowd into the stadium... granted this is new...

Places to go... Antique car museum...

Food... Myles Pizza... Frickers... and Campus Polleyes Breadsticks...

[Schadenfreude]

P.S. Richard Osborne (Editorial Director for Ohio Magazine) is my Uncle...

Didn't he used to write for the Lorain Morning Journal?

[Falcon52]

Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba in my mind is one of the most underplayed and low key traditions we have. The entire stadium should be able to sing that song every time we rally or score a TD. I hope that gets emphasized.

Food - the Brown Jug is good, however Trotter's physically is too small. Love Trotters and I have spent my share of money there throughout the years.

#1 on my list is Myles Pizza. It is handsdown the most unique pizza I have ever had. I crave it. Recomend the chicken or buffalo meat. Add Open face cheese bread with ranch and your little family weekend will be a real treat that will last for at least two more days, because there is no way they can eat it all there.

Don't forget to mention the Cannon with the smoke ring. My kids love that cannon & Tootsie Rolls.

[ffejfalcon]

Don't forget the wings and steak hogies at Mr.Spots. Only two locations exist, one in BG and the other at U/Michigan.

I also recommend stopping by the Ice Arena. See our championship banners, the wall of fame, and the curling rink.....

[hammb]

#1 on my list is Myles Pizza. It is handsdown the most unique pizza I have ever had. I crave it. Recomend the chicken or buffalo meat. Add Open face cheese bread with ranch and your little family weekend will be a real treat that will last for at least two more days, because there is no way they can eat it all there.

Absolutely, although I prefer the garlic bread to be not open faced. Either way its the best pizza joint I've ever been to by a LONG shot.

Don't forget the wings and steak hogies at Mr.Spots. Only two locations exist, one in BG and the other at U/Michigan.

Another good call.


When it comes to food I think BG has some pretty good local eateries, in the absence of many national chains. My favorites are:

1. Myles Pizza. Garlic Bread w/ Cheese & a Pepperoni & 'shroom.
2. Mr. Spots. Very good cheese steaks. Never been to Philly, but few places around here compare to Spots.
3. Campus Polleye's. The stuffed sticks (Chicken & 'shrooms w/ Ranch) are another great BG treat.
4. EasyStreet. Get your name on the beer wall of foam , decent food too.
5. El Zarapé. Pretty good Mexican, good price, GREAT service.

[BGSUVA]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express when I went up for orientation...that's not a bad place to stay.

[BGorDeath]

Places to go of unique interest if in town for the weekend:

1. Lunatic House.
2. Schedel Gardens.
3. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont.
4. Grand Rapids.
5. Sauders Village.

Probably more stuff, but these are unique.

[hammb]

Places to go of unique interest if in town for the weekend:

1. Lunatic House.
2. Schedel Gardens.
3. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont.
4. Grand Rapids.
5. Sauders Village.

Probably more stuff, but these are unique.

Diamond's in Oregon

[Schadenfreude]

1. Are there any traditions surrounding football Saturdays that are worth noting? What's the story behind "Ay Ziggy Zoomba?"

I'm going to assume ZZ filled you in on the basics. I'll have more in a moment.

One other thing to watch for is the team walk into the stadium.

Now, I need someone else to vouch that this happens routinely. But I saw it happen at the '03 Northern Illinois game, and it was awesome.

Basically, the team bus pulls up, and the Falcons make the long walk stright west toward the east side of the stadium -- and through the official tailgating tents.

Here's a photo from the NIU game:



My spine tingled when I first saw it, and it tingles again to see the photos.

(Front and center there is quarterback Josh Harris, now with the Browns).

2. What are some of the most popular hangouts/places to visit before and after the game for drinks and food?

Frickers is a popular choice before games. Problem is, it is a zoo before games.

The smart thing to do is to tailgate. And that marks a big contrast between Bowling Green and some other schools.

Ohio State has made a point to crack down on the practice. Bowling Green has the same rules on open container and all that -- but, how to put this? If you use common sense and stay out in the gravel parking lot, you will never have a problem.

Added bonus to tailgating in that big ol' gravel lot: If you are close enough to I-75, you can wave and some of the truckers will pull on the horn. This is endlessly entertaining after a big win (or merely after a few beers).

As far as after games:

First, don't leave right away. After wins -- and Bowling Green usually wins its home games -- the band plays the alma mater and then launches into three rounds of Ay Ziggy Zoomba as the team sings along, moshes around and slam dances and what not. The team has probably been doing this since the Doyt Perry days.

Once that's done, then head downtown. Plenty of options there. Here are three:

1. Trotters may have some of the best food in town, but it is small.

2. Mr. Spot's is special. The atmosphere is antiseptic as all heck, and it isn't big. But: They've been slinging Buffalo wings since before most people knew what they were, and the Philly cheesesteaks are delightful. The Web site: http://www.mrspots.com/

3. I'm going to put in a word for Howard's Club H. It's an institution -- goes back to the late 1970s, if not earlier, and has outlived virtually every other establishment in town. It's basically where town and gown come to meet. They've tried to go upmarket -- and I'm sure some people will snicker, for they aren't that upscale, even now -- but but when I lived there 15 years ago, it a concrete floor, picnic tables and a range of people from rural bikers to college hipsters. Live acts on weekends. Nothing particularly football about it, but it is an institution. Web site: http://www.howardsclubh.com/

None of these are particularly sports bars, but these are what I would point out to a visitor. And there are plenty of other options downtown.

3. Are Bowling Green games usually sold out, or can you get tickets on game day?

Typically, you can walk up and buy a ticket. But two important caveats:

1. Don't try this when Toledo comes to town Thanksgiving weekend (this year, they come down the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I think). That's our Big Game, and it tends to sell out.

2. Capacity is going down this year; the north stands have been removed to make way for the Sebo Athletic Center to open in fall, 2006. If the Falcons are as good as some of us think this year, Toledo may not be the only sell out this season.

4. If someone were coming into town for the weekend to watch a Bowling Green game, what are some attractions within a 20-mile radius you would suggest visiting?

To be honest, there isn't a ton of touristy stuff within 20 miles. Bowling Green is farm country, home of the National Tractor Pulling Championships. (And, dear God, don't send your readers to Toledo.)

Two thoughts, though:

1. I'd head out to the west side of town to check out the enormous windmill farm out there. It's the biggest east of the Mississippi; they don't call it Blowing Green for nothing.



2. Check out the Wood County Courthouse, downtown. It's the most impressive in Ohio, bar none.

5. Where are the best places to stay?

It's a small city, and there aren't many options. Perrysburg, about ten miles north on I-75, is a good bet.

6. Any insider tips to give visitors to help them connect with Bowling Green fans?

Don't start talking up Ohio State and assume we care.

Without question, Ohio State's shadow looms large here, as it does throughout Ohio. Some Bowling Green fans may be perfectly willing to talk about Ohio State football.

But others among us may tell such a visitor to shove it.

I could get cute about the reasons. For instance, here is one offered by TG1996 a while back:

... folks at OSU were none too happy with the formation and growth of BG in the earliest stages of development. Once BG (and Kent State) applied to gain college status (and not just "normal college" for the purpose of training elementary school teachers), OSU filed formal complaints that the schools were not good enough to think they could train high school teachers, even, much less offer degrees. They even went as far as to send their own faculty members to BG to "observe".

In probably one of the greatest "dick moves" in the history of the University (at least until Coach Brandon kneeled on the 2 with time ticking down against Marshall ), President Williams sent a committee down to investigate Ohio State, and found that their instructors were terrible and very poorly equipped. They got OSU to admit their short-comings, and soon thereafter BG was conferring degrees upon its graduates.

I think things smoothed over for the most part after that, but it was the very early years (1920's and '30s) where OSU played the role of spoiled older brother.



But, more to the point:

-- Bowling Green football has been nationally-ranked at some point during each of the past three seasons.
-- We are 3-1 against the Big Ten over the past four seasons.
-- We are heading to Wisconsin for the opener and most of us fully expect to win that game.
-- We didn't need a last-second 50-yard field goal from Mike Nugent to beat Marshall last year (illustration follows):



So, if Buckeye fans have the nerve to come to Perry Stadium and ramble on and on like they do on WBNS radio here in Columbus -- that if the Buckeyes had to play in the Motor City Bowl, it would be a national tragedy, yada yada yada -- they won't be welcomed warmly by some of us.

7. Anything else you would like to add?

Yes: Respect what we've got going here. This is a hell of a program with some tradition -- ten MAC titles and home to one of the greatest college coaches in history: Doyt Perry.

Perry won 85 percent of his games during his career at Bowling Green (1955-65), and he's in the College Football Hall of Fame. Only reason he isn't better known is most of those wins came before Bowling Green moved up to Division I. Legend has it that later, after Perry retired, when Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes wanted to get together and talk, they'd meet at Doyt's house in Bowling Green. That's respect.

Another legend: Paul Brown got his ideas for the team's colors from Bowling Green, which is where his fledging AAFC team held its first training camp.

Finally: Where else in the world can you pay 16 bucks to watch a legitimate Heisman candidate and future NFL star turn his competition into mincemeat?

At Bowling Green you can: Omar Jacobs is a legitimate NFL first-round prospect, even if he leaves early after this season.

Hope all that helps.

[TG1996]

Well written Schad.

And if the phrase "one of the greatest dick moves" appears in Ohio Magazine, I owe ya a beer at Howards.

[Schadenfreude]

...if the phrase "one of the greatest dick moves" appears in Ohio Magazine, I owe ya a beer at Howards.

Deal.

[Falcon Commander]

TWO Beers !!