| 2008 Bowling Green Falcons football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Conference | Mid-American Conference East | ||
| 2008 record | 6-6 (4-4 MAC) | ||
| Head coach | Gregg Brandon | ||
| Offensive coordinator | Troy Rothenbuhler Matt Campbell |
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| Offensive scheme | Spread | ||
| Defensive coordinator | Mike Ward | ||
Seasons
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| 2008 MAC football standings | ||||||||
| Conf | Overall | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||
| East | ||||||||
| Buffalo | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 6 | ||
| Bowling Green | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 6 | ||
| Temple | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | ||
| Ohio | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||
| Akron | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||
| Kent State | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||
| Miami | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||
| West | ||||||||
| Ball State | 8 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 2 | ||
| Central Michigan | 6 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 5 | ||
| Western Michigan | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||
| Northern Illinois | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 7 | ||
| Toledo | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||
| Eastern Michigan | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||
| Championship: Buffalo 42, Ball State 24 | ||||||||
The 2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team represents Bowling Green State University, which will celebrate its 90th season of collegiate football in the 2008 season. The team's head football coach is Gregg Brandon. The Falcons play their home games at Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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Shortly after the 2007 season, the Falcons lost backup quarterback, Anthony Glaud and wide receiver, Zach Charles to transfer as the pair made their way to defending MEAC champion Delaware State, because of lack of playing time.[1] On May 12, the Football Writers Association of America announced that Bowling Green senior defensive lineman Diyral Briggs was placed on their watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the nation's top defensive player.[2] At the MAC football media day, the Falcons were voted as the preseason favorites to win the East Division crown, garnering 17 first place votes and 206 total votes, just edging out rival, Miami (OH) who had 7 first place votes and 202 total votes.[3][4][5]
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| Date | Time | Opponent# | Rank# | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 30* | 12:00pm | at #25 Pittsburgh | Heinz Field • Pittsburgh, PA | ESPNU | W 27-17 | 45,063 | |
| September 6* | 7:30pm | Minnesota | Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH | ESPNU | L 42-17 | 23,184 | |
| September 13* | 8:00pm | at Boise State | Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID | KTVB | L 20-7 | 32,335 | |
| September 27* | 4:00pm | at Wyoming | War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY | the mtn. | W 45-16 | 17,411 | |
| October 4† | 4:00pm | Eastern Michigan | Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH | BCSN | L 24-21 | 16,217 | |
| October 11 | 6:00pm | at Akron | Rubber Bowl • Akron, OH | W 37-33 | 17,119 | ||
| October 18 | 12:00pm | Miami (OH) | Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH | ESPN Plus | L 27-20 | 15,411 | |
| October 25 | 4:00pm | at Northern Illinois | Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL | L 16-13 | 17,163 | ||
| November 1 | 2:00pm | Kent State | Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH (Battle for the Anniversary Award) | W 45-30 | 10,411 | ||
| November 8 | 2:00pm | at Ohio | Peden Stadium • Athens, OH | W 28-3 | 15,018 | ||
| November 21 | 6:00pm | Buffalo | Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH | L 40-34 2OT | 13,284 | ||
| November 28 | 3:30pm | at Toledo | Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH (Battle of I-75) | ESPN Classic | W 38-10 | 11,264 | |
| *Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. | |||||||
| (as of 03/18/2008) | ||||
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The Bowling Green Falcons have seen numerous changes in the coaching staff. Offensive Coordinator Mick McCall left the team to take the same position at Northwestern[6], while former Buffalo head coach, Jim Hofher, was named Quarterbacks Coach, Troy Rothenbuhler was named Passing Game Coordinator, Matt Campbell was named running game coordinator, and Doug Phillips was named recruiting coordinator.[7]
| Name | Position | Years at BGSU |
|---|---|---|
| Gregg Brandon | Head Coach | 6 |
| Troy Rothenbuhler | Assistant Head Coach Wide Receivers Passing Game Coordinator |
6 |
| Mike Ward | Defensive Coordinator | 17 |
| Stephen Bird | Wide Receivers | 2 |
| Matt Campbell | Offensive Line Running Game Coordinator |
2 |
| Jim Hofher | Quarterbacks | 1 |
| Adam Gonzaga | Defensive Backs | 2 |
| Deion Melvin | Linebackers | 2 |
| John Hunter | Running Backs | 3 |
| Doug Phillips | Defensive Ends | 2 |
| Stan Watson | Defensive Assistant | 1 |
| Adam Salon | Offensive Assistant | 2 |
| Aaron Hillmann | Strength and Conditioning | 8 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 0 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
| Pittsburgh | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
The Falcons opened the 2008 campaign against nationally ranked Pitt at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in front of 45,063 and a national television audience on ESPNU. The Falcons came in as 13-point underdogs against the Panthers, who had previously been 25-2 against the MAC and 24-0 at home against the conference. Pittsburgh showed their poise early on in the game scoring on their first offensive drive of the game with a 11 yard run by running back LeSean McCoy to cap off an eight play, 71-yard drive that took less than four minutes to complete. Pitt would extend their lead in the early in the second quarter with 4 yard touchdown pass to Derek Kinder from quarterback Bill Stull, making the score 14–0 in favor of Pitt. The Falcons would answer back against the Panthers on the following possession, marching down the field 73 yards in eight plays, capped off with a five yard pass to Jimmy Scheidler from wide receiver Freddie Barnes, cutting Pitt's lead to 14–7. Scheidler would bring in his second touchdown reception of the game six and a half minutes later on a three yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Sheehan, which tied the game at 14–14. Pitt would answer back on the following possession as their Lou Groza Award candidate kicker Connor Lee booted 36 yard field goal as time expired in the first half, giving Pitt the halftime lead 17–14.
The game would become a story of two halves as the Falcons came
out and as the Falcons defense slowed down the powerhouse McCoy and
forced Pitt to two fumbles and an interception. Bowling Green would
take their first lead of the game with an 8 yard run by wide
receiver Anthony Turner with 3:53 left in the third quarter. The
preceding extra point was blocked by Pitt and the Falcons took the
lead of 20–14. Early in the fourth quarter the Bowling Green
defense caused Pitt's third fumble and seemed to return it to the
end zone for an apparent game-winning touchdown, but due to an
inadvertent whistle, Bowling Green was stripped of the touchdown,
but still took over possession of the ball at Pitt's 11-yard line.
The Falcons would make good on their field position scoring on an
11-yard run on a quarterback draw by Sheehan which increased the
Falcons' lead to 27–17. Pitt continued to attempt to mount a
comeback but after Lee's missed field goal of 42 yards at 3:58 left
in the fourth quarter blew the wind out of Pitt's sails and Stull
being intercepted in the end zone by Kenny Lewis with 1:26 left in
the game officially put Pitt away. The Falcons improved to 1–0 on
the season and had their second consecutive season opening victory
over a BCS Conference opponent (having defeated Minnesota
32–31 in overtime the year before), although being outgained by the
Pitt offense 393–254. Sheehan lead the Falcons in the passing game
completing 24 of 40 attempts for 163 yards, 1 touchdown, and an
interception, followed by Barnes who was 2 of 2 for 27 yards and a
touchdown. The Falcons' running game was led by Chris Bullock who
had 7 rushes for 44 yards, followed by Turner and Sheehan who each
had a rushing touchdown. Bullock also led the receivers with 7
receptions for 49 yards along with Scheidler who had 3 receptions
for 30 yards and two touchdowns. Jamal Brown led the Falcons
defense with 14 tackles, followed by Antonio Smith's 12. Smith,
Lewis, and Enrique Dozier each forced fumbles, with Lewis, Dozier,
and Angelo Magnone each recovering a fumble and Lewis snagging the
lone interception for the Falcons defense. The Falcons were able to
sack Stull four times, twice by Bronko Nagurski Trophy candidate
Diyral Briggs and once each by Smith and Dozier.[8][9]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 42 |
| Bowling Green | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Boise State | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 7 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
| Wyoming | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Michigan | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
| Bowling Green | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 0 | 14 | 0 | 23 | 37 |
| Akron | 7 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 33 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 27 |
| Bowling Green | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Northern Illinois | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 30 |
| Bowling Green | 7 | 21 | 3 | 14 | 45 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 0 | 0 | 7 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 40 |
| Bowling Green | 0 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 34 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 14 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
| Toledo | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
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| Name | GP | Att | Gain | Loss | Net | Avg | TD | Long | Avg/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullock, Chris | 1 | 7 | 45 | 1 | 44 | 6.3 | 0 | 36 | 44.0 |
| Turner, Anthony | 1 | 8 | 21 | 5 | 16 | 2.0 | 1 | 8 | 16.0 |
| Barnes, Freddie | 1 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 14 | 2.8 | 0 | 11 | 14.0 |
| Sheehan, Tyler | 1 | 6 | 16 | 20 | -4 | -0.7 | 1 | 11 | -4.0 |
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -6 | -3.0 | -3.0 | 0 | -6.0 |
| Total | 1 | 28 | 98 | 34 | 64 | 2.3 | 2 | 36 | 64.0 |
| Opponents | 1 | 35 | 157 | 28 | 129 | 3.7 | 1 | 27 | 129.0 |
| Name | GP | Effic | Att-Cmp-Int | Pct | Yds | TD | Lng | Avg/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheehan, Tyler | 1 | 97.5 | 24-40-1 | 60.0 | 163 | 1 | 22 | 163.0 |
| Barnes, Freddie | 1 | 378.4 | 2-2-0 | 100.0 | 27 | 1 | 22 | 27.0 |
| Total | 1 | 110.9 | 26-41-1 | 61.9 | 190 | 2 | 22 | 190.0 |
| Opponents | 1 | 102.9 | 29-51-1 | 56.9 | 264 | 1 | 18 | 264.0 |
| Name | GP | No. | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | Avg/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullock, Chris | 1 | 7 | 49 | 7.0 | 0 | 22 | 49.0 |
| Partridge, Corey | 1 | 3 | 34 | 11.3 | 0 | 18 | 34.0 |
| Scheidler, Jimmy | 1 | 3 | 30 | 10.0 | 2 | 22 | 30.0 |
| Pronty, Tyrone | 1 | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 0 | 9 | 24.0 |
| Barnes, Freddie | 1 | 3 | 21 | 7.0 | 0 | 11 | 21.0 |
| Parks, Marques | 1 | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 0 | 7 | 13.0 |
| Turner, Anthony | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 | 4 | 7.0 |
| Hutson, Ray | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 | 4 | 5.0 |
| Wright, Chris | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 7 | 7.0 |
| Total | 1 | 26 | 190 | 7.3 | 2 | 22 | 190.0 |
| Opponents | 1 | 29 | 264 | 9.1 | 1 | 18 | 264.0 |
| Name | GP | Tackles | Sacks | Pass Defense | Interceptions | Fumbles | Blkd Kick |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Total | TFL-Yds | No-Yds | BrUp | QBH | No.-Yds | Avg | TD | Long | Rcv-Yds | FF | |||
| Brown, Jahmal | 1 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Smith, Antonio | 1 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 2-13 | 1-8 | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 |
| Haneline, John | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mahone, P.J. | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lewis, Kenny | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1-0 | 1 | 0 |
| Dozier, Erique | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 2 | 1 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1-0 | 1 | 0 |
| Briggs, Diyral | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2-9 | 2-9 | 0 | 3 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sanderson, Jerett | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ream, Michael | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Johnson, Andrew | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Williams, Roger | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fells, Eugene | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Magnone, Angelo | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1-6 | 0 | 0 |
| Parks, Lewis | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Baker, Adrian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alvarado, Kevin | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Basler, Cody | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rice, Jason | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 53 | 24 | 77 | 6-26 | 4-17 | 7 | 9 | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3-6 | 3 | 0 |
| Name | Punting | Kickoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Yds | Avg | Long | TB | FC | I20 | Blkd | No. | Yds | Avg | TB | OB | |
| Iovinelli, Nick | 8 | 361 | 45.1 | 79 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vrvilo, Sinisa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 300 | 60.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 361 | 45.1 | 79 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 300 | 60.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Name | Punt Returns | Kick Returns | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | No. | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | |
| Partridge, Corey | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Williams, Roger | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 21.0 | 0 | 21 |
| Barnes, Freddie | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 0 | 16 |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 58 | 19.3 | 0 | 21 |
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