Bowling Green State University Athletics
April 17 - Spring Practice Information
December 19, 1999 | Football
April 17, 1999
Head coach Gary Blackney and his staff put his 1999 squad through their final week of spring practice culminating with the annual spring game on Saturday. The Falcons open fall practice on Aug. 9 with the freshman reporting while the veterans report on Aug. 11 and the first full practice will take place on Aug. 13. BG opens the 1999 season on Sept. 4 with a 3:30 p.m. contest at Pittsburgh.
The #1 offense scored all 24 points in the final practice of the spring with 17 of those points coming against the #1 defense.
Junior quarterback Ricky Schneider (Amherst, Ohio/Steele) connected with Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year Kurt Gerling (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford) from 14 yards out early in the first quarter to get the #1 unit on the board. That score culminated a 10-play, 65-yard drive.
Senior Jason Strasser (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis) then kicked a 42-yard field goal late in the first quarter that ended a 10-play, 60-yard drive.
Sophomore John Gibson (Columbus, Ohio/Beechcroft) then scored the only points of the second quarter concluding a 10-play, 74-yard drive with a five-yard run.
Sophomore Eric Clark (Zanesville, Ohio) scored the only points of the second half as the #1 offense scored on the #2 defense in the third quarter on a four-yard scamper. The scoring play ended a 12-play, 65-yard drive.
With the top two tailbacks not playing in the game - sophomore Godfrey Lewis (Toronto, Ontario/Michael Power) missed the contest with an academic commitment and senior Steve Holmes (Brunswick County, N.C./West Brunswick H.S./Phoenix College) did not participate in spring drills to concentrate on his academics - Gibson, Clark, and freshman Joe Alls (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) carried the bulk of the load.
Gibson was the busiest with 24 carries for 143 yards while Alls, playing with the #2 offense, carried 12 times for 26 yards.
Clark carried five times for 15 yards.
Gibson played in nine games last season as the back-up to Lewis and Holmes carrying the ball in four games. He had 132 yards on 26 carries in those contests. Lewis led the squad with 753 yards on 163 carries, both BG freshman records, and among the top three totals in the country for first-year players. Holmes had 384 yards on the ground last season while Clark and Alls were red-shirted.
Schneider, who will lead an offensive unit which returns eight starters and players at the other three positions who have starting experience, was eight-of-11 passing for 122 yards. Schneider started four games last season completing 53.4% of his passes for 649 yards and four scores.
His favorite target was Gerling who caught five passes for 79 yards while Clark had three catches for 56 yards, including the longest of the day, a 35-yarder.
Freshman back-up quarterback Andy Sahm (Indianapolis, Ind./Chatard) hit five of his seven passes for 52 yards leading the #2 offense.
The cornerstone of the offense will be the offensive line which returns intact this season after the fivesome started all 11 games together last season. The group - senior right tackle Chad McCarthy (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic), junior right guard Eric Curl (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson), senior center Doug Dorley (Normal, Ill./Normal H.S./Southern Illinois), senior left guard Mark Kautzman (Bainbridge, Ohio/Kenston) and junior left tackle Rob Fehrman (Byesville, Ohio/Meadowbrook) - have started a combined 104 games making them one of the most experienced returning lines in the country.
The defense returns seven starters led by senior outside linebacker Joe O'Neill (Twinsburg, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit), the most experienced of the returning players. BG lost three starters on the defensive line from a year ago where junior co-captain D.J. Durkin (Boardman, Ohio) is the lone returnee.
The secondary returns three players losing only cornerback Junior Williams from a year ago. Senior Will Sullivan (Wichita, Kansas/Southeast H.S./Hutchinson C.C.) has played the spot vacated by Williams this spring and will begin the fall as the starter at the position.
The Falcons also return Strasser to handle the place-kicking duties while a pair of freshman, Patrick Fleming (Ottawa, Ontario/Earl of March) and Brian Poltrone (Avon Lake, Ohio), are battling to earn the punting job. Fleming averaged 44.0 yards on four efforts in the spring game while Poltrone averaged 38.3 on three kicks.
"I think we were able to show today that we have developed some good depth at a number of positions this spring, especially on offense," Blackney said. "We have good depth at wide receiver, running back, and quarterback and you can see by some of the players who performed well in the spring game that they will be ready if we need to call on them this season.
"If we get Steve Holmes back, and I feel like we will, he is the fastest of our tailbacks and he will add another dimension as he did last season," said Blackney, who will begin his ninth season in 1999. "But, as you saw in the game, Gibson and Alls are good players and seem to be ready if we need to call upon them.
"The defense is better than what it has been over the last couple seasons," Blackney said. "The defense has had its moments on the practice field against the #1 offense. I'm encouraged by what I've seen this spring from the defense.
"I like the position of the offense, I think the defense is coming, but we certainly can't be a contender without a solid kicking game."
The coaching staff announced after the game the most improved players for spring practice. The top offensive linemen were freshman Jon Mazur (Akron, Ohio/Springfield) and junior Eric Gilbo (Canton, Mich./Detroit Central Catholic), the receiver was sophomore Aaron Alexander (Kokomo, Ind.), and the running back was Clark. On defense, the most improved were freshman Geno Burden (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) at linebacker, Sullivan in the secondary, and sophomore Ryan Wingrove (Parkersburg, W. Va./South) on the line.
Schneider was named the offensive MVP of the spring game while sophomore defensive back Karl Rose (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) was tabbed as the top defensive player.
1999 schedule: Sept. 4 - at Pittsburgh, 3:30, Sept. 11 - Tennessee Tech, 1:00, Sept. 18 - at Marshall, 7:00, Sept. 25 - at Kent, 6:00, Oct. 2 - Toledo, 7:00, Oct. 9 - Miami, 1:00, Oct. 16 - at Akron, 1:30, Oct. 23 - at Ohio, 2:00, Oct. 30 - Central Michigan, 1:00, Nov. 13 - Ball State, 1:00, Nov. 20 - at Central Florida, 1:00.
Outlook
With a positive finish to the 1998 season and the return of 15 starters, the Bowling Green State University football outlook has not been as high as it is this spring for a number of years.
After finishing the 1996 and 1997 seasons losing the last five games of the year, the 1998 squad turned the table winning four of its last five to finish 5-6 after playing a murderous schedule in the first half of the season.
The Falcons opened the season with three non-league games against teams which combined to post a record of 26-9. Two of the teams, Penn State and Missouri, played in bowl games, and the third, Central Florida, probably should have with a 9-2 record.
The Falcons then played Ohio, who they tied with for third in the Mid-American Conference East, Miami, co-champion of the East with Marshall, and Toledo, the West Division champion. The Falcons won only the Ohio game of their first six, but their fast finish has the players and coaching staff believing the program should a factor in the championship race this season.
Much of the optimism comes from the fact the offensive line returns intact after dominating games the last half of the season last year. Among their four wins to finish the season was a 34-13 pasting of Marshall, the only loss suffered by the eventual MAC champions.
"Coming off of last year's performance, where we improved from 107th in the nation in rushing to 13th last season, the cornerstone of that improvement was the offensive line," head coach Gary Blackney said. "It is a very functional unit, they work extremely well together, there is a great chemistry, we have experience, we have athleticism, we have strength and knowledge, and certainly that is the place where we will begin building the 1999 football team."
How dominant was the performance by the offensive line and the Falcon running game the last five weeks of the season?
Bowling Green ran 416 plays in the last five games compared to 303 for the opposition while possessing the ball for an average of almost 14 more minutes per game, a category they led the MAC in. The Falcons were also putting the time they had the ball to good use averaging 39.0 points in the last five contests.
Over the span, BG ran the ball for 1,506 yards compared to just 596 for their opposition. After gaining a total of 295 yards (rushing and passing) in the first two games, the Falcon offensive unit had 300 or more yards in each of the last nine contests.
With eight returning starters and three players with significant experience returning at the other three spots, the offense begins spring practice without any major question marks.
There are some holes to fill on the other side of the ball, which is why Blackney feels there is still some things which need to be accomplished over the next month.
"On the defensive side of the ball, the real challenge is to come out of spring practice with five or six defensive linemen who can be stout at the point of attack and also able to put some pressure on the quarterback in passing situations," Blackney said. "We also need to have a continual improvement in the linebacking positions and in the secondary."
The defense gave up 179 points in four games, the three non-league games to start the season, and the Western Michigan game, but yielded an average of just 19 points in the other seven contests. The unit yielded 16 fewer yards per game than in 1997, but ranked lower in the final conference and national statistics.
The unit lost three senior defensive linemen, Letoskey Carey, Willie Watson, and Dana Johnson who started nine games of the season together with Johnson missing two contests with an injury. They have also lost three-year starter Junior Williams in the secondary.
Blackney felt the special teams were a bright spot last season, and has no reason to expect anything different this year despite the fact punter Andy Pollock has graduated. Pollock was sixth in the nation last season and finished his career with the second-highest career average in school history.
"The coverage and protection part of the special teams should be good because that relates to the quality of your skilled position players, and I think we have improved our team in that category," Blackney said. "Obviously our greatest need is finding a punter. We have two players who have never punted in a game who will battle for the job. Other than that, I think our special teams will be solid."
As is the case each year, a quick start to the season is one of the keys for 1999.
"If we can somehow find a way to have early success in our schedule, then I think we have a chance to be very competitive in the Eastern Division of the Mid-American Conference," Blackney stated. "We have some early challenges we have to meet if we are going to have the kind of success in our program that we hope to have."
A brief overview of each area and some of the key players follows.
Offense
The Falcons return eight starters and 15 letterwinners on offense. In the three positions where a starter is not returning, there is a player waiting for his chance this spring who has significant playing time.
If there is a question mark, and it is a small one, it is at the quarterback position where Ricky Schneider returns and is the player most likely to step in for Bob Niemet, a three-year starter.
The pair started last season in competition for the starting job sharing time in the first two games. Schneider then started the next four games before Niemet came on to enjoy his most productive season starting the final five games.
Schneider also played in seven games in 1997, starting twice, while he played in eight contest last season. Schneider has as much experience as any BG quarterback in recent memory when they were in position to take over the starting duties.
Blackney also feels his surroundings point to success.
"He has the best supporting cast of any quarterback since Ryan Henry," Blackney said. "He has a solid offensive line to work behind, he has running backs, he has a person at the fullback position who is a co-captain, and there are three experienced wide receivers."
Schneider completed 53.4% of his passes last season for 649 yards and four touchdowns and interceptions. He had a high of 178 yards passing against Ohio. He has a 293-yard effort against Marshall in 1997 as his career high.
He will be pushed by red-shirt freshman Andy Sahm in spring and fall practice.
If the offensive line makes the natural progression from one season to the next, it will be one of the best units in the country.
Right tackle Chad McCarthy is the veteran member having started 32 games in his first three seasons while the left side of the line, senior guard Mark Kautzman and junior tackle Rob Fehrman, have started the last 22 games side-by-side. Senior center Doug Dorley moved into the starting lineup last season with no drop off in production while junior right guard Eric Curl had a strong season after missing most of the '97 campaign with an injury after starting two contests. The fivesome started all 11 games last season and has a total of 104 starts among the five players.
Dorley was an honorable mention All-MAC selection last season.
At tight end, BG lost two-time all-conference performer Tony Holcomb, but senior Kevin Steinke is expected to step right in having played in all 33 games over the last three seasons making eight starts.
Schneider has a strong contingent of players who he will be throwing and handing off to.
The Falcons return their top two receivers from a year ago when both were freshmen. Kurt Gerling was the MAC Freshman of the Year after catching 34 passes for 656 yards (19.3 avg.) and six touchdowns. Robert Redd had 17 receptions in nine games for 317 yards (18.6 avg.) and one score. The duo have the best game-breaking abilities at the wide out positions since Rameir Martin and Ronnie Redd, Robert's uncle, played in 1994. Sophomore Aaron Alexander gives the Falcons a third receiver with experience. Both Gerling and Redd topped 100 yards receiving in a game last season becoming the first freshmen in school history to do that.
At fullback, senior Brent Martin was picked as a co-captain this season after a strong junior season, the first healthy year of his career. He carried 54 times for 295 (5.5 avg.) and two scores while sharing time with senior Adam Lige. Sophomore Eric Clark will see time as Martin's back-up.
The tailback position will likely be split between sophomore Godfrey Lewis and senior Steve Holmes.
Lewis had a little more than twice the carries of Holmes last season starting five times leading the team with 753 yards on 163 carries (4.6 avg.), both records for a freshman running back at Bowling Green. He burst onto the scene with a 191-yard day against Ohio and had one other game over the century mark.
Holmes gained a majority of his yards in one game, but what a game it was. He carried 27 times for 220 yards, the second-best figure in school history, against Kent on his way to 384 yards for the season averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
Sophomore John Gibson will also see playing time after averaging 5.1 yards on 26 carries last season in the first game action of his career.
Defense
"Overall, the continuity and chemistry on the defensive side will be an objective for the coaching staff," said Blackney. "Putting the whole thing together. Blending the experience at the linebacking spot with some youth and experience on the line and in the secondary is the goal for the spring."
The Falcons, who have seven starters and 12 letterwinners returning on defense, are solid at the linebacking spots with four experienced players returning in the three positions.
Senior Joe O'Neill led the team in tackles last season with 95 splitting time between middle and outside linebacker. He started the first six games in the middle and them moved to the outside for the final four contests of the season. He missed one game with an injury.
He begins his final season having made 29 career starts, far and away the most of any defensive player on the roster. He has been credited with 268 tackles in his career. He starts the spring as the starter at one of the outside spots.
Sophomore Chris Della Vella moved into the middle when O'Neill was switched to the outside without any drop off in production. He had a high of 11 stops in the Western Michigan game and 45 for the season.
On the outside, sophomores Garry Fisher and Khary Campbell return from the first year of Bowling Green playing the 4-3 scheme.
Fisher started six games and played in all 11 recording 40 tackles.
Campbell started all 11 games and was third on the team with 75 tackles. He had a high of 12 stops against Toledo while Fisher had 11 tackles in the Miami game. The duo gave the coaching staff the increased speed and mobility they were looking for when they decided to switch to the 4-3 prior to spring practice last season.
Senior Eric Jones and freshman Gino Burden are expected to push for playing time on the outside also.
Both the defensive line and secondary have question marks which will need to be addressed and answered this spring.
On the defensive line, three seniors have departed who started together as a unit last season and had a strong year.
Junior co-captain D.J. Durkin is the only returning starter along the line where he recorded 33 tackles and a team-high 12 tackles for loss. Included in that total was four sacks, which also led the team.
He is likely to be joined on the line by junior Brandon Hicks at noseguard, one of only three other returning letterwinners at the position.
Hicks started two games last season and recorded 24 tackles in the 11 games he played as the next most experienced player returning on the line after Durkin.
Senior Abasi Thomas played in all 11 games last season recording 23 tackles and will be pushed for the stating nod at the end opposite Durkin by red-shirt freshman D.J. Owchar and sophomore Casey Williams, who came to the program as a linebacker. Williams is the other player to letter last season, mostly for his play on special teams.
Sophomore Malcolm Robinson will battle junior college transfer Rodney Dawson this spring at the tackle position. Robinson came to the program as an offensive lineman. He did play last season, mostly on special teams.
Dawson came to the program in January of 1998 from Riverside Community College and sat out last season.
The secondary will lean heavily on a pair of sophomores who will hold down the safety positions.
Strong safety Chad Long started all 11 games last season, eight at strong safety and three at free safety recording 93 tackles, second on the team. He earned a spot on the Football News national all-freshman team in the secondary. He had 11 tackles in the Penn State, Ohio, and Toledo games for his season high. He led the team in tackles four times last year.
The emergence of Karl Rose last year was one of the reasons Long was moved to strong safety as Rose took over at free safety starting eight games and recording 60 tackles, fifth on the team despite the limited playing time early in the season. He had a high of 12 stops in the Miami game.
The boundary cornerback spot is likely to be a battle between junior Ken Dobbs, who started six games a year ago, and sophomore Chris Hubbard, who sat out last season with a knee injury. Hubbard played at tailback in 1997 and on special teams earning a letter. Dobbs had 31 tackles last season.
The other cornerback spot will be manned by two former wide receivers - senior Will Sullivan and junior Matt Bunsey.
Sullivan played all of last season as a wide receiver seeing action in eight games and making eight receptions for 93 yards.
Bunsey earned a letter in 1997 playing on special teams and a small amount at wide receiver before seeing most of his action last season on special teams.
The Kicking Game
Senior Jason Strasser returns to handle the place-kicking duties after enjoying his best season last year.
Strasser led the team with 64 points, eighth in the MAC, hitting 11-of-12 field goals and 31-of-33 extra points. His field goal total was a career high as was his percentage and point total. His average of just over one field goal per game was fourth-best in the MAC. His only miss of the season was a 27-yarder into a strong wind against Kent while he had two conversions from 40 yards or more.
Besides ranking nationally as an individual, Andy Pollock helped the Falcons to a #4 ranking in the MAC in net punting at 38.6 yards, which also was 12th-best in the country.
The punting duties are likely to be handled by red-shirt freshman Brian Poltrone who was in the program last season, but did not play.
Pollock also handled the kick off chores last season. During the course of the spring several different players will have a chance to win this job, including Strasser.
The Falcons also return their top two return men in Steve Holmes and Robert Redd. Holmes led the team in kickoff returns with an 18.9 average on 19 returns while Redd averaged 6.7 yards on 15 punt returns. Redd's average ranked seventh in the MAC.
Depth Chart
Offense (Pro I) TE: Kevin Steinke, Ryan Wingrove, Jason Dailey LT: Rob Fehrman, Dennis Wendel LG: Mark Kautzman, Jon Mazur C: Doug Dorley, Matt Tyla RG: Eric Curl, Greg Kupke RT: Chad McCarthy, Eric Gilbo SE: Kurt Gerling FL: Robert Redd, Aaron Alexander QB: Ricky Schneider, Andy Sahm, C.J. Banks FB: Brent Martin, Eric Clark TB: Godfrey Lewis, John Gibson, Joe AllsDefense (4-3) End: D.J. Durkin, Larry Witherspoon T: Malcolm Robinson, Rodney Dawson NG: Brandon Hicks, Dan Jere End: D.J. Owchar, Casey Williams, Abasi Thomas OLB: Khary Campbell, Eric Jones, Gino Burden MLB: Chris Della Vella, Chris Haneline OLB: Joe O'Neill, Garry Fisher BCB: Ken Dobbs, Chris Hubbard FCB: Will Sullivan, Matt Bunsey SS: Chad Long FS: Karl Rose, Sergio Lund
Players To Watch
Offensive Line - Chad McCarthy (6-4, 280, Sr.), Eric Curl (6-2, 280, Jr.), Doug Dorley (6-4, 295, Sr.), Mark Kautzman (6-4, 290, Sr.), Rob Fehrman (6-7, 295, Jr.) - keyed Bowling Green's run at the end of last season which saw the Falcons win four of their last five averaging 83 plays per game, an average of 62 of those running plays, and over 300 yards on the ground...started all 11 games together as a unit last season...McCarthy has started 32 of 33 games in his career while Kautzman and Fehrman have started last 22 games side-by-side...helped BG to #13 national ranking in rushing offense (215.2/game) which was the highest figure by a BG team since 1976 while the team per carry average of 4.3 yards was the highest since 1964...BG's 23 rushing touchdowns were the most in the last 20 years...the ability to run the ball makes BG's play-action passing game that much more effective.
Kurt Gerling (6-2, 185, So.), Robert Redd (5-11, 175, So.) - return as the starting combo at the wide receiver spots...Gerling led team with 34 catches for 656 yards (19.3 avg.) and six touchdowns...he was a second-team All-MAC selection as well as the MAC Freshman of the Year...Gerling became first BG frosh receiver to catch passes for 100 or more yards in a game last season, a feat also accomplished later in the season by Redd...also set BG freshman records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns...Redd averaged 18.6 yards on 17 receptions last season with one scoring pass reception.
Godfrey Lewis (5-9, 185, So.), Steve Holmes (5-10, 190, Sr.) - dynamic tailback duo who combined to rush for over 1,100 yards last season...Lewis led team with 753 yards on 163 carries, both freshman records at BG, including a 191-yard day against Ohio...was among the top five first-year (freshman) backs in the country...Holmes had 220 of his 384 yards in the Kent game falling five yards shy of the single-game school record.
Ricky Schneider (6-2, 210, Jr.) - only returning quarterback with game experience...has played in 15 games making six starts over the last two seasons...started four games last season...his ability to take the next step and take over the controls full time is the only question mark on the offensive side of the ball.
Joe O'Neill, LB (6-2, 225, Sr.) - the most experienced of the returnees on the defensive side of the ball...led the team in tackles last season starting six games at middle linebacker and four at outside linebacker...should be the leader of the defense.
Abasi Thomas (6-1, 235, Sr.), Brandon Hicks (6-1, 250, Jr.), D.J. Durkin (6-2, 245, Jr.) - the only three letterwinners returning on the defensive line with game experience where three seniors have graduated...Hicks earned two starting assignments...all three played in all 11 games with Durkin recording 33 tackles and Hicks 24, one more than Thomas...Durkin, a co-captain this season, led the team with four sacks and 12 tackles for loss...has started 15 games over the last two seasons playing in all 22 contests.
Chad Long (6-0, 185, So.), Karl Rose (6-0, 180, So.) - could form the safety combo as they did over the last two-thirds of the season last year...Long had made two starts and played in three games in 1997 before an injury ended his season...Rose started seven games last season as a "true" freshman...Long, who made one national all-freshman squad last season, was second on the team with 93 stops while Rose was fifth with 60 tackles...their continued deveopment would solidify the secondary.
Personnel Information
Note: starters in all CAPS, games started in parenthesis
Offensive Players Returning (15 returning, 8 starters)
Tight End: Kevin Steinke (5) Left Tackle: ROB FEHRMAN (11) Left Guard: MARK KAUTZMAN (11) Center: DOUG DORLEY (11) Right Guard: ERIC CURL (11) Right Tackle: CHAD McCARTHY (11) Split End: ROBERT REDD (4), Aaron Alexander (2) Flanker: KURT GERLING (11), Will Sullivan Quarterback: Ricky Schneider (4) Fullback: Brent Martin Tailback: GODFREY LEWIS (5), Steve Holmes (3), John Gibson
Offensive Players Lost (4 lost, 3 starters)
Tight End: TONY HOLCOMB (11) Quarterback: BOB NIEMET (7) Fullback: ADAM LIGE (9) Tailback: Robbie Hollis (3)
Defensive Players Returning (12 returning, 7 starters)
End: Abasi Thomas Noseguard: Brandon Hicks (2) End: D.J. DURKIN (11), Casey Williams O. Linebacker: KHARY CAMPBELL (11), GARRY FISHER (6) M. Linebacker: JOE O'NEILL (6), Chris Della Vella (5) Cornerback: KEN DOBBS (6), Sergio Lund (2) Safety: CHAD LONG (11), KARL ROSE (7)
Defensive Players Lost (5 lost, 4 starters)
End: LETOSKEY CAREY (11) Tackle: WILLIE WATSON (11) Noseguard: DANA JOHNSON (9) Cornerback: JUNIOR WILLIAMS (11) Safety: Morty Bryce (4)
Specialists
Returning: 2 Place-Kicker: JASON STRASSER (11) Long Snapper: RYAN DIEPENBROCK (11) Lost: 2 Punter: ANDY POLLOCK (11) Holder: BOB NIEMET (11)
Starters Returning: Offense - 8: Defense - 7, Letterwinners Returning/Lost: Offense - 15/4, Defense - 12/5
Overall Team Total - Letterwinners Returning: 29, Letterwinners Lost: 10
Players who started games at a position other than listed above: Kevin Steinke (5 starts were as second tight end in two-tight end set), Joe O'Neill (4 at outside linebacker), Morty Bryce (3 at cornerback), Karl Rose (1 game as the fifth defensive back in that set)
Practice Information
The BGSU football team will begin spring practice Monday, March 22. In addition, they will practice on the following dates: March 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, April 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16. The Falcons will hold their annual spring game April 17 at 1 p.m. at Perry Stadium. The team is likely to utilize the Charles E. Perry Field House for some of its spring practices, so any media member wishing to attend practice are asked to call the BGSU Sports Information Office (419) 372-7075 to make the proper arrangements. All practices except the spring game are scheduled for 3-5:30 p.m. The freshmen report Aug. 9 for fall drills with the first practice the following day. Veterans are scheduled to report Aug. 11.
1999 BGSU Coaching Staff
Head Coach - Gary Blackney (Connecticut '67) Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator - Tim Beckman (Findlay '88) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks - Michael Faragalli (Rhode Island '80) Running Backs - Tim Banks (Central Michigan '94) Wide Receivers - Dino Dawson (Wayne State '91) Defensive Line - Rick Denstorff (Western Kentucky '86) Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers/Special Teams - Bob Ligashesky (Ind. Univ. Pa. '85) Offensive Line/Tackles & Tight Ends - Mark Murray (American International '82) Offensive Line/Guards & Centers - Brian Sherman (Bowling Green '92) Secondary - Tim Walton (Ohio State '95)
