Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football Travels to Akron
October 15, 2001 | Football
Oct. 15, 2001
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BOWLING GREEN (4-2, 2-1) at AKRON (2-4, 2-1)
6 p.m., Saturday, October 20
Rubber Bowl (35,202)
Series Record: BGSU leads 7-5
Last Meeting: Akron 27, at BGSU 21 (2000)
Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7)/WFOB-AM (1430)
Internet: www.bgsufalcons.com
FALCONS CONTINUE TOUGH ROAD
Saturday's game against defending co-East Division champion Akron will end a three-game road stretch (in four games) which will take them to the home field of a 2000 MAC Divisional Champion. BGSU lost 37-31 at Marshall (2000 co-East Champion) and to Western Michigan, 37-28 (2000 West Champion). This will also mark the third game in four weeks on astroturf.
THE FALCONS AND THE ZIPS
Saturday will mark the 13th meeting between the two teams since 1941. BGSU holds a 7-5 advantage, but have dropped the last two meetings. The Falcons last won in the Rubber Bowl in 1997, 31-28. Akron defeated BGSU, 55-25 at home in 1999 and 27-21 in Bowling Green last season.
HOMECOMING MEMORIES
Last year, two outstanding Akron defensive stands inside the five yard line in the final minutes ruined BGSU's Homecoming celebration. This year, BGSU will be Akron's Homecoming foe.
WESTERN MICHIGAN WRAPUP
The Falcons posted a season-best 419 yards of total offense and 217 rushing yards. The Falcons five yards per carry also was a season-high.
The Falcons had a season-high five turnovers and 90 penalty yards.
Senior John Gibson posted his second career 100-yard plus rushing effort (116). His best game was a 149-yard effort against Akron in 2000. It also marked the third straight road game that BGSU had a player rush for more than 100-yards. Joe Alls gained 107 each at Marshall and Missouri.
Junior Robert Redd caught a career-high 10 passes. He has caught 28 passes in the last three games. Redd became the 21st player in BGSU history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in receiving yards and now has 1,098.
Junior Andy Sahm tied a career-best with two rushing TD's. He previously performed that feat at Central Florida in 1999.
Senior Khary Campbell had his MAC leading fourth fumble recovery of the season.
THE URBAN MEYER IMPACT
The Falcons have doubled their win total from the 2000 season with four victories.
BGSU is averaging 4,800 more fans per game at home.
The MAC's worst offense in 2000, BGSU is averaging 91.2 more yards per game.
The Falcons 180 points in six games betters the mark of 174 scored all of last season.
The Falcons have allowed just 1.5 sacks per game after allowing a MAC-worst 4.6 per game last season.
BGSU has nearly doubled its points per game averaging 30 points per game after averaging 15.8 last season.
The Falcon defense is allowing a touchdown less per game lowering their points allowed total to 19.5 from 26.8 last season.
The Falcons rushing yardage has improved from 98.4 yards per game to 162.8 yards per game.
Falcon quarterbacks are completing 61.3 percent of their passes compared to 48.4 percent a year ago.
The Falcon defense is allowing 300.7 yards per game as opposed to 352 yards per game a year ago.
The Falcon defense is allowing 59 yards per game after allowing 132.4 a year ago.
BGSU has forced the same number of fumbles (10) as it did last season.
RECENT TEAM TRENDS
The Falcons have posted back-to-back efforts of 400+ yards of total offense with 414 yards against Kent State and 419 against Western Michigan.
The Falcons set a school-record with 100 plays on offense against Kent State.
BGSU has converted 16 of its last 34 third-down opportunities (47%) in the last two games.
The Falcons also have blocked three kicks (two punts and one field goal) in the last two games.
DEFENSE AMONG NATION'S BEST
As a unit, the Falcon defense boasts six players who have 20 or more career starts. BGSU leads the MAC and is fifth in the country against the run in large part to the veteran line play of second-team All-MAC choice Brandon Hicks (28 tackles, 8 TFL, 5 sacks) and defensive end Ryan Wingrove (26 tackles, 8 TFL's). Both are returning starters.
Junior linebacker Khary Campbell and senior strong safety Chad Long each lead the team with 37 tackles. Campbell leads the MAC with four fumble recoveries, including one for a TD.
Campbell is not the only defender who has found the end zone this year. Long had a 30-yard fumble recovery for a TD against Temple and Hicks added a 31-yard interception return in that game. Sophomore cornerback Janssen Patton (3 iNT's, 12 PBU's) returned an onside kick 42-yards for score giving BGSU four non-offensive TD's this season.
Senior defensive end Chris Glantzis (29 tackles, 7 for a loss), junior defensive tackle Alex Glantzis (16 tackles), and junior middle linebacker Chris Haneline (26 tackles, 5 TFL's) are first year starters who have played a big role in the Falcons success.
Senior free safety Sergio Lund (23 tackles, 2 forced fumbles) and senior outside linebacker Garry Fisher (22 tackles) are two unheralded players who are both having outstanding years.
OFFENSE CATCHING UP
Junior wide receiver Robert Redd has caught 28 passes for 377 yards and three TD's in the last three games.
Senior running back John Gibson has rushed for 201 yards on 38 carries (5.3 yards per carry) in the last two games.
Sophomore quarterback Josh Harris has engineered four scoring drives the last six times he has been the primary signal caller in a series.
Junior left tackle Dennis Wendel, redshirt freshman left guard Scott Mruczkowski, junior center Jon Mazur and senior right guard Mike Bodnar are first-time, full-time starters at their respective positions. Mazur started last season seven times at left guard. Senior right tackle Malcolm Robinson (17 consecutive starts) was the only returning starter and junior right guard Greg Kupke (10 career starts) is coming off major knee surgery.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
Junior punter Pat Fleming has nailed 12 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Redshirt freshman kicker Shaun Suisham has made 24 of 25 PAT's, including 23 in a row.
Junior long snapper Joe Guiterrez has made just one bad snap in 61 attempts.
