Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Face #18 South Carolina
September 10, 2001 | Football
Sept. 10, 2001
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BOWLING GREEN (2-0) AT #18 SOUTH CAROLINA (2-0) 7 p.m., Saturday, September 15 Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250) Series Record: First Meeting Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7)/WFOB-AM (1430) Internet: www.bgsufalcons.com No Live Television
A NEW ERA
First-year Bowling Green State University football coach Urban Meyer is the 15th person to lead the Falcon football program. An Ohio native, he brings 15 years of experience as a Division I assistant and has coached in seven bowl games. He most recently was the receivers coach at Notre Dame after serving on staffs at Ohio State, Illinois State and Colorado State. Following the Falcons win over Missouri, ESPNMAG.com named him Coach of the Week in a column by Gene Wojciechowski.
AHEAD OF HIS TIME
Coach Meyer entered the 2001 campaign as the second youngest head coach on the NCAA I-A level. Greg Schiano, Rutgers (36) 6/1/66 Urban Meyer, BGSU (37) 7/10/64 Fitz Hill, San Jose State (37) 3/28/64 Chris Scelfo, Tulane (37) 9/30/63 Brian Knorr, Ohio (37) 12/20/63 Rich Rodriguez, WVU (38) 5/24/63 Jack Bicknell, La. Tech (38) 2/7/63
IN GOOD COMPANY
With the victory against Buffalo, Urban Meyer becomes just the second coach in BGSU history to start his career 2-0. He joins Don Nehlen as the only Falcon head coaches to ever start 2-0. Nehlen captured his first three games.
AGE THEY TOOK OVER THE FALCONS
Don Nehlen, 1968 32 Urban Meyer, 2001 36 Bob Gibson, 1965 38 Moe Ankney, 1986 43 Denny Stolz, 1977 43 Gary Blackney, 1991 44 Doyt Perry, 1955 45
STRONG TIES TO COACH HOLTZ
Urban Meyer, who was hired by Lou Holtz in 1996 at Notre Dame, will face who he believes is possibly the best coach in the history of college football. Coach Holtz is a graduate of MAC member Kent State and native of East Liverpool, Ohio.
AFTER TWO GAMES
BGSU has a 2-0 record for the first time since 1985 and with the victory over Buffalo posted its first shutout since defeating Ohio, 32-0, on October 8, 1994 (72 games). BGSU is seventh in the country in turnover margin (2.5) and eighth in pass efficiency defense (73.0). BGSU also leads the MAC and is eighth in the country in scoring defense (6.5)The Falcon defense ranks 12th nationally allowing just 59.5 yards on the ground per game and 219.5 yards overall. Offensively, the Falcons have not allowed a sack after allowing a MAC -high 51 in 2000.
FLEMING COMING UP BIG
Perhaps the single most impressive performer for the Falcons after two games is junior punter Pat Fleming. He is averaging 40.9 yards per punt and has placed half of his 14 punts inside the 20-yard line. In addition, Buffalo did not gain one punt return yard after Fleming nailed four inside the 20-yard line.
FALCONS AND THE SEC
South Carolina is just the third SEC team to face the Falcons. BGSU last played an SEC team when they lost 21-7 at Alabama in the 1996 season opener. BGSU has a 1-2 record against Kentucky with the Falcons coming away with a 30-26 win in Lexington in 1985. BGSU will play next season at LSU.
FALCONS AND RANKED TEAMS
The Falcons played at #4 Michigan and #25 Toledo in 2000. Perhaps the most memorable win in school history came in a 17-13 victory at #18 Purdue in 1972.
FALCON COACHING DEBUTS
Each of the last seven Falcon coaches have walked away victorious in their BGSU debut.
Doyt Perry (1955) defeated Defiance, 40-0 Bob Gibson (1966) defeated Cal-State-LA, 21-0 Don Nehlen (1968) defeated Ball State, 62-8 Denny Stolz (1977) defeated Grand Valley, 17-6 Moe Ankney (1986) defeated Ohio, 21-16 Gary Blackney (1991) defeated E. Michigan, 17-6 Urban Meyer (2001) defeated Missouri, 20-13
BUFFALO WRAPUP
BGSU had the ball for 36:51 compared to 23:09 for Buffalo.
The Falcons average field position was at their own 48-yard line. Ten of the Bulls15 drives began at the 20-yard line or deeper in their own territory.
Senior defensive end Chris Glantzis had a career-high seven tackles, a forced fumble and two pass deflections.
Senior wide receiver David Bautista became the 20th player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-yard career receiving mark with his six catches for 70 yards (1,034).
Junior running back Joe Alls had two rushing touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career.
Junior wide receiver Robert Redd had a career-long 40-yard punt return to set up the fourth Falcon scoring drive.
Redshirt freshman running back Todd DiBacco scored his first career touchdown on an 18-yard run.
Sophomore tight end D'Monn Baker had his first career reception (a 16-yard effort).
True freshman Cole Magner threw his first career pass as a quarterback.
The seven first downs allowed was the fewest surrendered by the BGSU defense since giving up nine against Northern Illinois in 1998.
MISSOURI WRAPUP
The Falcon offensive line did not allow a sack against the Tigers. BGSU was sacked a MAC-high 51 times in 2000.
The Tigers' 234 yards of total offense was the Falcons best defensive effort since giving up 220 yards at Pittsburgh in 1999.
The Falcons 194 yards rushing was the most since they gained 293 against Ball State in 1999.
BGSU had five first downs on the 13-play, 80-yard TD drive in the first quarter ... in the Falcons' last trip to Mizzou (a 37-0 Tiger win on Sept. 5, 1998), BGSU had just four first downs and 56 total yards of offense in the entire game.
Senior Kurt Gerling's 17-yard reception in the second quarter extended his streak to 30 games with at least one catch.
Freshman James Hawkins had his first career reception in the third quarter ... Cole Magner, like Hawkins a true freshman, caught passes on back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter for his first career catches... Sophomore Craig Jarrett also had his first career catch, a 15-yard effort late in the final quarter.
Sophomore Janssen Patton's interceptions in the fourth quarter were the fifth and sixth of his career ... he is the team's active career leader in that category ... Patton's multiple-interception game was his second as a Falcon, the first coming at Kent State last year (three picks in that win). He was honored as MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in both games.
Junior Joe Alls broke the 100-yard mark for the third time in his career and for the first time since going for 155 against Ball State in November of 1999...he rushed for 107 yards against Missouri after gaining just 191 in all of 2000.
The 65-man BGSU travel roster includes 18 returning starters (8 on offense, 9 on defense and punter Pat Fleming) and includes 20 players who were not with the team last season. Eighteen players have seen their first game action of their career.
FIRST TIME STARTERS FOR THE FALCONS
Sophomore tight end D'Monn Baker RS-freshman left guard Scott Mruczkowski RS-freshman right guard Andrew Hart Senior defensive tackle Chris Glantzis Junior defensive end Alex Glantzis Sophomore cornerback Jason Morton
They Have Played For The First Time
Non-freshmen LS Joe Gutierrez WR Cornelius McGrady OL Beau Carmon OL Ryan Lucas TE D'Monn Baker
Redshirt freshmen LG Scott Mruczkowski RG Andrew Hart LB Jovon Burkes RB Todd DiBacco DL Andy Grubb K Sean Suisham DL Ron Blue
True freshman K Nate Fry WR James Hawkins WR Cole Magner DB T.J. Carswell DB Keon Newson LB Daniel Sayles
FALCON TRADITION
The Falcons, who are in their 50th season as a Mid-American Conference member, rank second in MAC history in both conference wins (202) and championships (10). BGSU has finished either first or second in the conference standings in 21 of their previous 49 seasons in the league.
OHIO TIME CHANGE
The Nov. 10 game at Ohio will start at 1 p.m., instead of the previously published 2 p.m.
