Bowling Green State University Athletics
Feature on DJ Owchar
October 28, 2002 | Football
Oct. 28, 2002
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - Aches and pains the day after a game are commonplace for today's athletes.
The 18- to 22-year-old college football players can usually bounce back pretty quickly after game day.That's not always the case for Bowling Green's D.J. Owchar, a defensive end from Windsor, Ontario.
Owchar is 25 years old and a fifth-year senior with the Falcons. When he looks around the defensive huddle he sees teammates who probably don't even shave every day. Thus his aches and pains may take a little while longer to go away.
The Falcons had a three-man rotation going for the two defensive end spots, until Rick Mauer went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter last Saturday against Central Michigan.
"I played 70-some plays last week and I was done," Owchar said. "I have bad ankles, bad knees. My right knee has been operated on three times. I was planning on coming out of the game on a stretcher, turning something, twisting something (but) I didn't have an injury," he continued. "The knees feel great, the ankles feel fine. There's nothing wrong and I had a pretty good game."
Not even Central Michigan's artificial turf surface slowed down Owchar."I was so surprised that I came out without one turf burn, nothing," he said.
Mike Ward, BG's defensive line coach, likes what he sees in Owchar.
"He's strong, fast, quick. He's got it all," Ward said. "He's a very, very gifted athlete. He's a very intelligent human being; he's a student of the game. "He has all the ability in the world," Ward continued. "When D.J. wants to go, he can go. He makes great, great plays. There were some plays he made Saturday in that Central Michigan game that were unbelievable."
Mauer is not expected back for this Saturday's game with Western Michigan and Owchar will be ready to go as many plays as needed. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Perry Stadium.
"The main thing is to get some three and outs. They are huge," Owchar said. "I'm OK for eight or nine plays in a row in the first half ... In the fourth quarter, those eight-play drives take their toll. If I can get one play out, I can get my wind back real quick."
Owchar would much rather play against a team which is passing the ball.
"It's easier to sprint seven yards on a pass rush than to take a double team on. They take a toll on you," Owchar said.
At Windsor Assumption High School, Owchar was a 6-foot-3, 235-pound tailback, who ran straight ahead with very little finesse. Playing Division I-A football in the United States was the furthest thing from Owchar's mind at the time.
After high school, he played two years of junior football, as a defensive end. He led the league in sacks and earned All-Canadian honors both years. It was during this time that Owchar, with the help of his junior coach John Blumfield, began to get some notice from college programs in the United States.
"People have a goal to play college football. It's even 10 times more if you come from Canada," Owchar said. "You see it on TV. I couldn't even fathom the possibility of me coming to play college football. I thought those guys were immortal when I was 15- or 16-years old and now to come here and play against Penn State, Michigan. It's amazing I got the opportunity."
Bowling Green needed help at defensive end and Owchar made the choice to become a Falcon. After redshirting in 1998, Owchar played in eight games in 1999. He had a strong season in 2000, starting 11 games, although the Falcons were 2-9 overall.
However, last season was a struggle for Owchar, even though the Falcons turned things around under first-year head coach Urban Meyer, going 8-3. Owchar was asked to gain some weight and play inside on the defensive line in 2001. He played in all 11 games,but made only 10 tackles.
"He didn't have a real good season last year and I think he took it personally," Ward said. "He made a big-time commitment this past off-season to get his body weight down and keep his strength gains up and really train hard. "It's great to see," Ward added. "The reward was bound to happen."
The hard work has paid off for both Owchar and his teammates.The Falcons are 5-0 overall and ranked in both national polls.
"I hate losing, it's horrible. When you lose, your practices are harder, things hurt more, even the food tastes bad. "Just being able to win some games, be with my friends, the feeling ... is hard to explain."
However, that positive winning feeling helps soothe the aches and pains.
