Bowling Green State University Athletics
What Others Are Saying About BGSU Football
October 09, 2002 | Football
Oct. 9, 2002
Charleston Gazette MAC Notebook
By Doug Smock
Brian Knorr was convinced that trips to "The Swamp" and Pittsburgh's Heinz Field had prepared his Ohio Bobcats for anything the Mid-American Conference could dish out.
But after yielding 72 points and 692 total yards to Bowling Green, the Bobcats slinked out of Doyt Perry Stadium with more bruised bodies and shattered egos than the aforementioned trips combined.
Knorr came away with an observation that might flip a few eyebrows.
"We've played Florida and Pitt, but that crew Saturday was the best team we've played so far this year."
Florida hasn't exactly fallen by the wayside, despite losing to Mississippi last week. The Gators are ranked 16th in both major polls.
Bowling Green is still trying to bowl its way into the Top 25. The Falcons are 29th in the Associated Press poll, dead even with Marshall. In the coaches' poll, the Falcons are ahead of the Thundering Herd, banging on the door at No. 26.
Marshall coach Bob Pruett is in a position to do a little bit about it. He has a vote in the coaches' poll, and he wasn't shy Monday about his admiration of the Falcons.
"The team that deserves to be in the top 15 is Bowling Green," Pruett said. "I have a vote in the coaches' poll and I voted them high. I think Bowling Green deserves it."
BG fans might ask what the 4-0 Falcons need to do to crack the Top 25. Before blasting Ohio 72-21 last weekend, the Falcons decked Big 12 schools Missouri (51-28) and Kansas (39-16).
"It's a slap in the face to the MAC for them to be ranked 26th," said coach Mike DeBord of Central Michigan, which must face the Falcons this week.
Pruett knows how tough it can be for a MAC team to break into the Top 25, and how tough it can be to stay there. He does think, however, that road has gotten a little smoother.
"It's gotten a little bit better for us," Pruett said. "Last year, we lost to Toledo and didn't drop out of the top 25. When we lost to Virginia Tech, we didn't drop out of the top 30.
"Western Michigan, Toledo, Bowling Green, Central Florida, Miami, we're getting a lot more respect than we used to. By the end of this year, we'll be a step better."
BG and Marshall were favored to win their respective divisions. Knorr sees that potential MAC title game matchup as pretty much even - the teams are now 1-2 in the nation in total offense, with Marshall holding a 566.5-525 edge in yards per game.
"It will come down to how each team plays defensively," Knorr said.
Dopke.com Division IA Release
Big Ten Has Its Work Cut Out
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney had his hands full following Wake Forest,s 24-21 upset of Purdue. In an unprecedented move, Delaney released four officials from future obligations citing that the "officials did not officiate well enough to meet Big Ten standards."
Well, after witnessing another debacle involving Big Ten officiating in Ohio State,s controversial 27-16 win over Northwestern, it appears that standards for officiating in the Big Ten have hit rock bottom. On two separate occasions, with Northwestern in control of the game and attacking with zeal, the Wildcats were stripped of points by the zebras. Now, it,s one thing to play a Top Ten team like Ohio State, but to have to do it tied up with bush league officiating is another matter.
As we,ve stated, this is not new to the Big Ten or I-A in general. Normally we try to overlook questionable officiating. After all, it is a difficult job to undertake. However, we are beginning to wonder if there is in fact a level playing field out there. Early in the season we were witness to Northern Illinois, domination of Wisconsin only to see the zebras aid a Badger rally to stave off an embarrassing upset. Do the non-BCS teams get a fair shake when on the road? Poor Northwestern didn't even get one at home!
Can this be good for college football? Most have turned a blind eye to bad officiating. Big Ten,s Jim Delaney can,t. Even a blind man can smell that Big Ten officiating doesn,t need new standards, ...it needs an enema!
TEAMS OF THE WEEK
ACC: WAKE FOREST didn,t need the help of the zebras in posting an impressive 24-21 win over Georgia Tech.
BIG EAST: PITTSBURGH came out smoking and burned the Carrier Dome with a 48-24 blistering of Syracuse.
BIG TEN: PENN STATE left Happy Valley to post a solid 34-31 victory over Madison,s Wisconsin Badgers.
BIG TWELVE: BAYLOR finally picked up a Conference win by outlasting Kansas, 35-32.
C-USA: EAST CAROLINA used the ground game to rebound with a convincing 59-24 win over Army.
I-A INDIES: SOUTH FLORIDA outlasted North Texas, 24-17 in a bruising affair.
MAC: BOWLING GREEN deserves to be in the Top 25, and their 72-21 dismantling of Ohio is but just one reason why.
MWC: UNLV won a bitter battle of the Nevada,s 21-17 that may turn around the Rebs future.
PAC TEN: UCLA continues to sizzle on offense, this week thrashing Oregon State, 43-35.
SEC: MISSISSIPPI captured the hearts of the nation with an impressive defensive effort while beating Florida, 17-14.
SBC: ARKANSAS STATE is over .500 after knocking off a slumping Middle Tennessee State, 13-7.
WAC: RICE's Kyle Herm was electrifying under center as the Owls controlled Louisiana Tech in a 37-20 victory.
