Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Host EKU To Open 2003 Season
August 22, 2003 | Football
Aug. 22, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
EASTERN KENTUCKY (8-4 in 2002)
at
BOWLING GREEN (9-3 in 2002)
Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 7 p.m.
Perry Stadium (28,599)
Series Record: EKU leads 3-0
Last Meeting: at EKU 34, BGSU 7 (Nov. 18, 1950)
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BRANDON TAKES OVER FALCONS
Gregg Brandon becomes the 16th head coach in the history of the BGSU football program. He replaced Urban Meyer, who left BGSU to become the head coach at the University of Utah. Brandon has more than 22 years of coaching experience at the Division I level, including the last two years at BGSU where he has served as assistant head coach and directed the Falcons' record-setting offensive attack. For his efforts at BGSU, The Sporting News selected him as the top coordinator in the Mid-American Conference.
Also returning from last year's coaching staff are assistant head coach-defense Tim Beckman, and defensive staff members Mike Ward (defensive tackles) and John Bowers (defensive ends/special teams). Former Falcon Greg Studrawa was promoted to offensive coordinator and former graduate assistant Zach Azzanni will oversee the development of the wide receivers. Joining the staff at BGSU this year are running backs coach Dennis Springer (Ball State), quarterbacks coach Mick McCall (Wyoming), tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Troy Rothenbuhler (Arkansas State) and defensive backs coach Steven Wilks (East Tennessee State).
FALCON TRADITION
The Falcons, who enter their 52nd season as a Mid-American Conference member, rank second in MAC history in both conference wins (212) and championships (10). The Falcons' .610 winning percentage ranks third all-time. BGSU has finished either first or second in the MAC standings in 22 of their previous 51 seasons in the league.
ABOUT THE COLONELS
Danny Hope begins his first season at the helm of the Eastern Kentucky program, one of the top Division I-AA schools in NCAA history. Twelve starters and 31 lettermen return from a team which was ranked 18th in the final NCAA I-AA poll. EKU was 8-4 last season in the final campaign for 39-year Hall of Fame Coach Roy Kidd. Kidd's teams made 17 I-AA playoff appearances and won national titles in 1979 and 1982. Coach Hope, who was at the University of Louisville last season, played for EKU from 1977-80.
DEFENDING THEIR TURF
The Falcons enter the 2003 season having won seven home games in a row since late in the 2001 season. In those seven wins, BGSU has averaged 52.7 points per game in front of the home fans. In addition, senior quarterback Josh Harris is 8-0 as a starter at Doyt Perry Stadium.
OPENING AT HOME
The Falcons will open their season at home in back-to-back years for the first time since BGSU played its season opener at Perry Stadium three consecutive years from 1990-92. Last year, BGSU defeated Tennessee Tech 41-7 in its season opener. Since 1970, BGSU is 8-1 when it opens its season at home, losing only to Louisiana Teach, 28-21 in 1995.
THE SERIES WITH THE COLONELS
The two teams hooked up in 1940, 1949 and 1950 with EKU posting 48-0, 21-13 and 34-7 victories.
GO WEST
The 2003 season marks the Falcons' second as a member of the Mid-American Conference's West Division. BGSU was moved to the West after spending five seasons in the East Division. The move was a result of the MAC admitting the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 2002 as a football-only member and placing the Golden Knights in the East Division.
NIGHT GAMES AT PERRY STADIUM
The Falcons are 7-0 at home in games played under newly installed permanent lighting since the 2001 season. BGSU is 11-2 in night games at home, which was provided by temporary lighting from 1989-2000.
1989-Akron 38, BGSU 24 1990-BGSU 20, Eastern Michigan 15 1992-BGSU 29, Western Michigan 19 1995-Louisiana Tech 28, BGSU 21 1999-BGSU 34, Toledo 23 2000-BGSU 20, Eastern Michigan 6 2001-BGSU 35, Buffalo 0 2001-BGSU 42, Temple 23 2001-BGSU 56, Toledo 21 2002-BGSU 41, Tennessee Tech 7 2002-BGSU 51, Missouri 28 2002-BGSU 48, Western Michigan 45 (OT) 2002-BGSU 63, Eastern Michigan 21
