Bowling Green State University Athletics
You Want Code Orange? You Got It
January 08, 2004 | Football
Dec. 31, 2003
by Karl Smith, phillyBurbs.com -
Click here to link to the article on the phillyBurbs.com site
If you read last week's column, you know my son and I were headed to Detroit the day after Christmas to see a bowl game.
And since you're reading this, you know that the wife's concerns were unfounded.
Noah and I were at Ford Field to see Bowling Green beat Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl. And it was everything the college bowl experience should be.
We got there early to enjoy a pre-game event arranged by the BGSU Alumni Association and met several people I "met" on a BG fan discussion board. Our seats were terrific and we had a blast watching the game.
Well, maybe not all the game.
I had discussed three Keys To The Game with Noah, keys to a decisive BG victory:
1) Score quickly. Taking an early lead would establish momentum and take Northwestern out of its grind-it-out offensive game plan.
2) Stuff the run. A timing offense like Bowling Green's needs to be on the field. Sitting on the sideline for a long time would take it out of its rhythm while the defense would end up getting gassed by long stretches on the field.
3) Someone steps up as a playmaker, especially on defense. A big hit, a turnover, something big from someone on defense.
As we neared halftime, we had struck out on three pitches. We weren't scoring, Northwestern was running wild and no one on defense had stepped up. At one point, Noah got so frustrated with BG's defense, he announced "When I play college football, I'm going to play for Bowling Green and I'm going to stuff people."
This was not what I had anticipated when I packed up my son for this trip. He was already dejected, too.
We watched the Falcon Marching Band, then trudged up the steps to get something to eat. As we settled back in, I could see the mix of determination and sadness in Noah's face. He was clad in orange - his BG visor, his new #5 jersey, BGSU shorts - and had assumed, as did I, that going to a bowl meant winning a bowl. The last time I went to a BG bowl game, they got beat 51-7. I had hoped to erase that memory with a win in Detroit.
A see-saw battle emerged in the second half - Northwestern reeling off a few more long runs and an incredible punt return, BG's offense picking apart a suddenly befuddled defense, a series of patently horrific calls from the Conference USA officiating crew. Through it all, we could sense something special was afoot.
Northwestern punted as the third quarter ended. Northwestern 17, BGSU 14.
"If we score on this drive, we're gonna win this game," I told Noah.
"Come on Bowling Green Falcons," he yelled through his orange megaphone.
And they did. A methodical drive ended with a touchdown pass and we had the lead. We had hardly completed our hugs and high fives when the Wildcats responded with an 88-yard kick return. A few plays later and we were behind again, 24-21.
I could sense the game slipping away. We needed another nice and steady drive. No panic. No crazy plays (like the WR pass that was intercepted when we were threatening to score early in the game). "We gotta score on this drive, Noah, or we're in big trouble."
Not to worry, of course, because BG's Josh Harris drove the team right down the field. He hit a well-covered Cole Magner with a short dart for the go-ahead touchdown. Noah lept into my arms whooping it up at the top of his lungs as we joined the rest of the BG fans in an eruption that drowned out everything, even a 51-7 bowl drubbing some 18 years ago. Noah unloaded several handfuls of Tootsie Rolls, unwrapping another one for himself.
"One stop, Noah, one stop and this game is over," I yelled with what was left of my voice.
"C'mon defense, gotta get tough, gotta make a play," he yelled toward the field.
And they did.
When the Northwestern QB collapsed under the BG rush on third down, we both were pointing at the field yelling "It's over! It's over! It's over!"
And it was.
As time expired, I told Noah we could head out. He said he wanted to stay. "I want to see Coach Brandon get his trophy."
So we got as close to the field as we could. We watched and listened as Brandon accepted the Motor City Bowl trophy and answer some questions. As Josh Harris accepted his well-deserved MVP trophy and delivered a first-class speech, I looked back at Noah. His eyes were filled with tears.
What could possibly be wrong?
"Josh Harris isn't going to play for the Falcons anymore," he said of the senior. "I'm going to miss him."
So will all BG fans.
* * *
This was our second BG game, though we have plans to see at least two next year. Noah has also informed me that he wants to "go to all of Bowling Green's bowl games." I'm sure his mother is thrilled.
So we'll go to plenty of other games, but I know these two are special, the memories will never be eclipsed. I took some pictures, but they won't capture the feeling. Heck, I could have videotaped the whole thing, too. There's no bottle to save these feelings in. I'll just savor them and hold onto as much of them as I can.
