Bowling Green State University Athletics
Final BGSU Notes From the GMAC Bowl
December 24, 2004 | Football
Dec. 24, 2004
Bowling Green, Ohio - The BGSU football team returned home on Thursday afternoon and then headed home for the Holidays. With three consecutive seasons with nine wins or more and national rankings, two straight bowl wins and nine national TV appearances in two seasons, the BGSU football program is in the midst of its best stretch of success in the history of the program.
BGSU's senior class finished with the best overall record in the MAC at 37-12. They also had a 9-3 record against IA non-conference opposition. Toledo, 7-6, is the only other MAC team that has a winning record against IA non-conference opposition in that same span.
BGSU's 29 wins in the last three years is the most in school history during a similar run. The Falcons won 27 games from 1983-85 and 1991-93.
Communication is Overrated
Both Memphis and BGSU were struggling with their phone systems from the press box to the sideline. In the second half, BGSU coaches relied on their cell phones to talk to each other.
Thank You Is In Order
Because of heavy snow in northwest Ohio, members of the University's grounds crew and public safety staff were instrumental in clearing a path on campus to allow the team busses to make its way to Perry Stadium. They even went as far as sweeping off the snow off the cars of the traveling party.
Little Help
In Mobile, the Falcons did not travel anywhere without a police escort of at least two squad cars which allowed them to escape heavy traffic in and around a local mall located across the street from the hotel.
The only time BGSU was ever delayed on the ground was when it finally returned back to the BGSU campus and cars of families who came to play in the snow just east of the stadium on the big hill on the golf course had blocked the path the University had cleared for the team.
While the sight of five busses crushing empty minivans or 100 football players tipping them over to clear a path might have warmed the heart of at least one weary traveler, patience was in order and about 10 minutes later the owners had moved their vehicles.
More Bowl Stuff
Sophomore Omar Jacobs' five TD tosses against Memphis is a MAC bowl game record. Miami's Ben Roethlisberger had four last year in the GMAC Bowl.
By holding the Tigers to 90-yards rushing, BGSU improved to 18-0 since 2001 when holding a team below the century mark on the ground. BGSU did that in eight of nine wins this season.
With 558 yards of total offense, BGSU improved to 18-1 since 2001 when accumulating 500 yards or more of offense.
The Falcons' 52 points scored is the third highest for a MAC team in a bowl game. (Marshall, 64 in 2001 GMAC Bowl; Toledo, 56, in 1969 Tangerine Bowl).
Jacobs'41 touchdowns to four interceptions in the best single-season TD/INT ratio (minimum 30 TDs) in NCAA IA history.
How Times Have Changes
In 1982, BGSU led the MAC in scoring offense at 21.5 points. This year, BGSU averaged 28.0 points, in the first half.
The MAC's Best
In addition to posting the highest scoring average ever in MAC history this season, 44.3 points, the Falcons set a league record by averaging 506.3 yards (Marshall, 505.0, 2001).
BGSU's 338.1 yards per game in the air was the fourth highest total in league history and a school record.
Junior Omar Jacobs set a MAC record by averaging 358.5 yards of total offense per game breaking Byron Leftwich's mark of 355.6 set in 2002.
Jacobs also established MAC records for TD passes (41) and TDs responsible for (45).
BGSU's 6,076 yards of total offense is the fifth most amassed in league history.
Jacobs' 557 total plays is the third most in league history behind Josh Harris, 709 in 2003, and Ben Roethlisberger, 562 in 2003. Jacobs' 4,302 yards of total offense also is the third highest behind Harris (4,643) and Roethlisberger (4,597) who accomplished their marks in 14-game seasons.
The Falcons 313 pass completions is the fifth highest total in league history. Jacobs total of 309 also is the fifth highest ever in the MAC.
BGSU is the first team in MAC history to pass for more than 4,000 yards in consecutive seasons. BGSU had 4,206 in 2003 and 4,057 this year. Jacobs total of 4,002 is the fourth best single-season effort in league history.
Senior Cole Magner finished his career as the fifth leading receiver all-time in the MAC at 215, a new BGSU record.
Junior Charles Sharon's school-record total of 15 receiving TDs this year, is the fourth-highest one-year total in league history. His career 28 receiving scores ranks fourth all-time in the MAC.
BGSU's 532 points scored is the second most scored in league history (Miami, 602, 2003).
The Falcons' 69 TDs scored also is the second highest ever in the MAC behind Miami's total of 82 last year.
Senior Shaun Suisham set a MAC record by making all 69 of his PATs. He finishes as the all-time NCAA leader with 226 PATs made. He also attempted a MAC record 233 extra points.
His 94 consecutive PATs over the last two seasons is the second most ever in league history behind Miami's John Scott who made 112 from 1995-98.
Suisham also set a MAC record for kickers by scoring 111 points breaking the mark of 105 set by Brian Leaver of BGSU in 1994. Suisham's 361 total points scored is a school record and the second-highest for a kicker in MAC history behind Steve Azar who had 370 for Northern Illinois from 2000-03.
The Falcons' 313 first downs are the sixth highest in MAC history and second-most ever at BGSU (375 in 2003). Their 194 first downs by passing is the fourth-most in the MAC and second-most in school history (197 in 2003).
More school records
Jacobs' 66.9 completion percentage this season was the best ever for a Falcon quarterback. He completed 309 of 462 attempts.
Junior P.J. Pope's 1,603 all-purpose yards broke teammate Cole Magner's old record of 1,592 set last year.
BGSU committed just 10 turnovers (4 interceptions and 6 fumbles).
Senior center Scott Mruczkowski started a school-record 49 games in his career. The only current player who could challenge that mark is sophomore defensive end Devon Parks who has started 26 games in his first two seasons.
Final Career Numbers
Senior linebacker Jovon Burkes finished with 233 tackles, 24 TFLs, eight sacks and three forced fumbles.
Senior strong safety Keon Newson had 293 tackles, 18.5 for a loss, 10 interceptions, 32 pass deflections and 11 forced fumbles.
Senior linebacker Daniel Sayles had 134 tackles, 17 for a loss and four fumble recoveries.
Senior free safety T.J. Carswell had 182 tackles and four forced fumbles.
Senior wide receiver Cole Magner had 215 catches for 2,385 yards and 18 TDs. Magner also had 3,246 all-purpose yards.
Senior wide receiver James Hawkins had 108 receptions for 1,483 yards and 10 TDs.
Senior wide receiver Cornelius McGrady had 51 catches for 515 yards and 3 TDs.
Senior right guard Andy Grubb finished with 21 career starts and senior right tackle Andrew Hart had 17 career starts.
Senior kicker Shaun Suisham made a school-record 45 field goals in 66 attempts.
