Bowling Green State University Athletics
Often Overlooked, P.J. Pope is a Key to the Falcons' Success
November 12, 2005 | Football
Nov. 11, 2005
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - The question has come in various forms every time Gregg Brandon has met with the media since Oct. 22 -- "How's Omar (Jacobs) and when will he be ready to play."
Almost totally overlooked in that time has been the status of Bowling Green running back P.J. Pope.
A 5-feet-9, 212-pound senior, Pope was a mainstay in the Falcons' offensive success over the last two years, rushing for more than 2,000 yards while catching 98 passes for more than 900 yards and scoring 31 touchdowns.
After suffering injuries to both ankles in BG's season opener at Wisconsin, Pope saw limited or no playing time in the next six games.
Now, more than two months after the injury, Pope is close to 100 percent.
"It's in the 90s (percent)," Pope said about his status. "It's not 100 percent, but it's definitely getting closer and closer ... I'm still getting treatment. We just don't want any setbacks, things like that, so we keep getting them treated.
"It's been real frustrating," he added. "I had expectations, I had goals I set for myself. That's been changed a lot."
Pope has displayed glimpses of his All-Mid-American Conference form in BG's last two games, totaling 39 carries for 144 yards with two touchdowns and catching eight passes for 80 yards.
"Getting back on the field these last couple of games, that really feels good," Pope said. "That was one of the most frustrating parts, not being myself, not being able to hit the holes as quick as I could."
"He's getting there," Brandon said. "He ran the ball well against Kent (last Saturday). We controlled the clock in the game with the rushing offense. That really helped us win the game."
With Bowling Green in its stretch drive in the MAC East, Pope is getting healthy at the right time. The Falcons, 5-4 overall, are tied with Miami at 4-2 for the lead in the East. The two teams play Tuesday in Oxford with kickoff at 7 p.m.
"That's one of the things the coaches kept on telling me, when I was going through the bulk of the injury: `We still need you for the stretch,'" Pope said. "Of course I wanted to get on the field for all the games, but I guess it was a smart decision."
"It would really be helpful to have P.J. at full strength to win the game," Brandon said about Tuesday's matchup.
Another positive is that Pope has not taken the pounding he normally would have absorbed if he had played the entire season. He had 369 carries the last two seasons. He has only 82 carries this fall.
"I'm feeling good," Pope said. "Now I don't have any excuses, any complaints."
B. J. Lane has gotten the majority of carries with Pope on the sidelines and he's responded with 582 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.
With Pope back, the BG coaching staff can use Lane and Pope in the backfield at the same time.
"Even our defense says it's very confusing," Pope said about the dual backs.
The dual backs were expected to be a large part of BG's offense this season, but the formation was put on hold until Pope's return against Akron.
"We had a nice package set with both him and B.J. in there. We had to go in a different direction, but that's college football. Everybody has those issues," Brandon said. "It is the teams that can fight through them the best that will be standing in November, like we are."
Being able to establish a running game helps expand Bowling Green's offense. The Falcons have rushed for 362 yards in the last two games.
"It goes hand in hand," Pope said. "It helps out the passing game with us being able to run the ball. Teams just can't drop back and cover with eight."
Pope plans to be a part of that running attack the rest of the season.
"I've got two more guaranteed games as a Falcon, so it's now or never for me and the rest of the seniors," he said.
