Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU To Move Back To The MAC East in 2005-06
February 08, 2005 | General
Feb. 8, 2005
Bowling Green, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference Council of Presidents has approved the return of Bowling Green State University to the league's East Division in all sports effective next academic year.
When the league began divisional play in 1997, BGSU was a member of the East Division. In 2002, to accommodate the addition of UCF as a football playing member of the league, BGSU was moved to the West Division.
BGSU competes divisionally in baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, volleyball and softball.
BGSU will join Akron, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami and Ohio in the East. Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan will comprise the league's West Division.
BGSU Athletic Director Paul Krebs
"We are excited to be returning to the East Division where we have many long-standing rivalries. It will give many of our alums more of an opportunity to see our teams on a consistent basis throughout the state and that is exciting. "
"We always have wanted to be perceived as a team player and when the league expanded in 2002 our move to the West Division made a lot of sense. We really have enjoyed building new rivalries with teams that we have not had as much history with prior to three years ago. That being said, being able to return to the East makes just as much sense right now in light of the current makeup of the league."
BGSU Football coach Gregg Brandon
"We've enjoyed competing as a member of the West Division, but where we are is not really a concern of mine."
"I like the fact that we are going to get to play every year in northeast Ohio which is a strong area for us in recruiting and an area where we have a lot of fan support."
"Since we have been nationally ranked the last three years, we have been fortunate to play in front of several spirited crowds on the road in this league. I don't see that changing much because of this move. We are a fun team to watch."
