Bowling Green State University Athletics
2005 Spring Football Prospectus
April 08, 2005 | Football
April 8, 2005
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First and Ten
The Falcons return 12 starters from a squad which finished 9-3 and won the 2004 GMAC Bowl over Memphis, 52-35.
For the first time in school history, BGSU has won eight games or more in four consecutive years.
BGSU has won four straight bowl games and are one of 15 teams on the Division IA level to win bowl games in 2003 and 2004. BGSU defeated Northwestern, 28-24, in the 2003 Motor City Bowl.
BGSU has been ranked in both the AP and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls in each of the last three seasons.
BGSU's 37-12 record since 2001 is the best among the 12 MAC schools over the last four years. BGSU also is the only MAC team with a record above .500, 9-3, against Division IA non-conference opponents.
Junior All-American quarterback Omar Jacobs, the 2004 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, was the national leader in TD passes (41) and points responsible for (22.5). He was second in total offense (358.5), passing yards (4,002) and third in passing efficiency (165.5). He also set an NCAA record for TD/Interception ratio with 41 scoring strikes and just four interceptions.
BGSU finished second nationally in total offense with a MAC record 506.3 yards per game and were third in passing (338.3 yards per game) and turnover margin (1.25), and fourth in in pass efficiency (165.5) and scoring offense (44.3, also a MAC record).
BGSU will return to the MAC's East Division which will consist of the Falcons, Akron, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami and Ohio. BGSU spent three years in the MAC West and won a division title in 2003.
Three other players who earned All-MAC status last season also return. Senior running back P.J. Pope who scored a league-high 21 TDS and rushed for 1,098 yards and had 490 yards receiving. Pope was a second-team All-League choice after earning first-team honors in 2003. He finished fourth in the country in scoring at 10.5 points per game last year. Senior left tackle Rob Warren earned first-team All-MAC accolades and sophomore left guard Kory Lichtensteiger was a second-team All-MAC pick who earned freshman All-American honors.
The Falcons scored 37 non-offensive points this season with two interception returns for TDs, two safeties, a fumble return, a punt return and a kick return.
More Things To Watch For
BGSU has won 18 games in a row when holding an opponent below 100 yards rushing and are 18-1 when accumulating 500 yards or more of total offense since 2001... BGSU limited opponents to under 100 yards rushing last season eight times... senior running back P.J. Pope rushed for a TD in each of the final nine games of the season... during his career, BGSU is 9-0 when Pope rushes for more than 100 yards in a game... Pope needs 744 rushing yards (Dave Preston, 3423, 1973-76), 590 all-purpose yards (Dave Preston, 4260, 1973-76) and 12 TDs scored (Josh Harris, 47, 2000-03) to become the BGSU career leader in all three categories... senior wide receiver Charles Sharon is the school record-holder for receiving TDs in a career with 28... he set a school-record with 17 TD catches last year... he needs 57 catches (Cole Magner, 215, 2001-04)and 304 receiving yards (Robert Redd, 2,726, 1998-02) to become the school's all-time leader in both categories... BGSU outscored its opponents 184-34 in the first quarter last season... Sharon (66 receptions, 1070 yards, 17 TDs) and senior Steve Sanders (55 receptions, 984 yards, 8 TDs) return a combined 111 receptions, 2,054 yards and 25 TDs... BGSU scored 21 points or more in a quarter eight times last season and had four drives for TDs of 90-yards or more last year... BGSU scored on its first posession in the final seven games of the season...junior defensive end Devon Parks (26), senior nose tackle Mike Thaler (26), and junior defensive end Brad Williams (12) have started a combined 64 games for the Falcons... BGSU is 33-1 when leading after three quarters since the 2001 season.
