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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Thaler Brings Experience To 2005 Falcons
August 17, 2005 | Football
Aug. 17, 2005
Bowling Green, Ohio - Cincinnati native Mike Thaler enters his fifth year with the BGSU football program and came to the Falcons in 2001 as an offensive lineman. He moved to defense the next year and has started the last 26 games for the Falcons at nose tackle.
Thaler's leadership abilities are evident as the LaSalle High School graduate will begin his second year as a team captain. During his career, Thaler has recorded 104 tackles, seven and a half sacks and one interception. His brother, Paul, was an All-MAC offensive lineman at rival Miami and a team captain in 2001.
How is the overall attitude of the team thus far?
"I think we have had a great attitude. Camp is long and hard. It is grueling and grinding and as a captain you have to constantly keep guys motivated. We need to keep guys going and remind each other why we are doing this and what our ultimate goal is."
It seems as if this team has a very business-like approach during practice, is that true?
"We are all here for one ultimate goal, to win a MAC Championship and we are going to go about our business the best way possible and that's the way we do it. There is no messing around, there is no wasted time...there is no unnecessary steps. We go about it as if it were a business, we have a task to do and we are going to do it efficiently."
With Coach Lovett coming in and putting his stamp on the defense, what can fans expect?
"I think you are going to see us playing a lot more base defense. Before we were always moving and constantly blitzing, moving defensive linemen, blitzing linebackers and blitzing corners. We are going to play a lot more base defense and give guys the opportunity to sit back and make plays. I think it is definently something that is going to work very well for us. We may not have very much in this year but we are going to be very good at what we do. I think it is going to be something great for this defense."
As a veteran, do you take it upon yourself to mentor the younger kids and who provided that mentorship to you as you were coming up?
"When I came here, I was moved to offensive guard, so it was a lot of the veteran offensive linemen helped me for the first year and showed me the way and showed me how things ran. A player has to understand that coming from high school to college is a big difference, especially football-wise. When get to BG there is no one else here but the football team and it is a big adjustment. You are held accountable for everything. If you need to be at treatment at 6 a.m., you have to be there andguys aren't usually used to that, but they have to be held accountable for that. As a veteran, you have to get guys going and make them realize that this has to be done, there are no if's, and's or but's about itfor us to reach our goals."
What is the biggest difference between now and in 2001 when you first came to training camp?
"I think the biggest difference is what the NCAA has stepped in to do. I remember in my first camp in 2001, it seemed like we had two-a-days for 14 straight days. I think that is really the only difference. There is still the intensity, and the thing that got this program back to being successful is hard work, effort, enthusiasm and that is still ever-present here. So the biggest difference is the NCAA stepping in and saying that you can only have two-a-days every other day."
Your brother Paul is a Miami graduate and you will leave here with your degree. If a high school kid came to you and you had to sell BGSU what would you tell them?
"It has been such a great fit for me because there is a great family atmosphere here. The coaches take you in as one of their own. During the season for example, everyother Thursday night I am over at my defensive line coach's house. It truly is a family atmosphere, all the guys care for each other and look out for each other and the coaches don't just care about what you are doing on the field, they care about your social life, your studies and they make sure that you are not only going to be a successful football player but also a successful person. It is a lot different up here than back in Cincinnati, where I came from, but it is an awesome place and I don't regret anything."
