Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football Opens Season At Wisconsin
August 26, 2005 | Football
Aug. 26, 2005
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Bowling Green at Wisconsin Saturday, September 3 • Noon (Eastern) Camp Randall Stadium (80,360) • Madison, Wis. TV: ESPN (Mark Jones, Chris Spielman and Rob Stone) 2004 RECORDS: BGSU 9-3, 6-2 MAC • UW 9-3, 6-2 Big Ten SERIES: UW leads, 1-0 • LAST MEETING: at Wisconsin 39, BGSU 18 (9/19/92)Radio: BGSU Radio Network, 11 a.m. Todd Walker, John Gibson, Jason Aldrich
WPFX-FM - Findlay (107.7)* WZRX-FM - Lima (107.5) WCWA-AM - Toledo (1230) WZOM-FM - Defiance (105.7) WFRO-FM - Fremont (99.1) WTTF-AM - Tiffin (1600) WVKO-AM - Columbus (1580) WDOH-FM - Delphos (107.1) WCSM-FM/AM - Celina (96.7/1350) WKNR/WHK-AM - Cleveland (850/1220) BGSUFalcons.com * Flagship Station
FIRST AND TEN
The Falcons return 13 starters from a squad which finished 9-3 and won the 2004 GMAC Bowl over Memphis, 52-35. BGSU is one of just 15 teams on the Division I-A level to win bowl games in both 2003 and 2004.
For the first time in school history, BGSU has won eight games or more in four consecutive years. The Falcons are picked to win the MAC in 2005.
The Falcons are 3-1 in their last four season openers, and BG will open the season at a Big Ten facility for just the fourth time in 34 years (Purdue, 1972; Penn State, 1987; and Michigan, 2000). The Badgers are 11-0 vs. teams from the MAC under Barry Alvarez.
BGSU has been ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls in each of the last three seasons. The Falcons received votes in both polls in the preseason and were ranked 21st by The Sporting News and 23rd by Sports Illustrated in their preseason publications.
BGSU's 37-12 record since 2001 is the best among all MAC schools over the last four years. BGSU also is the only MAC team with a winning record (9-3) vs. Division I-A non-conference opponents. In that time, BGSU is 3-1 against the Big Ten, having defeated Northwestern twice (2001, 2003 Motor City Bowl) and Purdue (2003), while losing at Ohio State (2003).
Junior All-American quarterback Omar Jacobs, the 2004 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, led the nation in TD passes (41) and points responsible for (22.5). He was second in total offense (358.5) and passing yards (4,002) and third in passing efficiency (165.5). He also set an NCAA record for TD/Interception ratio with the 41 scoring strikes and just four interceptions.
Three other players who earned All-MAC status last season also return. Senior running back P.J. Pope scored a league-high 21 TDs, with 1,098 yards rushing and 490 receiving. Pope was a second-team all-league choice after earning first-team honors in 2003. He finished fourth in the country in scoring (10.5 ppg) 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. He was named second-team Preseason All-American by CBSSportsline.com.
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 pass efficiency (165.5) and scoring offense (44.3, also a MAC record).
BGSU returns 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.
BGSU offensive graduate assistant Russ Kuhns earned three letters at Wisconsin (2000-02) where he played linebacker and fullback. BG Associate Athletic Director Scott Seeliger was an assistant coach for the Badgers from 1977-79 and 1984-90 and was a member of Coach Alvarez' first staff.
