Bowling Green State University Athletics
Lane Ready to Carry the Load
September 10, 2005 | Football
Sept. 10, 2005
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - Watch out Ball State.
With the status of P.J. Pope in question after he suffered sprains to both ankles against Wisconsin, B.J. Lane is ready to go as Bowling Green's running back Saturday.
At the very least, Lane, a 5-feet-10, 201-pound fifth-year senior will be a part of BG's two-back formation if Pope is healthy. And Lane is the Falcons' top kickoff return man.
Playing Ball State seems to bring out the best in Lane, who says he's ready to "carry the load" if Pope, who has rushed for 2,704 yards in his career, cannot play.
Last season Lane returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score against the Cardinals. In 2003, Lane had a 78-yard run against Ball State and finished with 115 yards rushing on six carries. The 78-yard run is the longest non-scoring run in school history.
"It's my job to step up and do what I've been practicing and do what I've been reading in my scouting reports ... do what my team expects me to do and what I expect myself to do," Lane said. "Each of our roles, starters, second-string, is to be prepared when our number is called.
"Possibly my number has been punched, so it's up to me to step up for my teammates ... I never wished injury on anyone. I just want to go out, play the game and have fun."
Lane made his first career start against Wisconsin last week as BG opened with a two-back set. After Pope went down in the second quarter, Lane was the featured back. He had 12 carries for 47 yards and a score and added four receptions for 36 yards and his first career receiving TD for the Falcons.
"He stepped up and played very well for us on Saturday," said Dennis Springer, BG's assistant coach who works with the running backs. "He had a great fall camp. He worked as if he was the starter and I think it showed on Saturday."
Lane has rushed for more than 1,100 yards in his career, but with the Falcons using a one-back set since 2001, his opportunities have been limited. He's never had more than 85 carries in a season.
"B.J. has always been a competitor. I know it's been a tough situation for him to be behind P.J. for the last couple of years," Springer said. "He's done a great job when his opportunities have come.
"Somewhere else he may have been the guy, he may have been the starter," Springer added.
In addition to the nuts and bolts preparation for his final season, Lane worked hard over the summer to improve his relationships with his teammates.
"At the beginning of camp this year, I told my position group I felt I was a little selfish last year and that kind of reflected in my production on the field," Lane said. "I have overcome that and I was definitely looking forward to having fun this season and playing with my teammates.
"I've built some great relationships with some of my teammates just this off-season that I didn't have with them," he continued. "I'm getting the opportunity to enjoy life and to enjoy what I do up here every day with those guys."
Springer said he can see the difference in Lane this season.
"I agree with him in that he's matured a great deal as a person and understanding what the situation is and making the best of it," Springer said. "He had a great fall camp. He worked as if he was the starter.
"He's been nothing but positive," Springer added. "He's been a good role model and leader in my position group and helping the young guys understand what we're doing here and learning the offense."
When he's rushing the ball, Lane says he likes to make defenders miss, but sometimes the only thing to do is lower your shoulder and take on the would-be tackler.
"You have to have the qualities of being elusive, decisive and powerful," Lane said.
Lane needs all those things and more on kickoff returns.
"I believe to be back there, you can't have any fear," Lane said about returning kickoffs. "You have 11 guys screaming down at you. I believe that you've just got to have the confidence and faith in your teammates that they are going to make those blocks; sacrifice themselves to advance the ball up field."
