Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Enhance Talent With Local Flavor
February 28, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Feb. 28, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Four student-athletes have officially become Falcons under coach Fred Thompson and the men's soccer squad. Tyler Deal, Tim Crone and Drew Nichols will add a local playing style, while Ahmad Smith will bring a southern flavor to the field.
The four will not lack experience when they join the current Falcons in the fall. Each earned four varsity letters and has played in the pressure situations in both prep and club state contests.
The Falcons will benefit from several traits the four will bring to the Orange and Brown including height and depth.
Of the local talent, Deal will had height to the midfield with his six-foot frame.
"Tyler will bring a much needed physical element to our team. He's as excited to win the ball back as he is to score a goal. Tyler is a dedicated versatile player whose work ethic and attitude would make any team better," said Thompson.
The Sydney, Ohio, native will join the Falcons after celebrating a career at Sydney High School where he was awarded the Iron Man multiple times along with being named the Best Offensive Player and team MVP. Deal was also granted first-team membership to various regional, district and state teams.
Cincinnati will lend the Falcons Crone, who is expected to further enhance the character of the team, and Nichols, who will add an extra physical presence.
"I am very excited to have Tim join us. His character alone makes him a vital part of what we are building. He is determined, enthusiastic, driven and I believe he is already starting to bleed Orange and Brown. He gives everything he has and he isn't afraid of hard work. I'm looking forward to watching him grow into an indispensable part of this program," said Thompson.
With the loss of three senior leaders, Crone will had the ability to help the Orange and Brown re-group with his natural leadership skills. In addition to taking on a captain's position as a member of Cincinnati Cup Premier, Crone became the Lakota East High School team captain as a sophomore. He has won multiple team honors as well as being recognized at the local and state level.
Nichols helped the Ohio Elite team to the 2005 Ohio State Cup Semi Finals as well as the 2005 US Club Soccer Regional Championship and a birth in the 2005 US Club Soccer National Finals.
"Drew is a fine addition to our program. I expect that everyone will see from his work ethic and physical presence that he is a true competitor. With his determination and persistence Drew will most likely compete for a position on the flank - either in the midfield or in the back."
Nichols is has been an Ohio South ODP State Team member since 2000. He is also listed in Top Drawer Soccer as one of the "Top Players to Watch."
Smith, a Jackson, Mississippi native, will be the second Callaway High School graduate to be added to the Class of 2010. Smith's teammate Chris Davis signed with BGSU earlier in the year.
"Ahmad is a young player with incredible potential. He has the speed to get behind defenses and he is pretty good during link up play. What he really likes to do is score goals and we expect that he'll do that for us. Ahmad's tools make him a constant threat and the faster he adjusts to the speed and physicality of college soccer, the faster he goes from threat to weapon."
Smith, Callaway's MVP, was nominated to participate in the 2005-060 Mississippi High School All-Star game and is a Mississippi state ODP selection and starter from 2000-2004. He is also ODP Regional 3 Pool Player and was the starting forward for Central Jackson Soccer Organization (CJSO). The team won three consecutive state titles and a SuperClubs Regional Championship.
