Bowling Green State University Athletics
Winovich Move Indicates Change
August 11, 2006 | Football
Aug. 10, 2006
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By MAUREEN FULTON, Blade Sports Writer -
BOWLING GREEN - One Bowling Green State University running back is not like the others.
Pete Winovich is bigger, and a tad slower, than the Falcons' other backs. But his presence in the backfield signifies change in the BGSU offense - and for him. Again.
It's the fourth position in three years for Winovich, a junior from the Pittsburgh suburb of Jefferson Hills. This one puts him in the offensive backfield for the first time since high school.
"Wherever they want to use me, wherever I can help out the team the best, is fine," Winovich said.
Winovich was recruited to BGSU as a quarterback. He switched to tight end midway through preseason camp his freshman year and played primarily on special teams his first season. Last year he moved to linebacker, a place he had played in high school. His best game was an eight-tackle performance against Ohio University.
At the end of last season BGSU coach Gregg Brandon said he was disappointed he hadn't yet been able to find a good spot to best use Winovich's talents.
This past spring the 6-foot-3 Winovich moved back to tight end, but after a few practices the coaches decided to experiment with him as a fullback. They discovered another nugget to add to the mix of the offensive scheme.
"We'll put him in blocking situations, but he also showed some signs that he can run the ball," Brandon said. "He's 250 pounds right now, so he packs a load."
The Falcons' offense will look different from the past two seasons because their quarterbacks, Anthony Turner and Freddie Barnes, are run-ners first.
Winovich provides another wrinkle.
He will give the Falcons an extra way to get junior Dan Macon some yards.
"He can make the hole and I'll run right through it," Macon said.
It's a good partnership because Macon and Winovich have been working side-by-side since Winovich arrived on campus. On special teams they double-teamed together on kickoff coverage. They spent this summer going to breakfast after 6 a.m. workouts and playing video games.
"We have a really good bond," Winovich said.
The talk of Winovich's new spot has some outside the team, familiar with the team's spread offense the past few years, doing double-takes.
"I think it throws everybody off, especially alumni from recent years - they were shocked," Winovich said.
Winovich expects to mostly be used as a pseudo-lineman, but he's eager for his first chance on third-and-short, or perhaps even at the goal line.
"Granted, I'm not going to get many carries a game, just because of how the offense is set up," Winovich said. "I just think it's so exciting when you know you're getting the ball. It's something I haven't experienced since high school."
Although Winovich is a step behind the rest of the backs in 40-yard dash times, he feels at home.
"When I went to fullback, I fit right in," Winovich said. "I had to learn how to block a little bit better, but I picked it right up.
"At first I was a little hesitant. I was like, another position change? But I'm thrilled to death."
