Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football Falcons Report to Camp
August 04, 2006 | Football
Aug. 4, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - In the college football world, there is no more exciting phrase than 'players report to camp,' other than perhaps 'the season begins in less than a month.' And, for the Bowling Green State University program, both statements are true. The football Falcons held their annual media day on Friday afternoon (Aug. 4), with the initial fall practice scheduled for Saturday.
Gregg Brandon begins his fourth season as the head coach of the Falcons. The squad will hold its first practice on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Training camp will conclude on August 20 with classes slated to start on August 21. Since 2001, BGSU has the best record in the MAC by winning percentage with a 43-17 record over the past five seasons.
A few notes and quotes as camp begins ...
WHAT IS A TWO-A-DAY?
Since the NCAA adopted stricter practice guidelines, the two-a-day practice is as common as the wishbone offense in college football. BGSU will workout twice on August 10, August 12 and August 14.
FREE PUBLIC SCRIMMAGE
The BGSU Athletic Department will hold a meet and greet type event on Saturday, August 26 at Perry Stadium. BGSU football players and coaches will be available for autographs from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Coach Brandon will address the public at 4:30 p.m. and new athletic director Greg Christopher and several BGSU coaches will also talk with fans. The Falcons will then scrimmage at 6 p.m.
BOWERS JOINS BROADCAST TEAM
Former BGSU Offensive Lineman Cal Bowers joins the radio broadcast crew as the color analyst. Bowers played at BGSU under Coach Gary Blackney from 1992-95. He was part of a MAC Championship team in 1992 and served as a captain in 1995. He was a three-time First Team Academic All-MAC selection (1993-95) and won the Presidents Award in 1995, honoring the BGSU player who combines athletic and academic achievement. Bowers is a founding partner of Alliance Venture Mortgage, based in Maumee, Ohio. He replaces John Gibson who served in that role for three seasons. Gibson is moving to Atlanta.
Todd Walker will return for his fourth season as "The Voice of The Falcons", while Jason Aldrich, also in his fourth year, will report from the sidelines. WPFX-FM (107.7) in Findlay and Bowling Green returns as the flagship station. A full list of affiliates will be released later this month.
THREE GAMES TO AIR ON BCSN
Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) will produce three of the Falcon games for a delayed telecast. The Sept. 9 game with Buffalo, Sept. 23 game with Kent State and October 14 game with Eastern Michigan will be aired.
SEBO CENTER UPDATE
Testing and inspection to ensure that construction is being done in accord with building design specifications is important to the success of all building projects, including the Sebo Center project. During the testing/inspection process, engineers uncovered an issue with the masonry construction that will require the masonry along the north, south and west walls of the building to be redone as well as the elevator/stairwell tower. The general contractor has taken appropriate steps to address the problem and all masonry will be replaced immediately. The work is expected to take approximately two to four weeks.
The building remains scheduled for completion in spring of 2007.
When completed, the Sebo Athletic Center will be a 42,000 square foot privately-funded facility located in the north end zone of Doyt L. Perry Stadium. It will house state-of-the-art strength and conditioning and sports medicine facilities for the 18-sport intercollegiate athletic program. In addition, the Center will have offices, meeting rooms and outdoor stands for the BGSU Marching Band. The Center will serve as the new front door of the 40-year old facility.
QUOTING THE FALCONS
Head Coach GREGG BRANDON
(Opening comment)
"We have 105 players in Orange and Brown with smiling faces right now. In about 10 days, they won't be as happy as they are right now. It is great to have everyone back."
(Can you give us a season outlook?
"We are a very young team. From where I sit that creates some anxiety in terms of experience standpoint. But, you know what? These kids will come out and play hard with a lot of passion. I am very excited about this team. We have a lot of question marks, but we have capable players to step in."
(What do you like about this team right now?)
"I like the work ethic. We had a great off-season. We have the most players in the history of the program that can do the bench press test. We also have the fastest team that we have had since I've been here. There are a lot of things from a physical standpoint that get me excited about this team."
(Where are the strengths of this team?)
"The strength of this team is the offensive line. We have 3.5 starters back. Our defensive line is also very strong. We have two players in Brad Williams and Devon Parks who have played a lot of football here. Those two positions will be strengths of this football team."
(What are the expectations heading into camp?)
"We expect to win. That is the big expectation right there."
DAN MACON
(After three years in the program, you are now 'the man' at running back. How do you feel about that?)
"I'm overly excited. It has been a long time, and having to take a year off from getting onto the game field has created that much more excitement for this year."
(Do you feel that you are physically ready to take the pounding of carrying the ball 20 or 25 times per game?)
"Yes, I do. I have put on some weight during the off-season, so that I can handle the pounding. Also, though, I'm a physical running back; I believe that's the type of running back that I am. I like getting the ball 25, 30 times a game, so however many times (Coach Brandon) wants to give me the ball, I think I'll be ready."
FREDDIE BARNES
(What are you doing to get ready for the season?)
"Basically, I've just been watching film the entire summer, working out in the weight room, gaining weight and getting faster and stronger. I have tried to prepare myself physically, and I'm going to try to take this time in camp to get myself back mentally as well."
(You must be pretty excited about the chance of starting the Wisconsin game. What is your thought process going into that game?)
"I just need to block out the hype, the crowd, the stadium and just try to stay focused. I don't want to come out there and be all giddy and jittery; I want to have some poise about myself and try to get us a 'W'"
ANTHONY TURNER
(Do you and Freddie Barnes work a lot together on things like leadership?)
"That was a challenge we took upon ourselves to work on this summer. I think we both have improved on that a lot this summer. We had a couple of goals to reach this summer, in the weight room, and we each achieved all of those goals. That's definitely a good thing."
(What else do you think you have improved upon?)
"Confidence, definitely, coming into camp. That's the big thing -- a quarterback is no good if he has no confidence."
PETE WINOVICH
(Are you excited about the position change?)
"I am thrilled to death. All summer, I have been working on it. I was able to get comfortable with my position. Dan Macon and I have a very good bond, which is great. We'll hang out, go to breakfast after 6 a.m. workouts, and it's good to hang out and get in that mindset of playing on offense."
(You and Dan both played special teams when you got here, right?)
"Yes, we both played on special teams when we were younger. I was always at a different position, on the defense, and we would always chirp back and forth to each other (during practices). Now, I get to help block for him, and we look out for each other."
