Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football Hosts Buffalo in MAC Opener
September 06, 2006 | Football
Sept. 6, 2006
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Buffalo (1-0, 0-0) at Bowling Green (0-1, 0-0) Varsity BG/Hall Of Fame Day Saturday, September 9 • 3 p.m. Doyt. L. Perry Stadium (23,724) TELEVISION: BCSN (Jim Oswald and Josh Harris), Tape Delay RADIO: BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker, Cal Bowers and Jason Aldrich) SERIES: BG leads, 2-1. LAST MEETING: BGSU 27, at UB 7 (10/15/05)
QUICK HITS
BGSU Faculty and Staff with a valid ID may pick up four free tickets to the game at the BGSU Athletic Ticket Office in Anderson Arena.
The Falcons will play their 41st home opener in Doyt L. Perry Stadium against MAC East foe Buffalo. BGSU has won its last five home openers and its last five home conference openers. The first game ever played in this facility was September 24, 1966 when BGSU defeated Dayton, 13-0.
The Falcons return 10 starters (six on offense, four on defense) from a team which tied for the MAC East title last season. BGSU is picked to finish third in the MAC East behind Akron and Miami.
The Falcons posted their fifth straight winning season with a 6-5 record last season. BGSU was nationally ranked in one or both major polls in 2002, 2003 and 2004. They finished 23rd in the final BCS poll in 2003.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams. After Buffalo defeated the Falcons 20-17 in 2000, BGSU has won the last two contests. BGSU defeated the Bulls, 35-0 in 2001 and 27-7 in 2005. This is Buffalo's first visit to Perry Stadium since September 8, 2001.
In the game against Wisconsin, the Falcons played 20 true or redshirt freshmen. Forty-nine players overall for BGSU saw action in that game. The Falcons also played their season opener without projected starters Anthony Turner (QB), Terrel White (LB) and Corey Partridge (WR).
Redshirt freshman quarterback Freddie Barnes was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 159 yards and two scores on 29 carries against Wisconsin. He also completed 12 of 19 passes for 82 yards. His 159 yards rushing were the most by a Falcon quarterback in a single game.
BGSU's .705 winning percentage since 2001 (43-18) is the best among all MAC schools over the last five years.
Coach Gregg Brandon has announced that senior wide receiver Kenneth Brantley, junior center Kory Lichtensteiger, senior defensive end Devon Parks, and senior defensive tackle Brad Williams will serve as captains this season. Freddie Barnes will serve as a game captain for the Buffalo game.
The Bulls are coming off a 9-3 overtime win over Temple at home last week. Buffalo is guided by first-year coach Turner Gill.
Since the 2001 season, the Falcons are 11-2 against teams whose head coaches are in the first year of their tenure.
