Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Open 2007 Campaign Versus Minnesota
August 27, 2007 | Football
Aug. 27, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
BGSU Football Game Notes vs. Minnesota
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The Bowling Green State University football team will open the 2007 season with a trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a Saturday (Sept. 1) showdown with the Golden Gophers of Minnesota inside the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Opening kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST.
Falcons Versus The Big Ten Under Brandon
Coach Brandon, entering his fifth year as the Falcons head coach, has squared off with the Big Ten six times in his career, posting a 2-4 record. In 2003 the Falcons beat #16 Purdue (27-26) and Northwestern (28-24, Motor City Bowl), with their four losses coming against Ohio State (17-24 in 2003, and 7-35 in 2006) and Wisconsin (42-56 in 2005 and 14-35 in 2006).
On This Date...
The Falcons have played only twice ever on the first day of September in 88 years of Falcon football. The last time BGSU took the field on Sept. 1 was the season opener in 2001 versus Missouri (Urban Meyer's first collegiate game as a head coach), in a game they won 20-13. The only other time on this date was in 1994 in a 15-20 loss to North Carolina State.
Thrown In The Fire
In 2006 the Falcons played the third most true freshman in the country with 13. Looking at the depth chart to begin the 2007 season, of the 66 players listed 40 are either first or second year players for the Orange and Brown. On the offensive side 16-of-31 will be sophomores or younger, while 22-of-33 players on the defensive side of the ball are underclassman. Also of note, both the kicker and punter are also entering their first year with the Falcons.
It Has Been A While
Bowling Green is coming off a 4-8 season, their first losing season in six years. Last season BGSU began the 2006 campaign with a 3-2 record, but lost seven of their final eight contests, including their final five of the 2006 season. Even with the 4-8 record last season the Falcons are 47-25 since the 2001 campaign.
Lichtensteiger Named To Lombardi Watch List
BGSU senior offensive lineman Kory Lichtensteiger has been named to the 2007 Rotary Lombardi Watch List for the second consecutive year. This award is given to the college football's top offensive or defensive lineman.
The Rotary Lombardi Award was established by the Rotary Club of Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of legendary NFL coach, Vince Lombardi. For 37 years this award has raised funds for the American Cancer Society in Coach Lombardi's name while honoring the best lineman or linebacker in Division I college football.
Brief Look at the Falcon Offense
The Falcons return eight offensive starters from 2006, including three offensive lineman (Kory Lichtensteiger, Drew Nystrom and Kevin Huelsman) that helped the Falcons to a MAC-best 176.7 yards per game on the ground.
Leading the offensive attack will be a pair of quarterbacks, including redshirt junior Anthony Turner (159.6 yards passing/game and 48.0 yards rushing per game) and Tyler Sheehan (192 passing yards last season as a true freshman).
The Falcons also return several players at the skill positions, including RB Chris Bullock (Sporting News Freshman All-American), WR Corey Partridge (led team with 55 catches, 658 receiving yards and three touchdowns) and WR Freddie Barnes (405 rushing and 203 receiving yards). Barnes also started at quarterback for the Falcons in last year's season opener versus Wisconsin.
Overall the Falcons return 100% of their passing yards (2,029), 99.9 % of their rushing yards (2,117 of 2.120) and 69% (1,396 of 2,029) receiving yards.
Offensive Line Should Provide Some Stability
The Falcon offensive line has been a extremely effective unit since the arrival of coach Brandon, and 2007 should be no different. Four of the five starters on the offensive line have seen action in at least 10 games, while three of them have seen 30+ games.
LT Drew Nystrom, 5-Sr., 33 games
LG Shane Steffy, r-So., 10 games
C Kory Lichtensteiger, 5-Sr., 35 games (all starts, and has never missed a game)
RG Brandon Curtis, r-Jr., first year on the O-Line
RT Kevin Huelsman, 5-Sr., 30 games
Falcon Led By New Offensive Coordinator
Mick McCall replaces former offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa, who departed for the offensive line job at LSU. McCall spent the past four seasons working with the Falcon quarterbacks, including two standouts, Josh Harris and Omar Jacobs.
Brief Look at the Falcon Defense
Bowling Green returns nine starters from last year's defense that finished fourth in total defense in the MAC (318.5 yards/game). Up front BGSU will be led by Diyral Briggs (69 tackles and 10.5 TFL), Sean O'Drobinak (played tight end last year) and Jacob Hardwick (started all 12 games in 2006).
The linebacker depth should be solid with Erique Dozier (98 tackles), John Haneline (74 tackles) and Loren Hargrove (one of four captains), while the secondary returns all four starters in Antonio Smith (21 career starts, two career TDs), Kenny Lewis (four INTs and three blocked kicks last season), Jerett Sanderson (started 12 games as a freshman in 2006, 73 tackles, three INTs) and Jahmal Brown (59 tackles, 10 starts).
Overall BGSU returns 765 of 972 tackles (79%), 10 of 12 (83%) interceptions, all eight forced fumbles, and 44 of 78 (56%) tackles for loss.
Falcon Led By New Defensive Coordinator as Well
Just like coach McCall with the offense, Mike Ward enters his first season as the coordinator on the defensive side of the ball. Ward, who has spent the past 16 seasons with the Orange and Brown, spent the last seven seasons coaching the defensive line.
Bull "Dozier"
In his first year as a starting linebacker for the Falcon defense, junior Erique Dozier did not take long to impress. In his first game of 2006 he had 10 tackles versus Wisconsin and 19 (12 solo) in a win over Buffalo. Dozier is the top returner on the falcon defense with 98 tackles last season.
O'Drobinak Switches Sides
Fifth-year senior Sean O'Drobinak will have a different look at the football field this season. After spending the past three seasons running away from defenders (22 receptions and five touchdowns) while playing tight end, this season the "Big O" will be playing on the defensive side of the ball, managing one of the defensive tackle starting positions.
Secondary Learned on the Job Last Season
The Falcon secondary for the most part of last season was starting a pair of sophomores on the outside and two true freshmen at safety. At corner junior Antonio Smith has 21 career starts (in 22 games) and Kenny Lewis started all 12 games last season. At safety sophomore Jahmal Brown started the final 10 games for the Orange and Brown, while fellow classmate Jerett Sanderson started all 12 contests as a true freshman.
