Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Play Tulsa in GMAC Bowl
January 01, 2008 | Football
Jan. 1, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
BGSU vs. Tulsa in GMAC Bowl
Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 • 8:00 p.m.
Ladd-Peebles Stadium • Mobile, Ala.
RECORDS: BGSU 8-4 (6-2 MAC) // Tulsa 9-4 (6-2 C-USA)
RADIO: BGSU Radio Network (107.7) Todd Walker and Cal Bowers
TV: ESPN - Bob Wischusen, Andre Ware and Joe Schad
Entire GMAC Bowl Guide in PDF Form (Notes, Stats and Bios) -- 92 Pages of Falcon Fun! 
For the third time in the last five seasons the Bowling Green State University football program will be participating in a post season bowl contest, this season being the 2008 GMAC Bowl versus the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in Mobile, Alabama. The Falcons participated in the 2003 Motor City Bowl and their most recent Bowl was the GMAC in 2004.
FALCON BOWL TIDBITS
• The Falcons are making their eighth bowl appearance, and their third bowl in the last five years. Under coach Gregg Brandon the Falcons are 2-0 in bowl games with a 28-24 win versus Northwestern in the 2003 Motor City Bowl and a 52-35 win versus Memphis in the 2004 GMAC Bowl.
• BGSU has won four straight bowl games, after losing the first three in school history.
• Despite missing the 2005 and 2006 Bowl seasons the Falcons still have 24 players that were members of the 2004 GMAC Bowl win, but only Kory Lichtensteiger started in the 52-35 win over Memphis.
• This will be only the second-ever meeting versus a C-USA opponent for the Falcons since the league formed in 1996. The last meeting was versus Memphis in 2004.
• Even though the Falcons have played in three bowl games the last five seasons, Tyler Sheehan will be the third new starting quarterback in those three games. Josh Harris was at the helm of the 2003 Motor City Bowl and Omar Jacobs led the Falcons in the 2004 GMAC Bowl.
A FALCON WIN WOULD...
• Move BGSU to 9-4 overall, giving them five more wins then last season. It would also be the most wins in a season since 2004 for the Orange and Brown.
• Give the Falcons the best overall winning percentage of any MAC team (only BGSU and Central Michigan have the chance to win as many as nine games).
• Give the Falcons their first five game win streak since the 2004 season.
• Give BGSU their fifth straight Bowl win, and third straight under coach Brandon.
ATTENTION FANS...FALCONS WILL BE BLOGGING FROM MOBILE
Be sure to check back on a regular basis to BGSUFalcons.com. Some of your favorite Falcons will be blogging for you on a daily basis. You can also check back for a daily photo gallery to keep up with what the Falcons are doing down south.
FALCONS FIND THEIR GROUND GAME
Despite still leading the MAC with 286.8 yards a game through the air, the BGSU ground attack the last six games has given the Falcons a new dimension to their high powered offense. After averaging just 76.0 yards on the ground in their fi rst six games, the BGSU ground game in their last six games has averaged 184.2 yards a game, going over 190 yards four times.
WHO WILL IT BE THIS WEEK?
Through 12 games the Falcons have been led by four different rushers this season, and only three times has the same player been the leading rusher in back-to-back games.
A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER
With wins over Akron (44-20), Eastern Michigan (39-32), Buffalo (31-17) and Toledo (37-10), the Falcons have recorded their fi rst four game win streak since the 2004 season, when they went on to win seven straight contests. In the four game win streak, which all came in the month of November, a few important numbers:
Team Stats
Points/Game ..........................................37.8 Points Allowed/Game ................................. 19.8 Yards/Game ...........................................448.0 Yards Allowed/Game .................................. 383.5 Rushing Yards/Game ...................................187.5 Passing Yards/Game ...................................260.5 Turnovers ................................................3 Takeaways ................................................8
FOUR GAME WIN STREAK RANKS AMONG NATION'S BEST
With the four game win streak mentioned above, the Falcons are tied for the sixth longest active win streak in the country. Also included in this list are:
Team ........................................................Streak Hawaii .......................................................... 13 BYU ...............................................................9 Central Florida ...................................................7 Georgia ...........................................................6 Virginia Tech .....................................................5 Bowling Green .....................................................4 Florida ...........................................................4 Illinois ..........................................................4 Navy ..............................................................4
WHEN THE FALCONS...
• record at least 500 yards of total offense the Falcons are 2-0 this year.
• throw zero interceptions in a contest they are 6-0 this year.
• run for over 100 yards they are 7-1 on the year.
• win the turnover margin they are 6-0.
• score 30-plus points they are 8-0.
EIGHT FALCONS EARN ALL-MAC HONORS
BGSU had eight players earn All-MAC honors, fourth-best in the conference. Earning first-team honors were senior center Kory Lichtensteiger and junior defensive end Diyral Briggs. The Falcons also placed two players on the second-team in Drew Nystrom and P.J. Mahone. Tyler Sheehan, Freddie
Barnes, Sinisa Vrvilo and Antonio Smith were named to the All-MAC third-team. Lichtensteiger is the lone Falcons to have been named to an All-MAC squad prior to this season. BGSU head coach Gregg Brandon finished third in the voting for coach of the year with seven votes, trailing only Turner Gill (18) and Shane Montgomery (12).
RED "HOT" ZONE
BGSU is 37-of-44 (84%) in redzone opportunities this season, scoring 28 touchdowns, second in the MAC.
FASTEST SHOW ON TURF
With the installation of FieldTurf at Doyt Perry Stadium, the Falcons have played 11 of their 12 games on artificial surfaces. In those 11 contests the Falcons have scored 368 points (33.5/game) and have posted 4,661 yards of offense (423.7/game), including 3,147 yards through the air (286.1/game).
LUCKY #13
Tyler Sheehan is having an impressive start to his Falcon career. The sophomore quarterback, having made just 12 career starts, is completing 63.2% (289-457) of his passes for 3,123 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also has three rushing touchdowns and two touchdown receptions, a 24-yarder versus Minnesota and a 25-yard score at Buffalo. He opened the 2007 season (his first career start) with a fourth quarter comeback win over Minnesota, tossing two touchdowns and throwing for 388 yards. The following week, he was 32-of-50 for 295 yards versus Michigan State, throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another. He had a career-high four touchdown passes in a win over Temple (also threw for 351 yards). He also had 270 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters of action versus Western Kentucky.
THE COMEBACK KID
While still very young in his Falcon career, QB Tyler Sheehan has already emerged as a clutch quarterback, leading the Falcons to two fourth quarter comebacks this season.
• Trailing 24-21 with 2:12 to go in the Falcons' season opener versus Minnesota Sheehan drove the Falcons down the field, completing five passes to get the Falcons a 35-yard field goal attempt, which Sinisa Vrvilo made.
• On Nov. 9 versus Eastern Michigan the Falcons trailed 32-31 with 6:15 to go in the fourth quarter. Sheehan and the Falcons drove 61 yards for a BGSU touchdown in 2:21, while never forcing themselves into a third down.
THREE'S COMPANY: THE QUARTERBACK CONNECTION
To begin the 2006 season Freddie Barnes started at quarterback versus Wisconsin. Anthony Turner then started the last 11 contests of the year at the QB position, with Tyler Sheehan also seeing action behind center in four games. Now, all three QBs from the 2006 season have much different roles. Sheehan has excelled as the Falcons' starting QB, throwing for 3,123 yards and 23 touchdowns. Barnes, who is now the Falcons' top receiving threat, leads the team in receptions (77), yards (891) and touchdowns
(9). Turner, who has assumed a "slash" role for the Falcons, is 4-for-5 passing for 65 yards and three touchdowns, has 501 yards on the ground (averaging 5.0 a carry) and nine touchdowns, and has 16 receptions for 152 yards and one score.
PASS, RUSH AND CATCH
After much research, and several discussions with all Division I schools, it was determined that the Falcons are the lone school to have three players on their team that have recorded a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in their career. Freddie Barnes (1 pass, 9 receiving and 9 rushing), Tyler Sheehan (23 pass, 3 rush, 2 receiving) and Anthony Turner (16 pass, 17 rush and 1 receiving) have accomplished this feat, making them the lone trio in the nation with this record. In fact, prior to the contest with Kent State, Sheehan and Barnes were the lone duo in the country with this feat. Turner joined the duo after catching a throw-back pass from Sheehan for a 31-yard touchdown versus the Flashes.
BARNES CATCHING ON
Sophomore Freddie Barnes opened the 2006 season as the Falcons starting quarterback versus Wisconsin. Just over a year later, the now converted wide receiver is one of the most feared pass catchers in the Mid-American Conference. Barnes ranks sixth in the MAC with 6.42 catches a game and seventh with 74.2 yards a game. His nine touchdowns are second-best in the league. The Chicago Heights, Ill., native has had at least six catches in eight of his 12 games and at least 70 yards receiving in seven of his 12
contests.
SHOW ME THE MONEY
The money catch is defined as catching a first down or touchdown, and Freddie Barnes is "showing the money." Of Barnes' 77 catches, 51 (42 first downs and nine touchdowns) of them have either resulted in a Falcon first down or touchdown.
MORE ON THE PASS CATCHERS
• Barnes, who opened the 2006 season as the Falcons' starting quarterback,
had 20 catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns last season. He has posted
career numbers in all three of those categories this year with 77 receptions, 891 yards and nine touchdowns. He had his fi rst career 100-yard receiving game with 112 yards versus Boston College back on October 6. His 77 catches are tied for the third most in school-history.
• Partridge led the Falcons in receptions (55), yards (658) and touchdowns (3) last season. He had six catches for 52 yards in the fi rst quarter versus Minnesota before leaving with an injury (he also missed the MSU game and three quarters of the Ohio game), so his 45 catches and 433 yards has been in just 22 quarters of action. He also caught his 100th career reception on his last catch of the game versus Western Kentucky and had his first 100 yard game of the season versus Boston College (12-100).
• Marques Parks had fi ve catches for 30 yards in the entire 2006 season. 2007 has been a bit different as the junior has as many touchdowns (5) this year as catches (5) all of last season. His 28 catches, 360 yards and fi ve touchdowns are all career-bests this season.
• Tyrone Pronty also had just five catches last season. This year his 16 catches, 143 yards and two touchdowns are all career-bests.
• Chris Wright saw action in five games in 2006, but did not record a reception. This year the sophomore has 25 catches for 364 yards and three touchdowns. Versus Buffalo he caught an 83-yard score, the fifth longest touchdown reception in school history.
• Junior Jermiah Kelley is in his first year with the Orange and Brown. He has 11 receptions for 210 yards and three touchdowns. His 19.1 yards per catch are tops on the team.
TURNER VISION
While seeing most of his 2006 action as the Falcon starting quarterback, the emergence of Tyler Sheehan has forced Anthony Turner into a much different role this season. While still playing some quarterback, the junior has also lined up at running back and wide receiver on numerous plays. Over his last five games the Dayton, Ohio native is 4-for-4 passing for 65 yards and three scores, has 384 yards rushing (on 75 carries) and six TDs, and has chipped in with 15 receptions for 121 yards.
LICHTENSTEIGER = RECORDS AND AWARDS
Senior center Kory Lichtensteiger has started 47 straight games and has
earned All-MAC honors in all four years as a Falcon, having been named
to the fi rst team in both 2006 & 2007 after earning second-team honors in
'04 and '05. He was also one of six fi nalists for the Rimington Award, given to the nation's top center. His 48th start versus Tulsa would tie him for the school record in consecutive starts. He is also a member of the Lombardi Watch List and has earned Academic All-MAC honors twice.
PASS DEFENSE SECOND IN THE MAC
Bowling Green, who owns the second-best pass defense in the MAC at 207.7
yards per game, has really played the pass well in the fi rst half of their last five games. The Falcons are allowing an average of 71.0 yards passing in the first half after allowing Kent State no yards passing in the first half (on 0-of-1 passing), gave up 73 versus Ohio (on 7-of-10 passing), just 70 yards (on 5-of-11 passing) versus the Zips, 115 (on 8-10 passing) yards versus the Eagles,103 yards (on 7-of-12 passing) versus Buffalo and 65 yards versus Toledo (on 7-14 passing).
