Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Travel To Pittsburgh to Kickoff 2008 Season
August 26, 2008 | Football
Game #1
Bowling Green (0-0, 0-0 MAC) vs. Pittsburgh (0-0, 0-0 Big East)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Heinz Field) • Noon Start
TV: ESPNU • Dave Armstrong (Play-by-Play), Larry Coker (Analyst)
Radio: BGSU Radio Network • Todd Walker (Play-by-Play), Cal Bowers (Analyst)
Aug. 26, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University football team will open the 2008 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, versus the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field. The contest will be carried live on ESPNU, starting at noon.
Game Notes Versus Pittsburgh 
(25 Pages)
BGSU Selected as East Division Preseason Favorites
The Bowling Green State University football team has been picked as the East Division favorites in the 2008 MAC News Media Association poll. In the East preseason rankings the Falcons earned 206 points, followed by Miami (202), Buffalo (145), Kent State (137), Temple (120), Ohio (119) and Akron (78). The Falcons received 17 of the 36 first-place votes, followed by Miami (7), Buffalo (3), Ohio (3), Akron (2), Kent State (2) and Temple (2).
Central Michigan was the overwhelming preseason favorite in the West, receiving 207 points. They were followed by Ball State (169), Western Michigan (143), Toledo (98), Eastern Michigan (80) and Northern Illinois (60).
Radio Broadcasting Note
107.7 FM is currently in a transition stage and will not be carrying BGSU football games for the local audiences. Local fans that are interested in listening to the games can tune into 1230 AM. Fans can also click the "Stretch Internet" icon on www.bgsufalcons.com to listen to the games live on their computers.
Falcons Live Up To Expectations Under Brandon
Since 2003 (under Brandon) the Falcons have never finished lower then where they were selected in the preseason polls, and in fact, twice they have finished atop the standings after being picked to finish third (2003) and fifth (2007).
Year Preseason Poll Finish Division
2008 1st ? East 2007 5th 1st East 2006 3rd 3rd East 2005 1st 1st East 2004 3rd 3rd West 2003 3rd 1st West
Gregg Brandon Versus Non-MAC Opponents
BGSU head coach Gregg Brandon is currently 11-10 in 21 contests versus non-MAC opponents since becoming the Falcon head coach in 2003. In fact, he is the lone coach in the Mid-American Conference since 2003 to own a .500 or better record out of conference. Some of Brandon's biggest non-conference wins include a 32-31 win at Minnesota (2007), a 52-35 win over Memphis in the GMAC Bowl (2004), a 27-26 win at Purdue (2003) and a 28-24 win versus Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl (2003). Brandon Versus The Big East Since becoming head coach in 2003, Gregg Brandon and the Falcons have squared off versus the Big East just two times and have come away with a 1-1 record. In 2004 the Falcons defeated Temple 70-16 and lost to Boston College 55-24 in 2007.
Eleven Falcons Selected To Phil Steele's All-MAC Preseason Team
Phil Steele's College Football Preview, one of the nation's most informative preseason football magazines, has announced that 11 members of the Bowling Green State University football team have named to his preseason All-MAC squad. The Falcons had one member named to the first team, three to the second team, six to the third team and one Falcon was named honorable mention.
Senior linebacker John Haneline (96 tackles) was the lone member on the first team to represent BGSU. Running back Anthony Turner (519 yards, nine TDs), wide receiver Freddie Barnes (82 rec., 962 yards, nine TDs) and defensive end Diyral Briggs (54 tackles and five sacks) were named to the second team and Tyler Sheehan (3,264 yards, 23 TDs), linebacker Erique Dozier (112 tackles), defensive backs Kenny Lewis (61 tackles, five forced fumbles), Antonio Smith (80 tackles) and P.J. Mahone (90 tackles, seven INTs), along with kicker Sinisa Vrvilo (15 of 19 FGs) were named to the third team. Senior wide receiver Corey Partridge (46 rec., 453 yards) was the lone BGSU member to earn honorable mention on Phil Steele's team.
What The Falcons Did In 2007
After finishing 4-8 overall and 3-5 in MAC play in 2006, the BGSU football team had a bounce back year in 2007, going 8-5 overall and 6-2 in conference, capturing a share of the MAC East Championship. The Falcons also advanced to the GMAC Bowl, their third bowl game in the last five year.
Offensively the Falcons finished at or near the top of nearly every offensive MAC category, including scoring (30.2, 5th), passing (278.8, 2nd), total offense (402.5, 4th), pass efficiency (134.9, third) and first downs (299, 2nd).
On the defensive side of the ball the Falcons finished third in pass defense (216.6), fourth in sacks (24) and second in redzone defense (74.6%).
Falcons Name 2008 Captains
BGSU head coach Gregg Brandon has announced that Brandon Curtis, Jeff Fink, John Haneline, Corey Partridge and Antonio Smith will serve as captains for the 2008 Falcons. Combined, the five seniors have started 93 career games.
Brief Look at the Falcon Offense
The Falcons finished at or near the top of nearly every offensive category in 2007 in the Mid-American Conference. They finished fifth in scoring (30.2), second in passing (278.8), fourth in total offense (402.5), third in pass efficiency (134.9) and second in first downs (299). BGSU scored over 30 points in eight games (8-0 in those contests), had two contests where they went over 500 yards in offense, five games of over 300 yards passing and five games of over 150 yards on the ground.
Leading the Orange and Brown offense was first year starting quarterback Tyler Sheehan, who threw for 3,264 yards and 23 scores. He also had three rushing and two receiving touchdowns in 2007. Sheehan's top target last season was wide receiver Freddie Barnes, who finished 2007 with 82 receptions for 962 yards and nine scores. The 82 receptions were the third most in school history for a single season.
The Falcon running attack will be led by a handful of running backs led by Willie Geter and Chris Bullock. Geter ran for 432 yards on just 71 carries last season (6.1 avg.), Bullock has 1,050 career yards on the ground in two season and was a third-team Freshman All-American in 2006. Fifth-year senior Anthony Turner, who will start the year at wide receiver, will also see playing time at running back. Last season Turner led all Falcon rushers with 519 yards and nine touchdowns.
Sheehan Has Strong Showing In First Year as Starter
Tyler Sheehan, who began the 2007 season with zero career starts, threw for 3,264 yards and 23 touchdowns in his first full year as a starter. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native also chipped in with three rushing and two receiving touchdowns and completed 64% of his passes. Some of Sheehan's highlights include: • Threw for 388 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-31 (OT) win at Minnesota in his first career start. • Threw for 351 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Temple. • Was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week three times in 2007, most in the MAC. • Was only the fourth quarterback in BGSU history to throw for 3,000 yards in a season. • Participated in 543 plays, third most in school history.
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 in 2007.
• Trailing 24-21 with 2:12 to go in the Falcons' season opener versus Minnesota (2007) Sheehan drove the Falcons down the field, completing five passes to get the Falcons a 35-yard field goal attempt, which Vrvilo made. In overtime, following a Minnesota touchdown, Sheehan found Marques Parks for a nine-yard score to pull the Falcons to within one. Sheehan then completed a two-point conversion to Freddie Barnes for a 32-31 OT win over the Gophers.
• On Nov. 9, 2007 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.
Mr. Efficiency
In his last 108 throws Tyler Sheehan has thrown zero interceptions, while completing 67% (72-of-108) of his passes for five touchdowns. In fact, since throwing five interceptions versus Boston College (Oct. 6, 2007) the now junior quarterback has just two picks in his last 243 passes (threw 12 TDs in that same span, a 6:1 ratio)
Falcons To Start Three New Offensive Lineman
Gone from the 2007 offensive line are Kory Lichtensteiger (C), Drew Nystrom (T) and Kevin Huelsman (T). Lichtensteiger, now a member of the Denver Broncos, started 48 consecutive games as a Falcon, while Nystrom earned second-team All-MAC honors last year. Nystrom had made 34 starts, while Huelsman started 25 games as a Falcon. Seniors Aaron Kent and Jeff Fink will begin the year at the tackle positions, while redshirt freshman Ben Bojicic will start the season as the new Falcon center. Fink, Kent and Bojicic have three starts combined in their Falcon careers.
Barnes "Catching" On
In 2006 when the BGSU football team opened the season versus Wisconsin, Freddie Barnes was the Falcons' starting quarterback. In that contest Barnes ran for 158 yards, the highest rushing total ever by a BGSU quarterback. Flash forward to 2008 and Barnes is now the Falcons' top wide receiver threat. By mid-season in 2006 Barnes had made the transition to wide receiver and finished that year with 20 receptions for 203 yards and two touchdowns. In 2007, his first full year as a starting wide receiver, Barnes caught 82 passes (third most in school history) for 962 yards and nine scores.
Mr. Everything
In 2006 he was the Falcons' starting quarterback. In 2007 he began the year as the #2 quarterback, only to become the starting running back by mid-season. Now in 2008 senior Anthony Turner will become an every-down player at the wide receiver position. In his career he has thrown for 2,153 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has run the ball 300 times for 1,169 yards and 17 scores, and he has 22 career receptions for 185 yards and one touchdown. Combined he has 3,407 total yards of offense while playing three different positions in his Falcon career.
Barnes and Partridge = Dynamic Duo
Despite Corey Partridge missing five games in 2007 the duo of Partridge and Freddie Barnes combined for 128 catches, 1,415 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2007. In fact one of the two led the Falcons in receiving in 11 of 13 games in 2007. The duo opened the year with a combined 15 receptions for 151 yards at Minnesota and at Boston College the pair had 20 catches for 212 yards.
Brief Look at the Falcon Defense
The Falcon defense will return seven starters, including all four defensive backs that finished third in the MAC in pass defense. Antonio Smith (third team All-MAC), Kenny Lewis, P.J. Mahone (second team All-MAC) and Jahmal Brown will return in 2008 to handle the BGSU secondary. Smith, Lewis and Brown started all 13 games in 2007 together.
The linebacker position will be held down by the team's leading tackler in Erique Dozier (112 tackles). He will be joined by John Haneline (96 tackles in nine games) and converted safety Jerett Sanderson.
Up front the Falcons will return first team All-MAC performer Diyral Briggs, along with others that include Michael Ream (14 tackles), Angelo Magnone (30 tackles), Adrian Baker (24 tackles), Nick Torresso (16 tackles) and Joe Schaefer (19 tackles). Nick Davis, who began 2007 as a starter, was lost early in the season to a knee injury. He will also be returning to man the front-four.
Briggs Named To Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
The Football Writers Association ofAmerica has announced the Watch List for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Bowling Green State University senior Diyral Briggs is a member of that list. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the best defensive player in college football is sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Briggs, a first time member to this watch list earned first-team All-MAC honors last season after recording 54 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Mahone Sets New School Record in 2007
Junior safety P.J. Mahone recorded seven interceptions last season which was tied for third-best all-time in school history, but he also had 220 return yards in those seven picks, establishing a new BGSU record. The previous best mark was 207 return yards, set by Max Minnich in 1948.
Sanderson Moves to Linebacker
After spending the past two seasons as the Falcons' starting safety, junior Jerett Sanderson will begin the 2008 campaign at the linebacker position, starting along-side Erique Dozier and John Haneline. Sanderson started 19 contests in his first two years, all at the safety position, before his 2007 season was cut short by injury. In those two years he recorded 73 tackles and three interceptions in 19 career games.
Falcons Return Seven of Top Eight Tacklers
BGSU returns a veteran defense in 2008 which includes seven of their top eight tacklers from 2007. Leading the bunch will be linebackers Erique Dozier (112) and John Haneline (96). They are followed by all four starters in the secondary, P.J. Mahone (90), Jahmal Brown (83), Antonio Smith (80) and Kenny Lewis (61). Rounding out the Falcons' top tacklers is All-MAC performer, Diyral Briggs (54).
BGSU's Secondary Has Been Around
Senior corner back Antonio Smith begins his fourth year as a starter in the BGSU secondary. Fellow classmate Kenny Lewis enters his third year as a starter opposite of Smith. Junior safety Jahmal Brown begins his third season as a starter in the secondary, while junior P.J. Mahone has started eight games. Combined, the four members of the Falcon secondary have started 88 games.
Brief Look at the Falcon Special Teams
The Falcons had one of their most impressive special teams seasons in the past several years. Kicker Sinisa Vrvilo will be returning for his senior season. Last year he connected on 15 of 19 field goals (two of his misses came from 52 and 55 yards), while converting on all 47 of his extra points.
Junior Nick Iovinelli averaged 38.4 yards a punt, while downing 12 of his 53 punts inside the 20 yard-line.
Handling the return duties in 2008 will be Roger Williams. The junior established school records in nearly every kickoff return category in 2007, recording the most returns (39) and yards (954). He also had a 78 yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the GMAC Bowl last season.
Vrvilo Can Be Found In The Falcon Record Book
In his first year with the Orange and Brown Sinisa Vrvilo connected on 15 of 19 field goals and made all 47 of his extra point attempts. His 15 field goals made were fifth all-time in school history and his 47 extra points made were fourth all-time. His 15 made field goals were more then the Falcons made is all of 2005 and 2006 (nine total). The Falcons converted 67 of 77 extra points in 2005 and 2006 combined.
Williams Sets School Marks in Kickoffs
In just a short amount of time junior kick returner Roger Williams has established himself as one of the best kick returners in school history. Last season (his first full year as the Falcons' kick returner), Williams established school records in kick returns (39) and yards (954). His top highlight came in the GMAC Bowl where he was named GMAC Bowl Special Teams Player of the Game after recording a 78-yards touchdown. In 2007 he had a 24.5 yard return average which ranks fifth all-time in school history.
