Falcons Accept Invitation To Play In GoDaddy Bowl

GoDaddy Bowl website

The Bowling Green State University football program accepted an invitation Sunday afternoon to play in the GoDaddy Bowl. BGSU will play Georgia Southern from the Sun Belt Conference on Dec. 23 in Mobile, Ala. The Falcons and Eagles will square off inside of Ladd-Peebles Stadium with kickoff set for 8:00 pm ET.

"We're so proud of our football team and what they've accomplished this year," said BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey. "Our student athletes are again taking us to national prominence. The GoDaddy Bowl is a wonderful venue for them to showcase their talents."

"We are thrilled to welcome back Bowling Green State University to the city of Mobile," said GoDaddy Bowl president, Jerry Silverstein. "The Falcon family overwhelmed the city when they were here in 2004 and 2008. We anticipate another great showing from Bowling Green both on and off the field, and look forward to the powerful offensive match up."

Fresh off a 34-14 victory in the MAC Championship Game Friday night, the Falcons enter bowl season with a 10-3 record overall. BGSU will have a chance to match a school record for wins in a season at the GoDaddy Bowl. The Falcons are one of the most impressive teams in the nation, ranking inside the top five nationally in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense.

"We are so excited about this post-season bowl game opportunity and want to thank Jerry Silverstein and the GoDaddy Bowl committee for selecting us with their first overall pick from the MAC," Director of Athletics D. Christopher Kingston said. "I am so proud of this MAC Championship program and look forward to the opportunity for this group to compete together, one more time against a quality opponent in Georgia Southern.

"One of the most meaningful elements about this particular bowl selection is that it provides the opportunity for our graduating senior football players to walk across the stage at commencement prior to our departure. I want to thank our loyal fans for the tremendous support we experienced in Detroit last Friday night at the MAC Championship. This is a great opportunity for our Falcon Family to make holiday plans to join us for our third bowl appearance in Ladd-Peebles Stadium, in the great city of Mobile, Ala."

The GoDaddy Bowl will mark the 13th appearance in a bowl game for the Falcons all-time, and the fourth consecutive season BGSU has played in a bowl game. The 2015 GoDaddy Bowl will also mark the third time in the last 12 seasons that the Falcons will appear in the bowl game played in Mobile – previously appearing at the GMAC Bowl in 2004 and 2007. BGSU is 5-6 in school history in bowl games and 1-1 in the GoDaddy Bowl.

"We are thrilled to accept our invitation to the GoDaddy Bowl," Interim Head Coach Brian Ward said. "It will be special for this MAC Championship team to have one more chance to take the field together, and as an added incentive, have the chance to tie the school record for wins in a season at this game. We are looking forward to the great challenge of playing against Georgia Southern down in Mobile."

11 Falcons earned All-MAC honors in 2015, including five who were named to the first team. Quarterback Matt Johnson, named first team All-MAC, also earned MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors and the Vern Smith Leadership Award. A pair of teammates earned national recognition, as Johnson was named the Sammy Baugh Award winner while wide receiver Roger Lewis earned the Paul Warfield Trophy. Both Johnson and Lewis lead the nation in passing yards and receiving yards, respectively. Travis Greene, Austin Valdez, and Joseph Davidson also were named first team All-MAC. Four Falcons – Alex Huettel, Jacob Bennett, Gehrig Dieter and Trenton Greene – were named second team All-MAC, while both Ronnie Moore and Ryan Burbrink earned third team All-MAC accolades.

The Orange and Brown will bring an exciting brand of football to Mobile. As a team, the Falcons average 43.4 points per game and 561.0 yards per game. Individually, the offense features seven players who have more than 1,000 career yards at their position. Greene, the school's all-time leading rusher for a career, has 1,219 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He was named MAC East MVP in the Championship Game. He is joined in the backfield by Fred Coppet, who has 1,775 rushing yards in his career. At receiver, three Falcons have more than 2,000 career receiving yards. Lewis, a two-time first team All-MAC recipient, became just the fifth player in school history to surpass 2,500 career receiving yards in the MAC Championship. He is joined by Burbrink (2,213 career yards) and Moore (2,108 career yards). Burbrink has been named All-MAC at punt returner in each of the last three seasons.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Falcons have forced 27 turnovers and lead the MAC in turnover differential. Valdez and Greene were named All-MAC on the defensive side of the ball, while cornerback Alfonso Mack has six interceptions to lead the team. In the special teams game, Davidson – a first team All-MAC selection and second team Academic All-America recipient – led the Mid-American Conference in punting average. Kicker Tyler Tate has 349 career points, just 12 shy of the school record.

Georgia Southern will be making their first bowl appearance in school history on Dec. 23. The GoDaddy Bowl will mark the second straight season that the Falcons have squared off against a team making their first bowl game appearance in school history after playing South Alabama in the 2014 Camellia Bowl. The Eagles enter the matchup at 8-4 overall, having defeated Western Michigan 43-17 earlier this season. GSU also lost to Georgia 23-17 in overtime. Coached by Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern is known for their spread-option offense. The Eagles have scored 40 points in a game seven times and are led by running back Matt Breida, who has rushed for 1,540 yards and 16 touchdowns. In total, GSU has rushed for 4,267 yards and 47 touchdowns, while attempting just 129 passes.

Following Sunday's announcement, ticket information and more regarding the Falcons' trip to play Georgia Southern in Mobile will be available. Stay tuned to BGSUFalcons.com and @BGAthletics on Twitter for all of your @GoDaddyBowl information.

Below is Bowling Green's all-time bowl game history:
1961 – Fresno State 36, Bowling Green 6 – Mercy Bowl (Los Angeles, Calif.)
1982 – Fresno State 29, Bowling Green 28 – California Bowl (Fresno, Calif.)
1985 – Fresno State 51, Bowling Green 7 – California Bowl (Fresno, Calif.)
1991 – Bowling Green 28, Fresno State 21 – California Raisin Bowl (Fresno, Calif.)
1992 – Bowling Green 35, Nevada 34 – Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas, Nev.)
2003 – Bowling Green 28, Northwestern 24 – Motor City Bowl (Detroit, Mich.)
2004 – Bowling Green 52, Memphis 35 – GMAC Bowl (Mobile, Ala.)
2007 – Tulsa 63, Bowling Green 7 – GMAC Bowl (Mobile, Ala.)
2009 – Idaho 43, Bowling Green 42 – Humanitarian Bowl (Boise, Idaho)
2012 – San Jose State 29, Bowling Green 20 – Military Bowl (Washington, D.C.)
2013 – Pittsburgh 30, Bowling Green 27 – Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Detroit, Mich.)
2014 – Bowling Green 33, South Alabama 28 – Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.)

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Jacob Bennett

Ryan Burbrink

Fred Coppet

Joseph Davidson

Gehrig Dieter

Travis Greene

Trenton Greene

Alex Huettel

Matt Johnson

Roger Lewis

Alfonso Mack

Ronnie Moore

Tyler Tate

Austin Valdez

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