In recognition of the 100th anniversary of Bowling Green State University Football, the BGSU Department of Athletics will be taking a look back at the history of the program throughout the summer. Bowling Green will officially celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first game in program history when the Falcons host rival Toledo Oct. 12.

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TURN BACK THE CLOCK SERIES
1919-1929

The 1930s

Overall Record: 33-25-19 (.552)

Coach Warren Steller and the Bowling Green football program continued their success in the 1930s, finishing undefeated in 1930. BGSU scored 107 points that season, just the second time they had eclipsed the 100-point threshold. The Falcons maintained that success throughout the decade, with 21 players earning All-Conference honors at least once, including two-time selections Fred Marsh, Lamar Knecht, Edmund Siminski, and Doyt Perry. Perry, who was also selected All-Ohio in 1931, went on to coach the Falcons from 1955-1964, winning an incredible 77 games and finishing with a career winning percentage of .855.

Harry Ockerman was named head coach in 1935, and he struggled initially. The Falcons were held scoreless in each of Ockerman's first six games but rebounded to win the season finale over Hiram by a score of 25-0. Ockerman led the Falcons to a winning season in four of the next five years, including a 6-1-1 record in 1939. BGSU scored 159 points on the year, the second highest total in program history. Seven players were named All-Conference that season and the same seven also earned All-Ohio honors. During Ockerman's tenure, the federal government offered to help fund the construction of a new football stadium. Opening in 1937, the Falcons played their home games at University Stadium for nearly 30 years.

LONGEST WIN STREAK
The 1930 team used the momentum from the previous season to start the season with four consecutive victories. After closing the 1929 season with three straight wins, the Falcons used this hot start to finish 6-0-2 in 1930. This was the second time in school history the team went undefeated. In this stretch, BGSU outscored opponents 107-38, including a 30-7 victory over Albion in the home finale.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCE
Coming off two consecutive ties, the 1930 Falcons hosted Albion in an early November contest. BGSU was still undefeated and they looked to win their fifth game, which would tie a school record. Behind fullback Kenneth Gill, BGSU defeated Albion 30-7. Gill was responsible for three touchdowns, rushing one and throwing two. The Falcons used this momentum to win in Detroit the next weekend, clinching an undefeated season and a school-record six wins.

NOTABLE COACH
Replacing longtime Falcon coach Warren Steller, Harry Ockerman coached BGSU to success in the late 1930s. After winning just one game in his inaugural season, Ockerman led the Falcons to a 16-9-8 record from 1936-1939. In 1939, the Orange and Brown finished 6-1-1, tying the highest win total in school history. Under Ockerman, eight players were named All-Ohio in 1939. In 1941, Ockerman left his position as football coach to become the BGSU athletic director. After spending two years in that position, Ockerman coached for three years at Michigan State Normal College, now known as Eastern Michigan University. Before coaching for Bowling Green, Ockerman was an assistant football coach and head basketball and baseball coach for Michigan State Normal.

NOTABLE PLAYERS
Edmund Siminski (T): Playing tackle for the Falcons, Edmund Siminski earned All-Ohio Conference honors in 1938 and 1939. He was also selected All-Ohio 1^st Team in 1939, as well as BGSU MVP. Siminski was a captain on the 1939 team, leading the Falcons to a 6-1-1 record, their highest win total since 1930. He was also inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 1965.

Ford Murray (QB): Quarterback Ford Murray was selected All-Conference and All-Ohio in 1933. He was named BGSU MVP in 1932, the first Falcon quarterback to earn this award. Murray was inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 2005.

Doyt Perry (QB): One of the most recognizable names in program history, Doyt Perry played quarterback for the Falcons from 1929-1931. In this time, the team won 13 games, including an undefeated 1930 campaign. Perry earned All-Northwest Ohio Conference honors in 1930 and 1931 and was also selected Honorable Mention All-Ohio in 1931. After his playing career, Perry coached the Falcons for 11 years, finishing with an incredible record of 77-11-5. He led BGSU to five MAC titles and a national college division championship and was inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 1971. The former athletic director is also the namesake of the current stadium, and his winning percentage of .855 is fifth all-time in NCAA history.

Year	Overall Record	Head Coach	Team Captain	Season Scoring Totals
1930	6-0-2	Warren E. Steller	Chet Chapman	Bowling Green 107, Opponents 38
1931	3-1-4	Warren E. Steller	Cliff Stevenson	Bowling Green 31, Opponents 21
1932	3-3-1	Warren E. Steller	Willard Schaller	Bowling Green 33, Opponents 77
1933	2-3-2	Warren E. Steller	Henry Fearnside	Bowling Green 44, Opponents 91
1934	2-3-2	Warren E. Steller	Robert Lewis	Bowling Green 36, Opponents 54
1935	1-6	Harry Ockerman	Jim Greetham	Bowling Green 25, Opponents 246
1936	4-2-3	Harry Ockerman	James Inman	Bowling Green 66, Opponents 60
1937	3-4-1	Harry Ockerman	John Cheetwood	Bowling Green 56, Opponents 80
1938	3-2-3	Harry Ockerman	Wayne Stewart	Bowling Green 95, Opponents 41
1939	6-1-1	Harry Ockerman	Edmund Siminski	Bowling Green 159, Opponents 46

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Turn Back The Clock: BGSU Football In The 1930s

The 1930s

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Bowling Green State University Athletics

Turn Back The Clock: BGSU Football In The 1930s

The 1930s

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