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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THE ZIGGYCAST
Todd Walker Interviews Don Nehlen and Phil Villapiano

TURN BACK THE CLOCK SERIES
1919-1929
1930-1939
1940-1949
1950-1959

The 1960s

OVERALL RECORD: 71-23-2 (.750)

Entering the 100th season in program history, the BGSU Football program has totaled 542 wins and 12 MAC championships. From 1960-1969, BGSU totaled 71 wins, a winning percentage of .750, and four MAC championships. No decade has more wins, a higher winning percentage, or more MAC titles. This is also the only decade where the Falcons had a winning record and outscored opponents in each season.

Doyt L. Perry carried his success from the 1950s to the 1960s, finishing 8-1 in 1960 and coming just one game short of winning another national championship. He led the Falcons to another MAC title in 1961, finishing the regular season 8-1 once again. For the first time in school history, BGSU played in a bowl game. The 1961 Mercy Bowl, played in the Los Angeles Coliseum, was organized to raise money for the families of the 16 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo football players who passed away in a plane crash. Although BGSU lost to Fresno State, the Falcons continued to play well throughout the decade.

In 1962 and 1964, Perry and the Falcons won two more MAC titles. In these two seasons, BGSU outscored their opponents 479-178, finishing 16-2-1. The final win of Perry's career win came in the 1964 season finale at Xavier. The Falcons won 35-7, clinching their ninth win of the season and Perry's 77th win as head coach. This was the fifth time in his ten-year career Perry led the Falcons to the MAC title.

Coach Perry became the BGSU Athletic Director immediately after retiring and promoted Bob Gibson to head coach. Gibson led the Falcons to a MAC title in 1965, finishing 7-2. After a pair of six-win seasons in 1966 and 1967, Gibson was replaced by Don Nehlen. The former All-Ohio and All-MAC BGSU quarterback led the team to another pair of six-win seasons, capping the winningest decade in school history.

The 1960s were filled with team accomplishments, but there were also several personal accolades collected. Defensive back Mike Weger was named third team AP All-American in 1965 and he was selected to play in the Blue-Gray Classic. Six players were selected Academic All-MAC, including defensive back Lawrence Kelly. Kelly was the first Academic All-American in BGSU history, earning third team honors in 1969. Seven players earned All-Ohio honors in 1960, including Bernie Casey and Jerry Colaner. Casey was selected a College All-Star and played in the East-West Shrine Classic. Colaner was selected to play in the 1960 All-American Bowl.

An astounding 25 players earned first team All-MAC honors in the 1960s, with eight players earning the honor more than once. End Jamie Rivers and center Heath Wingate were the first Falcons to earn first team honors three times. Joe Green, the 1969 MAC Lineman of the Year, earned first team honors twice and second team honors once. Behind strong players and legendary coaches, the Bowling Green football team dominated throughout the 1960s.

LONGEST WIN STREAK
In what would be his final season as head coach, Doyt L. Perry led the 1964 team to BGSU's fifth MAC title in nine seasons. The Falcons won eight consecutive games to start the season on their way to a 9-1 finish. This tied the program's single-season wins record and capped a historic career for Coach Perry. During the eight-game streak, the Orange and Brown outscored opponents 240-59.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCE
BGSU traveled to Temple for the 1966 season finale, looking for their 12th consecutive season with six or more wins. Running back Chuck Radich carried the ball 16 times for a career-high 108 yards, scoring on four of those touches. Those touchdowns helped the Falcons fly past the Owls 62-20, securing their sixth win of the season.

NOTABLE COACH
After the 1964 season, Doyt L. Perry chose to retire from coaching and take a position as the BGSU Athletic Director. One of his first moves was to promote offensive line coach Bob Gibson to head coach. Gibson had large shoes to fill, but he wasted no time in finding success. In his first season, Gibson led the Falcons to a MAC title, their second consecutive and fourth in five years. He won 12 games the next two seasons before being replaced by former BGSU quarterback Don Nehlen. Among BGSU coaches who have coached more than 20 games, Gibson ranks third in winning percentage. His career record of 19-9 gives him a winning percentage of .679, just behind Urban Meyer and his predecessor, Doyt L. Perry.

A former Youngstown State quarterback, Gibson's coaching career started in the 1950s at East Liverpool High School. In 1956, he was added to the BGSU coaching staff. Gibson spent time coaching professionally after he departed from BGSU. He was an offensive backs coach for the Detroit Lions in 1976 and the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants in 1977 and 1978. Gibson was fired from New York after calling the play that resulted in the infamous "Miracle at the Meadowlands." Rather than running out the final 30 seconds, Gibson called for a handoff to Larry Csonka. The fumbled handoff was recovered and scored by Herm Edwards, giving the Philadelphia Eagles a 19-17 victory.

MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
1961 (8-2 record), 1962 (7-1-1), 1964 (9-1), 1965 (7-2)

BOWL APPEARANCES
1961 Mercy Bowl (lost 36-6 to Fresno State)

NOTABLE PLAYERS
Mike Weger (DB): Defensive back Mike Weger was tabbed team MVP, first team All-MAC and third team All-American after the 1965 season. He followed that campaign with a solid senior season, earning first team All-MAC and team MVP again, while also earning the honor of team captain. Weger was selected to play in the 1966 Senior Bowl and Blue-Gray Classic and he was drafted by Detroit in 1967. Weger was a member of two MAC Champion teams and won 28 games in his career.

Joe Green (MG): Middle guard Joe Green was selected All-MAC three times in his career, earning MAC Lineman of the Year in 1969. Green was a captain and team MVP that season, and the Falcons finished with a winning record for the 15th consecutive season. Green played professionally for the New York Giants from 1970-1974.

Bob Zimpfer (FL): Versatile flanker Bob Zimpfer compiled a school-record 958 punt return yards in three seasons, averaging a school-record 16.5 yards per return in 1967. That season, he led the team in rushing yards, kickoff returns, and punt returns. Finishing his career with 1,412 receiving yards, Zimpfer was a first team All-MAC selection in 1969.

Year	Overall Record	Head Coach	Team Captain(s)	Season Scoring Totals
1960	8-1	Doyt L. Perry	Bernie Casey, Jerry Colaner	Bowling Green 196, Opponents 61
1961	8-2 (MAC Champions, Mercy Bowl participant)	Doyt L. Perry	Ray Kwiatkowski, Larry Smith	Bowling Green 194, Opponents 78
1962	7-1-1 (MAC Champions)	Doyt L. Perry	Robert Fearnside, Gary Sherman	Bowling Green 204, Opponents 91
1963	8-2	Doyt L. Perry	John Doyle, William Violet	Bowling Green 201, Opponents 116
1964	9-1 (MAC Champions)	Doyt L. Perry	Thomas Reicosky, Jerry Ward	Bowling Green 275, Opponents 87
1965	7-2 (MAC Champions)	Bob Gibson	William Earhart, James Violet, Dwight Wallace	Bowling Green 123, Opponents 107
1966	6-3	Bob Gibson	Mike Weger	Bowling Green 187, Opponents 124
1967	6-4	Bob Gibson	Chester Boyer, Dave Seiter	Bowling Green 131, Opponents 130
1968	6-3-1	Don Nehlen	Dennis Zolciak	Bowling Green 267, Opponents 147
1969	6-4	Don Nehlen	Joe Green, Dave Roese	Bowling Green 179, Opponents 146

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Turn Back The Clock: BGSU Football In The 1960s

The 1960s

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Turn Back The Clock: BGSU Football In The 1960s

The 1960s

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