Bowling Green State University Athletics
Title IX: A Look Back at Women's Basketball
October 20, 2022 | General, Women's Basketball
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, BGSU athletics is taking a look at the history of women's sports throughout the years. The information in this series was lifted from the book 'Forward Falcons: Women's Sports at Bowling Green State University' written by Janet B. Parks, Ann Bowers, and Adelia Hostetler Muti. Forward Falcons documents and preserves the history of Bowling Green State University women's sports from 1914 through 1982. During these pre-NCAA years, women coached most of the teams, and organizations composed primarily of women set the program standards.
To read the entire book, you can go to: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bgsu_books/3/
This series will also include some of our Heritage Sports and current teams.
Basketball
In the beginning, competition was in the form of intramural and interclass games. By the 1930s and 1940s, women were playing basketball at play days and sports days. In 1947, a BGSU basketball allstar team traveled to neighboring colleges to compete in tournaments. In the early 1950s, the basketball club became one of the largest and most popular athletic clubs on campus.
Dorothy Luedtke, basketball advisor, remembered how she had to study up on strategy before she could coach the team: "I got a bunch of books! And had to read; I didn't know anything about X's and O's; I only knew technique" During the 1960s, BGSU fielded two basketball teams, the "A" (varsity) team and the "B" (junior varsity) team. In March 1965, Coach Luedtke's "A" team, having experienced only one loss in two years, defeated Ohio State University by a score of 33-30 (B-G News, March 2, 1965, p. 3). The following year, Pat Peterson began her five-year stint as head basketball coach.
In the late 1960's, a student came up with the idea of using "Ladybirds" as a moniker for the women's teams. The name took hold and for several years, the basketball team and some other women's sport teams were called the "Ladybirds." Subsequently, the women's teams adopted the official school nickname, "Falcons" and, of course, are known as Falcons today. Although members of the media have occasionally referred to BGSU women's teams as the "Lady Falcons," BGSU has never officially used that nickname.
In 1971, Coach Peterson became head coach of the varsity volleyball team, and Sue Hager moved into position as head basketball coach. During Hager's tenure as coach, her players invented Frieda Falcon, who performed at their home games. The backstory is that the first female mascot had appeared on the scene in 1966. She was named "Mrs. Freddie Falcon" and was portrayed by a male cheerleader. Contrary to a common misconception, however, "Mrs. Freddie Falcon" did not become "Frieda Falcon." According to basketball player Judy Brause. It is important to note that Frieda was neither Freddie's "little sister" or his "sidekick." In her original incarnation, she was an independent woman! In 1980, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics officially adopted Frieda, who was portrayed by Sue Sheard during the 1980-81 academic year.
By 1976, Hager's team had amassed a record of 55-20 and had placed second in three of the five OAISW basketball tournaments that had been conducted. She left coaching to continue her career as a physical education instructor and intramural director. The women's and men's athletics programs merged that year, and Hager assumed the title of acting associate athletic director, coordinating the women's and men's non-revenue sports.
By 1982, women's basketball had been incorporated into the Mid-American Conference, and the BG program had grown from a 19-game season to a 30-game schedule. Chris Tuttle and Melissa Chase became the first and second players, respectively, in the history of BG women's basketball to score over 1,000 points in their careers.
To read the entire book, you can go to: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bgsu_books/3/
This series will also include some of our Heritage Sports and current teams.
Basketball
In the beginning, competition was in the form of intramural and interclass games. By the 1930s and 1940s, women were playing basketball at play days and sports days. In 1947, a BGSU basketball allstar team traveled to neighboring colleges to compete in tournaments. In the early 1950s, the basketball club became one of the largest and most popular athletic clubs on campus.
Dorothy Luedtke, basketball advisor, remembered how she had to study up on strategy before she could coach the team: "I got a bunch of books! And had to read; I didn't know anything about X's and O's; I only knew technique" During the 1960s, BGSU fielded two basketball teams, the "A" (varsity) team and the "B" (junior varsity) team. In March 1965, Coach Luedtke's "A" team, having experienced only one loss in two years, defeated Ohio State University by a score of 33-30 (B-G News, March 2, 1965, p. 3). The following year, Pat Peterson began her five-year stint as head basketball coach.
In the late 1960's, a student came up with the idea of using "Ladybirds" as a moniker for the women's teams. The name took hold and for several years, the basketball team and some other women's sport teams were called the "Ladybirds." Subsequently, the women's teams adopted the official school nickname, "Falcons" and, of course, are known as Falcons today. Although members of the media have occasionally referred to BGSU women's teams as the "Lady Falcons," BGSU has never officially used that nickname.
In 1971, Coach Peterson became head coach of the varsity volleyball team, and Sue Hager moved into position as head basketball coach. During Hager's tenure as coach, her players invented Frieda Falcon, who performed at their home games. The backstory is that the first female mascot had appeared on the scene in 1966. She was named "Mrs. Freddie Falcon" and was portrayed by a male cheerleader. Contrary to a common misconception, however, "Mrs. Freddie Falcon" did not become "Frieda Falcon." According to basketball player Judy Brause. It is important to note that Frieda was neither Freddie's "little sister" or his "sidekick." In her original incarnation, she was an independent woman! In 1980, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics officially adopted Frieda, who was portrayed by Sue Sheard during the 1980-81 academic year.
By 1976, Hager's team had amassed a record of 55-20 and had placed second in three of the five OAISW basketball tournaments that had been conducted. She left coaching to continue her career as a physical education instructor and intramural director. The women's and men's athletics programs merged that year, and Hager assumed the title of acting associate athletic director, coordinating the women's and men's non-revenue sports.
By 1982, women's basketball had been incorporated into the Mid-American Conference, and the BG program had grown from a 19-game season to a 30-game schedule. Chris Tuttle and Melissa Chase became the first and second players, respectively, in the history of BG women's basketball to score over 1,000 points in their careers.
BG MBB : Postgame Interviews 12.22
Monday, December 22
BG WBB : Postgame Interviews 12.20
Sunday, December 21
BG MBB : Postgame Interviews 12.16
Wednesday, December 17
BG WBB : Postgame Interviews 12.16
Tuesday, December 16