Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, September 3
Pasadena, Calif.
2:30 PM
Bowling Green State University
at
UCLA
Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics
Falcons Open the 104th Season of BGSU Football on Saturday at the Rose Bowl Against UCLA
August 29, 2022 | Football
BGSU Opens 104th Season of Football
• Bowling Green State University opens its 104th season of football at UCLA on Saturday.
• The Falcons open a season against a Pac-12 opponent for the first time since heading to Eugene to open the 2018 season against the Oregon Ducks.
Bowling Green vs. UCLA
• Saturday is the first meeting between Bowling Green and UCLA in football.
• Saturday marks the first time UCLA will host a MAC school.
• BGSU is only the second MAC school UCLA will have played. UCLA's only previous game against a MAC school was when Temple was in the league. They met in the 2009 EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C.Â
Five Top Storylines
• Bowling Green is the only MAC school to ever play at the Rose Bowl. Bowling Green, the fifth-winningest program from the 1960s behind Alabama, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, faced Cal State Los Angeles at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 25, 1967, in front of 2,464 fans. BGSU won, the game 42-27. It was the final game of Bob Gibson's head coaching career at BGSU. Gibson, a long-time assistant coach of Doyt Perry, replaced the hall of fame coach upon retirement in 1965.
• Since the start of the FBS era in 1978, Saturday marks the first time a MAC school will play a game at the Rose Bowl.
• Bowling Green is playing on a grass surface for only the second time in the Scot Loeffler era BGSU also played on grass in the 2021 season opener at Tennessee's Neyland Stadium. Saturday marks just the third time over 51 games that Bowling Green will play on a grass surface.
• Preseason All-American Darren Anders was No. 8 in the nation in 2021 with 10.33 tackles per game. He is one of three players in all of FBS over the past two seasons to rank in the Top-15 nationally in tackles and the only one who returns to the college football ranks in 2022.Â
• BGSU quarterback Matt McDonald hails from Newport Beach, Calif., and will become the fourth McDonald in his family to play a game at the Rose Bowl. He joins his father, Paul (USC) and his brothers, Michael (USC) and Andrew (New Mexico State).Â
The Hollywood Connection - BGSU Edition
• In the spirit of playing in Southern California, Bowling Green has a few connections to Hollywood.
• The late actor Bernie Casey was an All-American (1960) for the Falcons and was a member of BGSU's 1959 National Championship team (small college). Casey was a first-round selection (ninth overall) in the 1961 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He enjoyed an eight-year NFL career with the 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. Afterward he enjoyed an acting career that spanned five decades and included films like Revenge of the Nerds, Under Siege, Brian's Song, Another 48 Hours and Never Say Never Again.
• In the movie "That Thing You Do," there is Villapiano's, the "spaghetti place out by the airport," which was named after former Bowling Green great Phil Villapiano. Tom Hanks, who grew up during his formative years in Oakland, was a fan of the Raiders and Phil Villapiano, who he used to call "Phil Villa-The Playah-piano." Hanks wrote, directed, and appeared in "That Thing You Do."
The McDonald Rose Bowl ConnectionÂ
• Bowling Green quarterback, Matt McDonald, is the son of former USC quarterback Paul McDonald. Matt will become the fourth McDonald in his family to play inside the Rose Bowl.
• While Matt hails from Newport Beach, Calif., Saturday marks his first career game at the Rose Bowl.
• His dad, Paul, played three games inside the historic edifice, all of which were Trojan wins in the Rose Bowl game. Paul was 2-0 as a starter, including leading USC to the 1978 national championship. Paul never played UCLA at the Rose Bowl since UCLA also played home games at the Coliseum until 1982.
• Paul was part of three Rose Bowl wins (1976, 1978, 1979) with the Trojans.
• Matt's older brother Michael was a USC quarterback from 2003-07 and was on the Trojan roster for five trips to the Rose Bowl, including three Rose Bowl games.
• Matt's other older brother, Andrew, was the starting quarterback for New Mexico State when the Aggies came to UCLA and the Rose Bowl in 2013.
More on that Villapiano Guy
• BGSU alum Phil Villapiano was a key member of the Oakland Raiders' Super Bowl XI championship that was played at the Rose Bowl.
• His momentum changing goal-line tackle against the Vikings forced a fumble that was recovered by the Raiders' Willie Hall, helping the Raiders to victory.
BGSU's California ConnectionÂ
• Bowling Green has a few California connections on its roster. In addition to Matt McDonald is wide receiver Austin Osborne, who was the primary receiving target in high school for McDonald at Mission Viejo High School in California. The PrepStart All-American caught 36 passes for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior during McDonald's senior season at Mission Viejo.
• McDonald started his high school career at Mater Dei where he won the starting job over JT Daniels. After an injury knocked McDonald out of the lineup, Daniels kept the starting job. McDonald then moved on to Mission Viejo HS.
• OLB Bryce Brand claims Detroit as his hometown, but as a kid his parents moved to Concord, Calif., where he played at Clayton Valley Charter.
• DL Kitione Tau also hails from Concord, Calif. He played at Clayton Valley Charter with Brand before moving on to Pittsburg High School. Tau comes to BGSU via Laney CC and was a true freshman for the Eagles when the school was featured on the fifth season of Netflix'sÂ
Last Chance U.
• CB Davon Ferguson made his collegiate debut for Hartnell College in Salinas, Calif., making 55 tackles and two interceptions in 2017 before heading to Kansas for 2018-20.Â
The Rose Bowl is No New Venue for These Falcons
• Despite no MAC team every playing at UCLA and only the 1967 Falcon team being the only other MAC squad to play a game at the Rose Bowl, the historic edifice is not a stranger to many within the Bowling Green program. Here are some connections to the historic sadium, the "Granddaddy of them All" and the BGSU program:
• Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler is a 1998 graduate of Michigan and was on Lloyd Carr's Michigan staff for the 1998, 2004, 2005 and 2007 Rose Bowls. He was a student assistant on Michigan's 1997 National Championship team that beat Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl. He was UM's quarterbacks coach for the 2004, 2005 and 2007 Rose Bowls.
• BGSU associate head coach and inside linebackers coach Steve Morrison is a 1994 Michigan alum. He played in the 1992 and 1993 Rose Bowl games for Michigan. He later was an assistant coach for Michigan and was on staff for the 2003 and 2005 Rose Bowls.
• BGSU passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Erik Campbell is a 1988 graduate of Michigan. He played in the 1987 Rose Bowl and coached in four more: 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007 as Michigan's wide receiver coach and assistant head coach.
• BGSU running backs coach Brian White has coached in two Rose Bowls as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Wisconsin (1999 & 2000).Â
• Fresno native and outside linebackers coach Sammy Lawanson was Arizona State's staff from 2012-13, which included the Sun Devils' 2013 regular season trip to the Rose Bowl to face UCLA.
• BGSU center Jakari Robinson was part of the 2018 Cincinnati team that opened the 2018 season at UCLA.
• BGSU wide receiver and Rancho Santa Margarita native Austin Osborne was part of Washington's squad that faced Ohio State in the 2019 Rose Bowl.
• Football strength & conditioning coach Kevin Tolbert, who played football at Navy for hall of fame coach George Welsh, was also at Michigan as an assistant strength coach for the Wolverines during Carr's tenue. He was part of Michigan's 2004, 2005 and 2007 Rose Bowl teams. He was also on staff at Stanford when the Cardinal came to UCLA and the Rose Bowl in 2010.
Â
• Bowling Green State University opens its 104th season of football at UCLA on Saturday.
• The Falcons open a season against a Pac-12 opponent for the first time since heading to Eugene to open the 2018 season against the Oregon Ducks.
Bowling Green vs. UCLA
• Saturday is the first meeting between Bowling Green and UCLA in football.
• Saturday marks the first time UCLA will host a MAC school.
• BGSU is only the second MAC school UCLA will have played. UCLA's only previous game against a MAC school was when Temple was in the league. They met in the 2009 EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C.Â
Five Top Storylines
• Bowling Green is the only MAC school to ever play at the Rose Bowl. Bowling Green, the fifth-winningest program from the 1960s behind Alabama, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, faced Cal State Los Angeles at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 25, 1967, in front of 2,464 fans. BGSU won, the game 42-27. It was the final game of Bob Gibson's head coaching career at BGSU. Gibson, a long-time assistant coach of Doyt Perry, replaced the hall of fame coach upon retirement in 1965.
• Since the start of the FBS era in 1978, Saturday marks the first time a MAC school will play a game at the Rose Bowl.
• Bowling Green is playing on a grass surface for only the second time in the Scot Loeffler era BGSU also played on grass in the 2021 season opener at Tennessee's Neyland Stadium. Saturday marks just the third time over 51 games that Bowling Green will play on a grass surface.
• Preseason All-American Darren Anders was No. 8 in the nation in 2021 with 10.33 tackles per game. He is one of three players in all of FBS over the past two seasons to rank in the Top-15 nationally in tackles and the only one who returns to the college football ranks in 2022.Â
• BGSU quarterback Matt McDonald hails from Newport Beach, Calif., and will become the fourth McDonald in his family to play a game at the Rose Bowl. He joins his father, Paul (USC) and his brothers, Michael (USC) and Andrew (New Mexico State).Â
The Hollywood Connection - BGSU Edition
• In the spirit of playing in Southern California, Bowling Green has a few connections to Hollywood.
• The late actor Bernie Casey was an All-American (1960) for the Falcons and was a member of BGSU's 1959 National Championship team (small college). Casey was a first-round selection (ninth overall) in the 1961 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He enjoyed an eight-year NFL career with the 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. Afterward he enjoyed an acting career that spanned five decades and included films like Revenge of the Nerds, Under Siege, Brian's Song, Another 48 Hours and Never Say Never Again.
• In the movie "That Thing You Do," there is Villapiano's, the "spaghetti place out by the airport," which was named after former Bowling Green great Phil Villapiano. Tom Hanks, who grew up during his formative years in Oakland, was a fan of the Raiders and Phil Villapiano, who he used to call "Phil Villa-The Playah-piano." Hanks wrote, directed, and appeared in "That Thing You Do."
The McDonald Rose Bowl ConnectionÂ
• Bowling Green quarterback, Matt McDonald, is the son of former USC quarterback Paul McDonald. Matt will become the fourth McDonald in his family to play inside the Rose Bowl.
• While Matt hails from Newport Beach, Calif., Saturday marks his first career game at the Rose Bowl.
• His dad, Paul, played three games inside the historic edifice, all of which were Trojan wins in the Rose Bowl game. Paul was 2-0 as a starter, including leading USC to the 1978 national championship. Paul never played UCLA at the Rose Bowl since UCLA also played home games at the Coliseum until 1982.
• Paul was part of three Rose Bowl wins (1976, 1978, 1979) with the Trojans.
• Matt's older brother Michael was a USC quarterback from 2003-07 and was on the Trojan roster for five trips to the Rose Bowl, including three Rose Bowl games.
• Matt's other older brother, Andrew, was the starting quarterback for New Mexico State when the Aggies came to UCLA and the Rose Bowl in 2013.
More on that Villapiano Guy
• BGSU alum Phil Villapiano was a key member of the Oakland Raiders' Super Bowl XI championship that was played at the Rose Bowl.
• His momentum changing goal-line tackle against the Vikings forced a fumble that was recovered by the Raiders' Willie Hall, helping the Raiders to victory.
BGSU's California ConnectionÂ
• Bowling Green has a few California connections on its roster. In addition to Matt McDonald is wide receiver Austin Osborne, who was the primary receiving target in high school for McDonald at Mission Viejo High School in California. The PrepStart All-American caught 36 passes for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior during McDonald's senior season at Mission Viejo.
• McDonald started his high school career at Mater Dei where he won the starting job over JT Daniels. After an injury knocked McDonald out of the lineup, Daniels kept the starting job. McDonald then moved on to Mission Viejo HS.
• OLB Bryce Brand claims Detroit as his hometown, but as a kid his parents moved to Concord, Calif., where he played at Clayton Valley Charter.
• DL Kitione Tau also hails from Concord, Calif. He played at Clayton Valley Charter with Brand before moving on to Pittsburg High School. Tau comes to BGSU via Laney CC and was a true freshman for the Eagles when the school was featured on the fifth season of Netflix'sÂ
Last Chance U.
• CB Davon Ferguson made his collegiate debut for Hartnell College in Salinas, Calif., making 55 tackles and two interceptions in 2017 before heading to Kansas for 2018-20.Â
The Rose Bowl is No New Venue for These Falcons
• Despite no MAC team every playing at UCLA and only the 1967 Falcon team being the only other MAC squad to play a game at the Rose Bowl, the historic edifice is not a stranger to many within the Bowling Green program. Here are some connections to the historic sadium, the "Granddaddy of them All" and the BGSU program:
• Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler is a 1998 graduate of Michigan and was on Lloyd Carr's Michigan staff for the 1998, 2004, 2005 and 2007 Rose Bowls. He was a student assistant on Michigan's 1997 National Championship team that beat Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl. He was UM's quarterbacks coach for the 2004, 2005 and 2007 Rose Bowls.
• BGSU associate head coach and inside linebackers coach Steve Morrison is a 1994 Michigan alum. He played in the 1992 and 1993 Rose Bowl games for Michigan. He later was an assistant coach for Michigan and was on staff for the 2003 and 2005 Rose Bowls.
• BGSU passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Erik Campbell is a 1988 graduate of Michigan. He played in the 1987 Rose Bowl and coached in four more: 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007 as Michigan's wide receiver coach and assistant head coach.
• BGSU running backs coach Brian White has coached in two Rose Bowls as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Wisconsin (1999 & 2000).Â
• Fresno native and outside linebackers coach Sammy Lawanson was Arizona State's staff from 2012-13, which included the Sun Devils' 2013 regular season trip to the Rose Bowl to face UCLA.
• BGSU center Jakari Robinson was part of the 2018 Cincinnati team that opened the 2018 season at UCLA.
• BGSU wide receiver and Rancho Santa Margarita native Austin Osborne was part of Washington's squad that faced Ohio State in the 2019 Rose Bowl.
• Football strength & conditioning coach Kevin Tolbert, who played football at Navy for hall of fame coach George Welsh, was also at Michigan as an assistant strength coach for the Wolverines during Carr's tenue. He was part of Michigan's 2004, 2005 and 2007 Rose Bowl teams. He was also on staff at Stanford when the Cardinal came to UCLA and the Rose Bowl in 2010.
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Players Mentioned
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