A Christmas Day Falcon Insider with Derek van der Merwe: December 25
12/25/2024
A holiday message from Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe as we close out 2024 and head into 2025.
Dear Falcon Family:
I would like to start by wishing you and your family a very Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas from Mobile, Ala. Our Falcon football team, coaches, staff, and I are spending the holidays here preparing to compete in the 68 Ventures Bowl tomorrow night. As you spend time with family and friends today, wherever you are, please know that your team is working hard to proudly represent the Falcon faithful across the country and the world.
One thing we always emphasize during the holidays is “Family.” Our family for the holidays can sometimes consist of teammates, friends, co-workers, or relatives. Since arriving at Bowling Green State University, I have had the unique opportunity to join a very special community of people in Bowling Green and across the country who truly embrace this University and connect with each other as a “Falcon Family.” People often ask me, “What has surprised you most since accepting the job at BGSU?” My answer is always, “This amazing community of people who so passionately care about each other and this University.”
In recent weeks, I have had the opportunity to travel and support our men’s soccer team as it competed in Missouri in the championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference, travel to Arizona to support our women’s volleyball team competing in the championship game of the NIVC tournament, and now to Alabama with our football team going for a big bowl win. What I have enjoyed most is witnessing how much these teams care for and compete for each other. While so much has changed in college sports in recent years, the experience for most of our student-athletes has not. They deeply value what it means to be a BGSU Falcon, take pride in representing this University, and care immensely for one another.
One of the most notable stories of 2024 has been watching the historic season of football student-athlete Harold Fannin Jr. Harold, the first consensus All-American in BGSU history, is only 11 yards away from breaking the all-time NCAA record for receiving yards by a tight end in a season. He chose to stay with his teammates and proudly represent this University during the bowl game. If you have not yet read the ESPN article about his journey at BGSU, I encourage you to click here and read his story.
BGSU is fortunate to have many stories like Harold Fannin Jr.’s. This year, we celebrated volleyball student-athlete Lauren Hovey earning Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-America honors. Men’s soccer student-athlete Kyle Cusimano was named a First-Team All-American and earned Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades, while Trace Terry earned Second-Team All-America honors.
Let us also not forget our baseball program, which won the Mid-American Conference regular-season championship this year after being eliminated during the COVID pandemic before being reinstated. This team of student-athletes fought for their alumni and for each other throughout the entire season.
Why is it important to continue telling these student-athlete stories? Often, when we scroll through our phones and read attention-grabbing headlines, we only hear or see what is wrong. I want to assure you this holiday season that what you love about Bowling Green State University has not changed. Our cumulative grade point average for student-athletes is 3.49, and we continue to successfully graduate student-athletes across all undergraduate and graduate programs. We remain committed to ensuring that sports are part of the educational and learning journey of young people—not defined by what the media emphasizes, such as NIL or the transfer portal. Our President, coaches, and staff are dedicated to building a culture that values people and embraces the academic mission of this proud University.
In 2025, let us continue to be a strong and vibrant community that celebrates the great successes of our students. Let us cheer on Jon Waters as he builds the largest and best marching band in the country. Let us celebrate the enrollment growth of our University. Let us applaud the innovation of BGSU as it continues to add new and relevant academic programs. And let us cheer on our Falcon student-athletes as they compete week in and week out, proudly representing you!
My family and I are blessed to be part of this community. Thank you for giving us the chance to be part of it every day.
Tomorrow night, make sure you wear ORANGE and BROWN as we suit up to play Arkansas State in the 68 Ventures Bowl. And do not forget to sing “Ay Ziggy Zoomba” with your family and friends when we WIN!
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Zoomba
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Ze
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Zoomba
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Ze
Roll along, you BG warriors,
Roll along and win for BGSU!
Ay Ziggy, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Derek van der Merwe
