In The Nest: Josh Erlandson is Back for One Final Go-Round with Falcons
Medical Mutual
9/4/2024
Josh Erlandson has been a major contributor to the Falcons' success over the last few years. Last season, he thought his career may have come to an end when he suffered an injury after just five matches. But, for the Dayton native, a shortened season in 2023 meant a chance to return in 2024. He has played all 360 minutes as the Falcons are off to a 3-1-0 start – including a road win over Michigan State – this fall.
Q: When did you start playing soccer, and how did you decide that was the sport you wanted to play?
Erlandson: I have three older brothers. My oldest brother got into it when he was younger, and then my parents got my other two brothers into it. So, I’ve been around the sport since I was two or three years old. I started playing rec soccer when I was young, and just continued to play every year. I also played a couple other sports, basketball and baseball, but I just found the love for soccer and continued on with that.
Q: You played two seasons at Huntington University before coming to BG, and in your first season there, you helped the Foresters to the league tournament title and a trip to the NAIA national tournament. What are some of your favorite memories from your time at Huntington?
Erlandson: Playing with my brother, Jake, was definitely a highlight of my time there. We played together in high school for two years, and knowing I was also going to be playing with him again in college was pretty cool. We won our conference title against the league favorite, so celebrating that title and taking pictures with my brother and the trophy is something that I’ll always remember.
Q: When and how did you first become aware of BGSU men’s soccer, and what made you decide that you wanted to transfer to BG?
Erlandson: Again, a lot of that is because of my brother. Jake transferred to BGSU after my first year at Huntington, and he was a very good player here at BG. I looked at a few other schools, but I think the relationship between Coach Nichols and my brother helped me realize that this is the place I wanted to come. My brother and I are similar types of players who play the same position, so I think BGSU was a natural fit for me.
Q: Your first playing time at BGSU was in a home game against the defending national champions (Marshall), and you were in the starting lineup and played nearly the entire match. When and how did you find out that you would be starting that game, and what were your feelings when you found out?
Erlandson: My brother had gotten a red card in the previous game, at Michigan State, and was going to have to miss the Marshall game. After the win over Michigan State, Coach Nichols talked to me that day, basically saying, ‘Get your mind ready,” so I knew I might play against Marshall, and I started getting myself prepared for that game. It was a lot of fun getting to play against the defending national champs at home. It was frustrating, because we lost (1-0) on a late goal, but it was a good experience to make my debut against such a quality side.
Q: BGSU made it to the Mid-American Conference Tournament that season (the fall of 2021), but lost in the semifinals. But, after it seemed like the season might be over, the Falcons earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. How did it feel to find out that your season would continue?
Erlandson: That was a crazy day. We were thinking that our season was over, and I was thinking that I’d never get a chance to play with my brother again. A couple of us were in the weight room, getting some work done, and we got a message from one of the coaches saying that they had heard we should watch the selection show. That came as a surprise. I was unable to join the team to watch the show, because I had a class, but just knowing that we might get into the tournament after thinking our season was over was very exciting.
Q: And, not only did you get into the tournament, you went to Louisville and picked up a road win, before advancing to play Indiana in the next round.
Erlandson: That was such a great experience. I didn’t get into that Louisville game, but just being a part of getting ready for that game and the experience of winning there was incredible. Then, at Indiana, I did get into the game when we moved my brother up top, and I wound up playing for 30 minutes or so. Just the experience of playing in that game and knowing that the coaches trusted me in that situation was great.
Q: The next season, you moved into the starting lineup and played 1435 of the season’s 1440 total minutes. The only time you came off the field was late in the game in a 6-0 blowout win. When was it like to change roles like that, and play virtually every second of the entire season?
Erlandson: At several levels, I went a few games without starting, including at the high school and the club levels. Even at Huntington, I went the first few games without starting before I moved into the lineup, and then at Bowling Green I went the entire first season before I moved into the lineup. You just know you have to keep working. No spot is guaranteed, so you know you just have to keep going, keep trying and keep preparing yourself in case your chance comes. It was great to move into the lineup that second year and get more experience every game.
Q: You came back for your Covid year last year, and played in the first five games, but then suffered an injury. What were your thoughts at that time?
Erlandson: At the time, I had no thoughts about a sixth year. I knew it was a serious injury, and I was going to be out more than just a few weeks. As the season went on, I was told that I had played in few enough games that I was going to be eligible for a medical redshirt and I could return for another season. Mentally, it’s not fun to know you have to wait that long before you can play again, but I just tried to continue getting healthy while helping the team however I could in practices and games.
Q: Now that you are back playing, do you feel that time on the sidelines last year helped you in any way?
Erlandson: I think so. You see the game in a very different way from the sideline. You can see what the coaches are thinking. Coach Nichols would sometimes have me talk to the guys on the back line, and just to get his view on things was very helpful and improved my game. Also, being out for that length of time made me appreciate every chance I get to play the game. You never know when your last game might come, so play every game like it’s your last game.
Q: You are an exercise science/pre-physical therapy major at BGSU. What are your career goals after college?
Erlandson: I would love to continue playing soccer as long as I can. My brother is playing professionally right now, and I look at him and see that goal is attainable with hard work. I would like to go to graduate school and become a PT, and eventually would like to become a personal trainer, and help people improve fitness-wise and strength-wise.
Q: Who inspired or encouraged you the most athletically growing up?
Erlandson: When I was young, it was my oldest brother, Daniel. He played at Lipscomb University, and when he was a freshman there, I was in fifth or sixth grade. But I’d say all three of my brothers were an inspiration. You’re always playing with them in the backyard, and then we were on some teams together. Jake, obviously, went on to play in college and is now in the pros. My second-oldest brother, Jared, did not play after high school, but he was definitely a quality player as well.
Q: How would you describe your style of play?
Erlandson: Defensively, I like to be aggressive—winning headers over guys, making plays, showing that dominance. Anticipating things early so I am able to make those plays. With the ball, I generally like to be more calm. Keep the ball on the surface and play simple, moving it quickly, and breaking lines.
Q: Do you have any pre-game superstitions or routines?
Erlandson: The only thing I try to do is talk to my mom and dad before each game. We don’t even really talk about the game that much, we just talk about whatever, and then when I’m done with that I start dialing in and getting ready for the game.
Q: What is your go-to restaurant and/or meal?
Erlandson: My go-to meal would be any Filipino food. Chicken adobo, pancit, lumpia … it wouldn’t be the healthiest, but I could eat that every day. Other than that, just anything with pasta or chicken is great.
Q: Where is your favorite place on campus and why?
Erlandson: There’s a place outside of Anderson Arena with a few benches. It’s nice to sit there and get some reading done, but also enjoy the weather outside and see some people as well.
Q: Who is the funniest player on the team?
Erlandson: A lot of people would say Trace Terry, and a lot of people would say Mads Christensen, and they are both very funny guys, but the guy I’ll go with is Rodrigo (Montez Silva). He’s so quick to make a joke or say something, and it’s easy to miss it, but that guy is funny.
Q: Describe Coach Nichols in one word.
Erlandson: The first word that pops into my head is intense. He wants to win every game, and he wants the team to be the best prepared to win every game. His intensity is a really good thing. He cares about us and he wants the best for us on and off the field.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a part of the BGSU men's soccer program?
Erlandson: A lot of people say this, but the closeness of the team is one of my favorite things about this program. We are a very close-knit group, and we try to do everything together off the field, and I think that translates to on the field as well.
Q: What are your goals, both personally and for the team, this season?
Erlandson: I want to be a leader from my center-back position. I want us to get as many wins and as many shutouts as we can – that’s obviously a main goal of a center-back, to help the team get a shutout. As a team, we want to win the conference title and then go as far as possible. Just like every team, we want to get to the national tournament and go as far as we can.
