Falcon Insider with Derek van der Merwe: September 4
9/4/2025
Important news happening in and around Bowling Green Athletics compiled by Vice President for Athletics Strategy and Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe. This Falcon Insider shares upcoming dates to remember and news to be aware of in regards to Bowling Green State University Athletics.
Dear Falcon Family,
We have officially started the 2025–26 academic year and the energy across our campus and athletic programs is undeniable. As we start this year and look across our department, I am genuinely excited for the coaches and student-athletes who are eager to battle for the orange and brown this season. We believe excellence is achievable when we are all pushing forward and expecting success. Our teams are ready! Our student-athletes demand excellence!
Last week, we announced that for the fifth time in program history, Bowling Green State University has been named the winner of the Mid-American Conference Institutional Academic Achievement Award. The award is presented annually to the MAC institution that achieves the highest overall GPA for student-athletes. This is the first time since 2010 that BGSU has earned this award. The Falcons, as a department, recorded a 3.51 GPA.
In addition, we were also named the winner of the 2024–25 Mid-American Conference Women’s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) Academic Achievement Award. This marks the 12th time in program history that the Falcons have won this prestigious annual award. The FAR Awards are designed to recognize the conference institution with the highest overall combination of both grade point average (GPA) and Academic Progress Rate (APR) rank by gender. The GPA was based on the 2024–25 academic year, which the women‘s teams notched a 3.744 GPA for the year.
A great point of pride for BGSU is that we truly value the student experience and the academic journey that leads them to success in life and fulfilling careers. Once our student-athletes step off the field, court, ice, or out of the pool, this program ensures that our academic mission is the priority each and every day.
Last week, BGSU welcomed the largest and most academically prepared freshman class in the history of the university, with back-to-back years of record enrollment. This year’s freshman class includes over 4,000 students and posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 and an average ACT of 25. This continued growth, success, and momentum of the university is our greatest asset in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.
On Thursday, Aug. 28, we officially began a new era in Bowling Green Football as Eddie George ran onto the field for the first time as our head coach. That day was a special kickoff to the 2025–26 season. And the march to victory started quickly with Cameron Pettaway’s 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the first touch of his career — a feat that marked the second-straight year the Falcons scored on the season’s opening kickoff, the first such occurrence in FBS history. Around 5,000 students attended the game and celebrated with the football team and our Falcon Marching Band, which now has over 475 members—one of the largest marching bands in the country!
While we are talking about our favorite marching band, it was also announced that following a highly competitive selection process, the band was chosen to perform in the 2027 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. Momentum continues to push every aspect of this program forward, and we strive and celebrate as a campus community to ensure we achieve excellence in everything we do.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Mike and Jan Wilcox, Eddie George’s role now carries the official title of Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach—a transformational endowment that reflects a bold vision for the future of our program. This gift, the first of its kind in the MAC, reinforces the importance of championship leadership and long-term investment in Falcon Football. Mike and Jan Wilcox are philanthropic leaders who are helping to push the momentum in transformative giving to the department.
BGSU Athletics raised more than $2.7 million in annual giving dollars in the fiscal year that closed on June 30, 2025, between the Falcon Club and all individual sport enhancement funds. This represents a school-record for Athletics annual giving, buoyed by the largest number of donors to Athletics in school history. The 2,345 households contributing an annual gift to BGSU Athletics in the last fiscal year represents a nearly 15 percent increase from the previous year and a full 215% increase from just five years ago!
These gains in annual giving supplement major capital gifts from Rod & Suzanne Rupp (Baseball), Al & Mary Green, Steve & Misty Green and Mark & Michelle Remeis (Hockey) and Paul & Margo Hooker (Baseball), which added up to one of the top fundraising years in Athletics history.
Around the football program, we have seen historical growth in our ticket sales. Since February, we added over 700 new season tickets and increased season ticket revenue by 40 percent. We’ve seen significant interest in our premium seating areas, selling out of our Stadium Suites, Box Suites, Wood County Hospital Stadium Club, and Wilcox Board Room spaces before the season started. The home opener against Lafayette matched the hype, as we saw our largest crowd, 19,328, enter the Doyt for our largest attended home opener in the past 10 years.
At our first football game, we celebrated one of the great legacies in the history of the sport as Urban Meyer was honored in the first half as part of the National Football Foundation’s Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute. Urban will be officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this December, and it is only fitting that we recognize his journey — one that began right here at Bowling Green — with the entire Falcon Family.
Having Urban Meyer back on campus gave us the opportunity to host an extraordinary panel discussion titled “The Significance of College Football in America.” Urban was joined by longtime Ohio State head coach John Cooper; Lieutenant General Richard Clark, the Executive Director of the College Football Playoff; five-time national champion Jim Tressel, now serving as Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor; and current Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher.
The conversation was moderated by longtime broadcaster Jerry Anderson and proved to be a powerful look at how football shapes communities, campuses, and culture in this country. With so many deeply connected to Bowling Green, this panel was a moment of pride and reflection for our University and the more than 600 fans, students, and guests in attendance.
It has been a strong start across BGSU Athletics this fall. Women’s golf captured the team title at the A-Ga-Ming Invitational, highlighted by sophomore Addison Kartusch setting program and tournament records with a 205 (-11) over 54 holes. Volleyball also opened its season on a high note, earning the program’s first win over Saint Mary’s while Lauryn Hovey moved into third all-time in career aces and seventh in career kills during the Rally Scoring Era. On the pitch, men’s soccer standout Trace Terry earned Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after a two-goal performance at Wright State, just one week after goalkeeper Enzo Gil collected the league’s defensive award. Women’s soccer has matched that momentum with a 3-1-1 start, the program’s best since 2021, behind standout performances from Ellie Pool and MAC-leading goalkeeper Payton O’Malley.
This summer, we had the privilege of connecting with Falcons across the country through incredible donor events in New York City, Nashville, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. The turnout, the stories, the energy — it’s all a reminder of how far and wide the BGSU impact extends. These touchpoints are critical as we continue to build a national identity rooted in pride and purpose.
We are also pleased to welcome two exceptional new leaders to our executive team. Angie Hull joins us as Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator after serving at the University of Delaware. Angie brings nearly two decades of experience in the MAC, including a long tenure at Kent State. David Cutri has been named our Senior Associate AD for Financial Strategy. A respected leader with extensive experience in higher education finance, risk management, and compliance, David will provide vital guidance as we navigate a complex and ever-changing landscape.
As we celebrate the future, we’re also honoring the past. This October, we will induct one of the most distinguished Hall of Fame classes in the history of BGSU Athletics. The 2025 class includes Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, record-setting quarterback Omar Jacobs, longtime college basketball head coach Greg Kampe, and the dominant men’s cross country teams from 1969–72. We are especially proud to introduce our first group of Legacy inductees — trailblazers from the pre-Title IX and AIAW era — including Leanne Grotke Andreas, Sue Hager, Betsy Miller Ryan, Carole Huston, and the “First Five”: All-Americans Betsy Fisher, Barb McKee, Valerie Newell, Gail Sailer, and Becky Siesky. We look forward to honoring them during Homecoming weekend, with the formal induction set for Friday, Oct. 10, and recognition at the football game on Oct. 11 vs. Toledo.
Homecoming will also feature our 2025 Decades Celebration, taking place September 11–14. We’re inviting all alumni and friends — especially those who were on campus during key milestone years like 2015, 2005, 1995, 1985, 1975, and 1965 — to join us for a weekend of reconnection and remembrance. The Decades Party on Friday night and the All-Alumni Celebration on Saturday will bring our history to life in unforgettable ways, capped off by our 5 p.m. game against Liberty at The Doyt.
There is no mistaking it — momentum is building in Bowling Green. Football season ticket sales are surging, we’re welcoming new leadership, we’re connecting with fans and supporters across the country, and we’re leaning into the full potential of what it means to be a Falcon.
So, I’ll ask what we’ve been saying all summer long —
Who’s got it better than us?
Nobody.
Ay Ziggy,
Derek van der Merwe
Vice President for Athletics Strategy
Bowling Green State University
???????????????????? in the arena and in the classroom. BGSU earns the coveted ?????? ?????????????????????????? ???????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? for the highest overall GPA in 2024-25.#AyZiggy ????
— BGSU Athletics (@BGSU_Athletics) August 25, 2025
?? » https://t.co/x25nRjzX77 pic.twitter.com/WVvI9txUES
BGSU Wins MAC Women's FAR Award for League-Record 12th Time!!!
— BGSU Athletics (@BGSU_Athletics) August 27, 2025
??????????????#AyZiggy ????
?? » https://t.co/d76IM1NfHN pic.twitter.com/VybdnyHHzv
The Falcons fired 289-285-299 to win the A-Ga-Ming Invitational as a team!!
— BGSU Women's Golf (@BGSUWGolf) September 1, 2025
Addison Kartusch fired 71-65-69 (-11) to win the A-Ga-Ming Invitational as an individual!!
Let’s. Go. Falcons!!#AyZiggy #FlyWithUs?????? pic.twitter.com/6lRduVjinC
BGSU leading off the @SportsCenter's two-minute drill with @PettawayCameron KR for a TD to start the Eddie George Era!#GUTS x #AyZiggy ???? pic.twitter.com/Nnk6wAOSSV
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) August 30, 2025
Did you get your morning dose of Pudge?! ??@georgecarlsonLS, @Finneas05, and Pudge joined @DannyNewTV on ABC's Good Morning First Look ??
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) August 27, 2025
(??: ABC) pic.twitter.com/1HvuHaTGhi
A very special night at the Doyt????? We were proud to welcome @CoachUrbanMeyer back to where it all began and honor his coaching career with a National Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) College Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute. #AyZiggy
— Bowling Green State University (@bgsu) August 29, 2025
"Bowling Green is where I started my head… pic.twitter.com/qKdCVewc1X
Only at Bowling Green ?? the #1 public university in Ohio for student experiences, where students get to ask questions and learn from some of the biggest names in college football on game day. ???? #AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/JYswShD1kM
— Bowling Green State University (@bgsu) August 28, 2025
?? FALCON FOUR ?? @BGSUVolleyball's Isabelle Laube shares her Falcon Four favorite vacation destinations ??? ??? ?? ??? pic.twitter.com/kBDiCHvESp
— Falcon Media Sports Network (@BG_FMSN) August 28, 2025
Mark your calendars ??
— BGSU Women’s Basketball (@BGSUWBB) September 3, 2025
Our Tipoff Dinner is set for October 9th with special guest, Dawn Staley.
You won’t want to miss this one. ???? #AyZiggy | #EarnIt pic.twitter.com/SyZcmct5NZ
MADE SURE FOLKS KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT @BG_Football STARTING THE SEASON 1-0!! ??????
— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) September 1, 2025
Let's gooo Falcons!! @EddieGeorge2727 era underway, y'all!! Falcon 4 life!! Let em knowww!! ?? #RollAlong #RingSzn @vandermerwe63 @VincentBriedis @BGSU_Athletics @BGSUWBB pic.twitter.com/EGq5uoiFNs
How we we differentiate @bgsu! We lean back into making sure we prepare our student-athletes for life! @BGSU_Athletics https://t.co/M29fFV1rHQ
— Derek van der Merwe (@vandermerwe63) August 29, 2025
After a highly competitive selection process, we are so pleased and excited to announce that the Bowling Green State University Falcon Marching Band will be marching and performing in the 2027 @RoseParade in Pasadena, California! Congratulations, @BGSUFMB10! ???? #AlwaysBG pic.twitter.com/LbpgvQNyRx
— Bowling Green State University (@bgsu) August 24, 2025
Yeah.. we are in athletics! The kick off meeting for student-athletes to start the 2026 academic year has to end with a competition! We never stop competing! Begins today! @bgsu @BGSU_Athletics #championships pic.twitter.com/Gx8ols7nQw
— Derek van der Merwe (@vandermerwe63) August 24, 2025
Rally BG always a good time!! @BGSUMBB & @BGSUWBB out in full force.@BGSUFMB10 was off the charts. Can’t wait to see them cover the football field with their record numbers this week!! pic.twitter.com/RbjJt6nGv7
— Todd Simon (@CoachTsimon) August 23, 2025
2025 Rally BG ready! ????#AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/M54r2G9s2j
— BGSU Gymnastics (@BGSUGymnastics) August 23, 2025
How did you start your morning? I started it by spending time with the absolute best and most inspiring marching band in America! ??????@BGSUFMB10 @bgsu @BGSU_Athletics Sorry you can’t match that! pic.twitter.com/Nx5ff2H1i2
— Derek van der Merwe (@vandermerwe63) August 23, 2025
Latest in Bowling Green-Toledo rivalry: Falcons have put up this @EddieGeorge2727 billboard near Toledo's campus to counter Toledo's decommissioned missile outside the Glass Bowl aimed directly at BG's Doyt Perry Stadium via ?@DBriggsBlade? pic.twitter.com/LVIafYFk8k
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 21, 2025
BGSU Move-In is one of my favorite weeks of the year! Welcome back, Falcons! pic.twitter.com/OpOoQeyZ52
— Rodney K. Rogers (@Pres_Rogers) August 21, 2025
.@fannin_jr bringing back the 44 from his @BG_Football days ?? pic.twitter.com/qg5L0Wc8BV
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 3, 2025
The great Ali gets his first @CFL sack ??@BG_Football | @AliSaad20026 pic.twitter.com/cqsDAsEugn
— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) September 2, 2025
The Lou Groza Award, presented by the @OrangeBowl, highlights the top kicking performances each week.
— Lou Groza Award (@LouGrozaAward) September 3, 2025
Here are the Week 1? Stars of the Week:
??@KleatherJackson, @BG_Football
??@kan08sei, @HawaiiFootball
??@SeanOHaire4, @TerpsFootball
??https://t.co/zMIqqbG4kn pic.twitter.com/Nz6pSoiyd6
?? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????? ??@KleatherJackson has been named MAC Special Teams Player of the Week!!!
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) September 1, 2025
?? 4-of-4 on FGs
?? 14 total points
?? 56-yard FG (T2nd longest in program history)#GUTS x #AyZiggy ????
?? » https://t.co/EJbhtjmX0W pic.twitter.com/3LFM4SpTz1
Info to Remember
September 9 – Early Bird deadline to purchase men’s and women’s basketball tickets. Click here to order.
September 12 – M/W Cross Country Hosts Mel Brodt Collegiate Open
September 13 – Football vs. Liberty at 5
September 17 – Volleyball home opener (6 p.m. vs. Oakland)
September 24 – Hockey Season Ticket holder event. Season ticket holders will receive an invite via email from the BGSU Ticket Office
October 4 – Men's and Women’s Basketball Season Ticket Holder Event. Season ticket holders will receive an invite via email from the BGSU Ticket Office
Leading project donor Paul Hooker and 1981 BGSU Baseball Alum Dave Litzenberg joined Coach Hallock for an up-close look at the transformational construction happening at Steller Field! Big things happening at the corner of Stadium and Mercer!#AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/e2wl8UsioO
— BGSU Baseball (@BGSU_Baseball) August 29, 2025
.@BGSU_WSoccer Captain Taylor Green joins @vandermerwe63 for 60 seconds with the Falcons pic.twitter.com/RDIN052EDK
— BGSU Athletics (@BGSU_Athletics) August 29, 2025
Work is nearly complete with the synthetic turf installation phase at @bgsu?? The Student Green (Band & Intramural Field) — new home for @BGSUFMB10, intramurals, @BGSURecWell & @BGSU_Athletics.
— Maumee Bay Turf (@maumeebayturf) August 31, 2025
Proud to partner with The Spieker Co. & The Collaborative Inc., installing… pic.twitter.com/HC94l64788
How we we differentiate @bgsu! We lean back into making sure we prepare our student-athletes for life! @BGSU_Athletics https://t.co/M29fFV1rHQ
— Derek van der Merwe (@vandermerwe63) August 29, 2025
After a Bowling Green football player suffered an injury at practice, a player brought a cat to the stadium to boost morale.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) August 20, 2025
They named him Pudge, and he now has his own jersey and locker.
(?? via leo.kemp/TikTok) pic.twitter.com/r9VI88QcsF
FOOTBALL
- RB Cameron Pettaway returned the season-opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown on the first touch of his career. It was the second-straight season BGSU returned the season-opening kick for a TD. Researched in collaboration with FBS Sports Information Directors, this marks the first time in FBS history the feat has occurred.
- PK Jackson Kleather was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Week. His four field goals tied for the nation’s best output in Week 1 with Penn State’s Ryan Barker. The four field goals are tied for No. 2 in program history for a single game, and his 56-yard FG is tied for the second-longest in program history.
- The Falcons rank No. 17 in the nation in total defense (117 yds allowed).
- BGSU won back-to-back season openers for the first time since 2008–09.
- Eddie George became the 11th Falcon head coach to win his debut.
MEN’S SOCCER
- Trace Terry was named Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday (Sept. 2) after scoring two goals in the Falcons’ 3-0 win at Wright State.
- It marked the second-straight week a Falcon earned MVC honors, as GK Enzo Gil garnered Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 26 after his debut in a BG uniform.
- BGSU was picked to finish second in the MVC in 2025. Three Falcons – Bennett Painter, Andrew Shaffer, and Trace Terry – were named to the Preseason All-MVC Team.
- Terry was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Best XI (All-America) Third Team.
- He was also selected to the United Soccer Coaches Hermann Trophy Watch List, given annually to the nation’s top player.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
- BGSU is 3-1-1, the program’s best start since spring 2021 (4-1-0). Prior to that, the last such start came in 2002 (3-1-1).
- Sixth-year collegian Ellie Pool scored twice in the 4-1 win at Detroit Mercy, marking her second-straight contest against the Titans with a game-winning goal.
- As of Sept. 3, sophomore GK Payton O’Malley leads the MAC in goals-against average (0.60) and save percentage (.875).
- On Aug. 4, the MAC announced that all matches in the 2025 and 2026 MAC Women’s Soccer Tournaments will be held at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus—the first neutral-site tourney in conference history.
VOLLEYBALL
- Tallied the program’s first win over Saint Mary’s.
- Opened the season 1-0 for the third-straight year.
- Lauryn Hovey moved up to third all-time in career aces (148).
- Hovey also climbed to seventh on the Rally Scoring Era career kills list (1,316).
- Amanda Otten recorded the season’s first double-double with 42 assists and 10 digs vs. Temple.
- Falcons were picked first in the MAC Preseason Poll and tabbed as the MAC Tournament Champion with 10 votes in each.
- Hovey, Jessica Andrews, and Otten all earned Preseason All-MAC honors.
WOMEN’S GOLF
- BGSU placed first at the A-Ga-Ming Invitational (Aug. 31–Sept. 1).
- Sophomore Addison Kartusch won the individual title, setting both a program and tournament record with a 205 (-11) for 54 holes.
- The Falcons also set a program record for best team score in a 54-hole tournament, shooting 873.
