BGSU Football Presents Falcon Marching Band With Backpacks For 2026-27 Year Thanks To Gift From Mike And Jan Wilcox

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University football team and the Falcon Marching Band came together Tuesday (Sept. 1) for a special event celebrating the connection between the two groups that help define the gameday experience at BGSU.

At Perry Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Vice President of Athletics Strategy Derek van der Merwe, BGSU President Rodney Rogers, longtime BGSU supporter Mike Wilcox, and Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach Eddie George joined members of the football team in recognizing the Falcon Marching Band and the energy, tradition and pride it brings to Bowling Green.

"It's about a football team that really respects everything that you do," said van der Merwe when addressing the band. "It's about a campus community that respects you. It's about a president that respects you, a great supporter and donor, a football coach, a football coaching staff. We admire your commitment; we admire your contributions. Thank you for everything you've done for Bowling Green."

The event marks the continued effort to strengthen the connection between the BGSU football team and the Falcon Marching Band, centered around a simple message: the band is part of the team.

As part of the celebration, the BGSU Football Team surprised members of the Falcon Marching Band with new backpacks, thanks to the generosity of Mike and Jan Wilcox. Inside each backpack was an additional surprise: a personal note signed by a BGSU football student athlete. The message from the football team reinforced the connection between the two groups.

"We see you as part of our team. Your passion, preparation and pride are part of what makes gameday at Bowling Green special," the note reads. "When you see us on the field, know that we see you too."

George closed the event by speaking directly to the band about its importance to the football program and the impact its members have every time the Falcons take the field.

"We wanted to show you that we're all in this together," said George. "We appreciate you, we hear you and we're behind you like you're behind us."

The backpacks serve as more than a gift. They represent a growing partnership between BGSU Football and the Falcon Marching Band and a shared commitment to representing Bowling Green with pride.

While their roles on gameday may be different, both groups share the same colors, the same University and the same goal of creating an unforgettable experience for Falcon fans.

"It's what makes college football, college football. The bands, the cheerleaders, the students and obviously the players on the field."#AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/NDP0K1i9TZ
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) September 1, 2026

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