2011 Bowling Green Falcons Football Preview

While Dave Clawson and his Bowling Green Falcons won just two contests in 2010, finished dead last in rushing yards, and below 100th (in the bottom sixth of the national rankings) in both scoring offense and defense, there were at least some signs of progress. The Falcons lost four games by a touchdown or less. It’s not as though this was a team that didn’t have a chance to register a break-even record or something close to it. Bowling Green was more competitive than the worst teams in the conference (Buffalo, Akron, and Eastern Michigan), but its utter inability to close down 50-50 games turned an effort-rich season into a results-poor one.

Bowling Green, under Clawson, is facing a distinct identity crisis. While the team’s fight and passion were laudable last year, the quality of the coaching at this Ohio outpost – and therefore, the state of the program – is in doubt. The previous two men to lead the Falcons onto the gridiron, immediate predecessor Gregg Brandon and legendary college football mastermind Urban Meyer, both made Bowling Green into a winner and a more-regular-than-not bowl team. Clawson deserved one year in which to find his footing, but now, in 2011, he needs to show that he can steer this program back to greatness or, at the very least, an above-average season. This is a program that, just two seasons ago, played a terrifically entertaining Humanitarian Bowl against Idaho. Clawson didn’t inherit much in his first season last year, but the point remains that the Falcons recently tasted success. There is an expectation around campus that this team should be decent – not spectacular, but solid – on a regular basis. Clawson needs to approach that standard in order for his tenure to acquire the trajectory of a career-building, resume-enhancing period.

Now, about the limitations BGSU faced last season: Yes, the Falcons were breaking in a freshman quarterback, Matt Schilz, with no semblance of a rushing attack. This caused the young freshman’s mistakes to be magnified. With seven starters returning on both sides of the ball, 2011 promises to be a much better year for the proud Bowling Green football program. Clawson, equipped with tools in all phases of play and more familiar with the personnel on his roster, needs to make something of his resources to generate confidence in the locker room.

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The Falcons will rely on Jordan Hopgood to try and bring a rushing attack to the offense. Bowling Green rushed for just 62 yards per game. Having to use almost exclusively the pass, defenses were able to pin their wings back attack the young signal caller. Any progress this season will rely on the running game. The middle of Bowling Green’s schedule will more than likely temper the ability to progress this season. The Falcons have a daunting three game road trip during the early days of fall. Contests at Miami (Ohio), West Virginia, and Western Michigan. Following the road trip, dates with Toledo and at Temple will follow. Bowling Green then hosts Northern Illinois and Ohio in the first half of November. In short, the Falcons have the unlikely path of playing each and every formidable MAC title contender within a six week period.