There’s a dilemma for coaches in the non-BCS football leagues such as the Mid-American Conference.
Do you tailor your team to compete in the non-league games against the big boys in college football
because the athletics department needs the pay day?
Or do you set up your team with the idea of being competitive within the conference, with the goal of
getting to a bowl game?
For Dave Clawson, in his fourth season as Bowling Green’s head coach, winning the MAC East and getting to
the conference championship game are on top of the Falcons’ list of goals.
"The way we are playing (now) you have more of a chance to be successful within the league than
outside the league,” Clawson said. ”That’s something we talk philosophically all the time – is your
goal to win the MAC or is the goal to win every game on your schedule?
"There are things that you can do as a football team that helps you win out-of-conference games that
may not help you win in-conference games,” he continued. "To win championships, you had better be
great on one side of the ball and at least be pretty good on the other (side).”
The Falcons have been playing good defense during their current four-game winning streak. Clawson said
the offense is still a work in progress.
"I think it’s there and we’re capable of doing it, but we haven’t done it as consistently as we need
to," Clawson said about BG’s offense. "I’m sure there are going to be some games here that we
are going to have to open it up more and score more points.”
With a solid defense, the Falcons’ offensive philosophy has changed because they do not need to score 40
points a game to win.
"I’m not worried about offensive numbers, I’m worried about scoring more points than the
opponent." Clawson said.
THIS WEEK: The Falcons (5-3 overall, 3-1 in the MAC) host Eastern Michigan (1-6, 0-3) Saturday with
kickoff at 3:30 p.m. in Perry Stadium.
The last time BG played Eastern Michigan was on Oct. 4, 2008, and the Eagles scored a touchdown with 36
seconds left in the game to post a 24-21 victory. EMU moved 77 yards in six plays for the winning score.
The Falcons had a chance to tie the game at the end, but a 52-yard field goal attempt by Sinisa Vrvilo
was short and to the left.
LYNCH: D.J. Lynch, a redshirt sophomore, has been making the most of his increased playing time as the
Falcons rotate three players at the two inside linebacker spots. Lynch has 38 tackles on the season,
with 18 coming in the last two games.
INJURIES: Running back Anthon Samuel suffered a neck injury in the first half of the UMass game last
Saturday. He returned to play in the second half, finishing with 60 yards rushing on 22 carries while
catching five passes for 58 yards,
He did not practice Wednesday, but will try to practice today, and is questionable for Saturday’s game.
BIG PLAYS: The Falcons have had 46 plays of 20 yards or longer this season, including eight which
resulted in touchdowns.
Samuel is the team-leader with 12 of the 46 plays and Jerry ‘BooBoo’ Gates is next with eight.
OREGON: BG is scheduled to play at the University of Oregon in 2018, according to reports from Oregon.
The game is to be Oregon’s season-opener, but no date was announced
NEXT: BG’s next game is Nov. 7 at Ohio with kickoff at 8 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN2.
