BG-Toledo rivalry ‘intense’

Hate is such an ugly, harsh word.
Yet, the word came into play Tuesday afternoon during the regular Bowling Green football press conference
in the Sebo Center. The Falcons face arch-rival Toledo Friday with kickoff at 2 p.m. in Perry Stadium.

"A lot of guys use the word hate. It’s hard to say the word hate, but with these guys it kind of
rolls off your tongue," said BG senior quarterback Tyler Sheehan about Toledo. "It’s a
different feeling when we get on the field with those guys."
"It’s very intense. I really can’t put it into words, said BG senior wide receiver Freddie Barnes.
"On the field, you can just feel the difference from any other game.
"I’m not a trash talker, but it’s out there. You don’t have to find it, it’s going to find
you," Barnes continued. "I just tell everybody to keep their composure and execute and we’ll
be fine."
The Falcons come into the game 6-5 overall and 5-2 in the Mid-American Conference, having won five of
their last six games. Toledo is 5-6, 3-4.
In addition to bragging rights over their arch-rivals, the Falcons are playing for an above .500 record
to make themselves attractive to any bowl committees looking to fill an at-large berth.
"It’s a big game. There is a great tradition, great history and we’re very fortunate to have a game
like this to look forward to," BG head coach Dave Clawson said. "I’ve been at schools that
don’t have rivalry games. When you’re at one that has a big one like we do, we’re lucky to be a part of
this. It gives us something to look forward to every year.
"These are the games that push both programs to be better."
For UT head coach Tim Beckman, he gets the opportunity to see the rivalry from the other sideline.
Beckman was an assistant coach at BG from 1998-2004.
"I’ve thought about it since Dec. 4 (2008) when I took the job up here at Toledo. Being involved in
the tradition at Bowling Green and now being the head football coach at Toledo, it was something that I
thought about," Beckman said. "But my colors are Midnight Blue and Gold … and I look forward
to being in that visitors locker room."
In addition to Beckman, former BG assistant coaches Mike Ward and Matt Campbell are in their first year
on Toledo’s staff.
"It’s going to be weird seeing those guys, especially in Toledo gear. You won’t think that somebody
from Bowling Green would be able to go there with the history we have with them. But I guess that’s the
beast of the business," Sheehan said about Ward and Campbell.
Ward
helped recruit Barnes to BoG.
"He’s still cool with me," Barnes said about Ward. "But when it comes time from a rivalry
game, you don’t really haven’t too many friends on that side.
"I haven’t communicated with anybody from Toledo like that anyway so I don’t have to worry about
it."
DINNER: A Thanksgiving dinner is planned tonight for the players and coaches with BG’s football team,
Clawson said. The dinner will be after today’s practice.
On Thanksgiving Day, there will be a walk-through practice and meetings as part of the final preparation
for the Toledo game.
"We’re giving them some flexibility during the day," Clawson said about Thursday. "Some
are going to other players houses, some are going to coaches houses. We’ll made sure everyone has a
place to go.
"We want to make sure they get off their feet, and that they’re well-rested and well-prepared to
play the game."
TWO HONORED: The College Football Performance Award (CFPA) has named Barnes its national wide receiver of
the week and teammate Keith Morgan its national kick returner of the week following their performances
in the 36-20 win over Akron last Friday.
This is the fifth time in 2009 in which Barnes was mentioned by the CFPA. He has been named its national
wide receiver of the week three time, while walking away with a pair of honorable mentions. The
fifth-year senior posted 12 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns and added 15 yards on the ground in
the win over Akron.
Morgan had just one return on the night, but with Akron attempting an on-side kick, he caught the ball on
the fly and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown to put the Falcons up 36-20, midway through the fourth
quarter.