Bowling Green State University football coach Scot Loeffler during his speech to the BG Exchange Club last summer. (Scott W. Grau/Sentinel-Tribune file)
When Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo face off in the Battle of I-75 at Doyt Perry Stadium this Tuesday, a lot more will be on the line than the rivalry between two schools just over 20 miles apart.
The bowl-eligible Falcons are riding a four-game winning streak, improving to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in Mid-American Conference play.
Becoming bowl-eligible was one of the goals the Falcons were searching for, but BGSU coach Scot Loeffler says a win over Toledo is more important right now.
“Yeah, it’s great. No question about it,” Loeffler said. “We’ll worry about that in a couple weeks, you know, it was great (win at Kent State Wednesday).
“It’s an accomplishment, but we’ve got to be laser focused on our task at hand here and it’s about the battle of the I-75 trophy and we got to play against a super football team.
“So, it’s going to be fun, just like I said. I’m hoping that this place is packed and we could have just a really good college football game.”
Toledo, at 9-1 and 6-0, has already clinched the MAC West Division championship. The Falcons and Rockets square off at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a nationally-televised game.
The Falcons are tied for second in the MAC East with Ohio (7-3, 4-2), but the Bobcats and Falcons are just one game behind division leader Miami (8-2, 5-1).
By winning out and getting some help, the Falcons still have a remote chance of qualifying for the league championship game where they would play, who else? Toledo.
Toledo has a slight 42-41-4 advantage since the two programs first faced off on October 3, 1919, but Loeffler admits he was not always aware of how fierce the rivalry was growing up near Akron. Today, he is.
“Obviously here you realize how important it is on both sides,” Loeffler said. “It’s like divided families. You know, people went to Toledo, people went to Bowling Green.
“It’s 25 minutes up the road. We recruit the same kids. Yeah, it’s a great, great game and just like I said, I appreciate the history with it.”
Loeffler says growing up, for him, there were plenty of rivalries to pay attention to.
“No, I remember always watching the Kent-Akron game, you know, just living five minutes from Akron and then the Toledo-Bowling Green game,” Loeffler said.
“And then obviously, the Michigan and Ohio State game — loved watching that. And then back in the day, whenever Michigan played Notre Dame, you know, those are the ones that I always remember watching.
“And great games, great traditions. So very excited to watch or to be a part of this one.”
Now that Loeffler has been a part of it and understands the rivalry, he makes sure his players understand, too.
“Up in Toledo, they talk about this every day. This is a big game for both programs,” Loeffler said.
“That’s why it’s a rivalry game, and I know they emphasize it, we emphasize it and that’s why this game is special, you know, both teams are working 365 days a year to play in this and to perform well.”
Loeffler says typically coaches don’t prepare for rivalry games any differently, but he adds that doesn’t mean this year’s game is any different.
“Well, every game is important, especially in college football. I mean, they’re all important. Every one means something here,” Loeffler said.
“But you would be crazy to say or think that the Ohio State-Michigan game is just a normal game. The Florida-Florida State game, just a normal game. The Alabama-Auburn game.
“They’re not, and that’s the same thing with the Toledo-Bowling Green game. It is not just a normal game. And we don’t approach it that way whatsoever.
“It’s a big game. It’s a big game for our program. It’s a big game for their program, that’s why the fans love it and they’re just fun to play in. I mean, I don’t know what it is. They’re just awesome.
“I love playing in rivalry games and I know our staff and our players love it and just like I said, I’ve been fortunate to be a part of some really, really good ones.”
