Bowling Green Falcons

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Bowling Green Falcons
University	Bowling Green State University
Conference	Mid-American Conference, CCHA (Hockey)
NCAA	Division I (Division I FBS in Football)
Athletics director	Greg Christopher
Location	Bowling Green, OH
Varsity teams	7 men and 10 women
Football stadium	Doyt Perry Stadium
Basketball arena	Anderson Arena
Other arenas	BGSU Ice Arena
Mascot	Freddie and Frieda Falcon
Nickname	Falcons
Fight song	"Forward Falcons" & "Ay Ziggy Zoomba"
Colors	Orange and Brown
Homepage	www.bgsufalcons.com

Bowling Green State University's sports teams are called the Falcons. The Falcons participate in NCAA Division I (Division I FBS for football) and in the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. BGSU is one of only 13 universities in the country offering NCAA Division I FBS football, Division I men's and women's basketball, and Division I hockey. The Falcons have won three consecutive conference championships in women's basketball in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The women's soccer team captured the conference crown. The Falcons' main rivals are the Rockets of the University of Toledo. Separated by just 20 miles on Interstate 75, the two schools celebrate a heated rivalry in several sports. The most well-known of these games is the Battle of I-75, a football game held each year in which the winner takes home the Peace Pipe, an American Indian peace pipe placed upon a wood tablet.

The 1984 Falcons hockey team defeated the University of Minnesota-Duluth, in the longest college hockey championship game in history, to win the NCAA National Championship, Bowling Green's first and only Division I National Championship.

[edit] Notable Falcon Athletes

Several notable athletes have played collegiately for Bowling Green State University. Amongst the most memorable is NBA legend Nate Thurmond. Thurmond, whose number 42 is the only basketball number retired by the university, graduated in 1963 before eventually being named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History^[1]. Bowling Green also was the collegiate home to one of the NBA's first ever draft picks, Chuck Share, who was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1950 NBA Draft^[2]. Current NBA players Antonio Daniels and Keith McLeod also played at BGSU.

BGSU's hockey team perhaps has provided the school with the greatest number of notable athletes. Two of its players were on the "Miracle on Ice" U.S. hockey team that captured the 1980 Winter Olympics gold medal: Ken Morrow and Mark Wells. Rob Blake also captured a gold medal for his country as Canada took up the top prize during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Two Falcons have also won the Hobey Baker award, given to the top collegiate hockey player each season: George McPhee (1982) and Brian Holzinger (1995). In 1984 the Bowling Green Hockey Team won the National Championship in one of the longest games in college hockey history. Geno Cavillini scored at 7:11 in the 4th overtime to give the Falcons their first college hockey national championship. Also advancing to the NHL was current Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Ken Klee.

Omar Jacobs became a household name to college football fans during his two years of starting for the Falcons. As the starting quarterback in 2004, he passed for 4,002 yards and set the NCAA record for TD to INT rate, at 41 touchdowns to 4 interceptions. He entered the 2005 season on the Heisman radar nationwide, but he didn't have as good of a season as 2004, and he missed two starts due to injury.

Don Nehlen is perhaps one of the more memorable Falcon football players and coaches. He played quarterback for BG during his playing days before coaching the Falcons for nine seasons from 1968-1976. Nehlen went on to coach West Virginia University where he would receive national attention. The legendary coach joined the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. Doyt Perry is another Hall of Fame coach who led the Falcons from 1955 through 1964. The university's football stadium is now named in his honor. More recently, Urban Meyer coached the Falcons for two seasons in 2001 and 2002 before leaving for the University of Utah. Meyer is currently the head coach at the University of Florida which he led to the BCS National Championship in 2007.

[edit] Varsity Sports

[edit] Club Sports

As well as varsity athletics, Bowling Green is known for its variety of club sports. BGSU's Rugby, Water Ski, and Wrestling teams garner many awards in club competitions, BGSU's Club Hockey team plays ACHA Division II hockey and has won numerous league Championships and has been nationally ranked in the past few seasons. The Bowling Green Dance team performs at many BGSU sporting events and are well known for their high-energy, spirited performances.

[edit] Football

Main article: Bowling Green Falcons football

See also: 2008 Bowling Green Falcons football team

The current head coach for the Falcon football team is Gregg Brandon.

[edit] Bowl History

Bowling Green has won 4 of their last 5 bowl games, and have an overall record of 4-4 in bowl games.

[edit] Fight Songs

[edit] Forward Falcons

Forward Falcons, Forward Falcons, Fight for victory.

Show our spirit, make them fear it, Fight for dear Bee Gee.

Forward Falcons, Forward Falcons, Make the contest keen.

Hold up the fame of our mighty name, and win for Bowling Green

[edit] Ay Ziggy Zoomba

The unofficial fight song

Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Zoomba

Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Ze

Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Zoomba

Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Ze

Roll along you BG warriors

Roll along and win for BGSU!

[edit] See also

• 2007 Bowling Green Falcons football team
• 2007-08 Bowling Green Falcons men's basketball team

[edit] External links

• Bowling Green athletics website
• Unofficial fan website and message boards

[edit] References