After a disappointing 2-10 season, BG football coach Dave Clawson discusses the heartache of what a season it was. With inconsistencies and injuries on both sides of the ball, the second-year coach is looking to put this season in the books and realizes the team has some work to do heading into the offseason.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
2010 fall semester review
With just a week left in the fall semester, now is a good time to give a season review for some of the BG sports.
Let's start with soccer.
Both the men's and women's soccer teams made huge strides this season.
Picked to finish sixth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, the BG men's soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament to finish third. The Falcons will return 22 players next season, including 11 freshmen.
Ryan Comiskey emerged as BG's top freshman and made an impact immediately, scoring the game-winning goal in a preseason game against Indianapolis. Goalkeeper Miguel Rosales was another bright spot who will also be returning next season.
Rosales started every match this season and recorded 75 saves to lead the MAC. He was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team and will be a player to watch out for in 2011.
Not to be outdone, the women's soccer team played gutsy soccer all season long, despite its 4-12-4 record. If the Falcons could have tuned a couple of those draws into wins, they would have made the conference tournament for the first time since 2008.
Which brings us to football. Ah yes, the worst season since the 1950s. To say it was a rough season would be an understatement. At 2-10, nothing went right.
Quarterback Matt SChilz injured his throwing shoulder early in the season and never looked comfortable after that, injuries to the offensive line gave way to sacks and a poor running game and the defense was consistently inconsistent. I mean really, I've never seen a defense look so good in generating tunrovers but yet look awful due to the amount of offense it allowed each game.
Next year will be big for Falcon coach Dave Clawson as most of his recruits will be in place as former coach Gregg Brandon and his players are all but gone at this point.
Covering the football team this season was rather interesting, which is why I was looking forward to basketball season far too early.
Now that basketball season is here, I'm back to writing articles that showcase a win. The women's basketball team is off to another fast start with 9-1 record. The Falcons are on a nine-game winning streak and don't show signs of slowing down.
As for the men's basketball team, its in the middle of a streak as well, but not the one a team wants to be on. The Falcons are 1-8 this season and have lost seven straight games.
Let's start with soccer.
Both the men's and women's soccer teams made huge strides this season.
Picked to finish sixth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, the BG men's soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament to finish third. The Falcons will return 22 players next season, including 11 freshmen.
Ryan Comiskey emerged as BG's top freshman and made an impact immediately, scoring the game-winning goal in a preseason game against Indianapolis. Goalkeeper Miguel Rosales was another bright spot who will also be returning next season.
Rosales started every match this season and recorded 75 saves to lead the MAC. He was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team and will be a player to watch out for in 2011.
Not to be outdone, the women's soccer team played gutsy soccer all season long, despite its 4-12-4 record. If the Falcons could have tuned a couple of those draws into wins, they would have made the conference tournament for the first time since 2008.
Which brings us to football. Ah yes, the worst season since the 1950s. To say it was a rough season would be an understatement. At 2-10, nothing went right.
Quarterback Matt SChilz injured his throwing shoulder early in the season and never looked comfortable after that, injuries to the offensive line gave way to sacks and a poor running game and the defense was consistently inconsistent. I mean really, I've never seen a defense look so good in generating tunrovers but yet look awful due to the amount of offense it allowed each game.
Next year will be big for Falcon coach Dave Clawson as most of his recruits will be in place as former coach Gregg Brandon and his players are all but gone at this point.
Covering the football team this season was rather interesting, which is why I was looking forward to basketball season far too early.
Now that basketball season is here, I'm back to writing articles that showcase a win. The women's basketball team is off to another fast start with 9-1 record. The Falcons are on a nine-game winning streak and don't show signs of slowing down.
As for the men's basketball team, its in the middle of a streak as well, but not the one a team wants to be on. The Falcons are 1-8 this season and have lost seven straight games.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Woods snubbed by MAC
Earlier this month the Mid-American Conference released its All-MAC honors, and to no surprise, BG linebacker Dwayne Woods was a part of those honors.
Woods was named second team All-MAC, but really, he should have been named first-team.
How could the league put Woods on the second team when he led the conference with 134 tackles in 12 games?
How could it not put a guy on the first team when he recorded six tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions?
How could it do that when Woods' 134 tackles were the 13th most in school history and were tied for sixth in the country?
It doesn't make any sense.
Just a sophomore, Woods solidified himself as the Falcons' best defender in 2010, having at least seven tackles in all 12 games while recording double-digit tackles in six of those games. He also had a career-high 20 tackles against Buffalo and had eight tackles and returned a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown in a win against Marshall.
Not bad for a guy who had just 24 tackles a year ago and is replacing the likes of former Falcon linebackers Cody Basler and P.J. Mahone.
Yes, BG went 2-10 this season, but the MAC should have recognized Woods for his stellar performance on the field.
Maybe it's good that Woods is just a sophomore. He still has two more years to prove to the league it should have considered him first-team All-MAC.
Woods was named second team All-MAC, but really, he should have been named first-team.
How could the league put Woods on the second team when he led the conference with 134 tackles in 12 games?
How could it not put a guy on the first team when he recorded six tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions?
How could it do that when Woods' 134 tackles were the 13th most in school history and were tied for sixth in the country?
It doesn't make any sense.
Just a sophomore, Woods solidified himself as the Falcons' best defender in 2010, having at least seven tackles in all 12 games while recording double-digit tackles in six of those games. He also had a career-high 20 tackles against Buffalo and had eight tackles and returned a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown in a win against Marshall.
Not bad for a guy who had just 24 tackles a year ago and is replacing the likes of former Falcon linebackers Cody Basler and P.J. Mahone.
Yes, BG went 2-10 this season, but the MAC should have recognized Woods for his stellar performance on the field.
Maybe it's good that Woods is just a sophomore. He still has two more years to prove to the league it should have considered him first-team All-MAC.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Response to the 2010 BG football season
It was a season to forget.
BG fans knew it would be a different season after losing Tyler Sheehan and Freddie Barnes, but a 2-10 record this season wasn't what they had in mind.
I sat down with hockey beat reporter for The BG News, Ryan Satkowiak, who switched gears and talked about the year it was for the Falcon football team.
Satkowiak shared his thoughts on the team after it suffered its worst season since 1953, what the team's biggest downfall of the season was and what the future holds.
2010 season response
BG fans knew it would be a different season after losing Tyler Sheehan and Freddie Barnes, but a 2-10 record this season wasn't what they had in mind.
I sat down with hockey beat reporter for The BG News, Ryan Satkowiak, who switched gears and talked about the year it was for the Falcon football team.
Satkowiak shared his thoughts on the team after it suffered its worst season since 1953, what the team's biggest downfall of the season was and what the future holds.
2010 season response
Friday, December 3, 2010
Crowd a factor in BG's win over No. 23 Vanderbilt
It was loud and the chants were concise.
Over 2,000 fans packed Anderson Arena Wednesday night to watch BG take down No. 23 Vanderbilt 79-68 and improve to 7-1 on the season.
"The crowd was awesome," said Falcon senior Lauren Prochaska, who scored a game-high 31 points on 8-of-16 from the field. "They knew when to really get into the game and cheer louder to get us going. The crowd was a huge factor for us and also in intimidating the other team."
Chants of "BGSU," and "Defense" circulated throughout the arena the entire night as Falcon fans watched their team defeat Vanderbilt for the third time since 2007.
"That's a huge win for us," said BG coach Curt Miller. "There's not many SEC teams that are undefeated since 2007 against Vanderbilt. That's a great victory for our program."
Something's gotta give
The Falcons lead the Commodores 3-2 in the all-time series, winning the last three games, games in which Vanderbilt was nationally ranked each time.
BG defeated Vanderbilt in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Championships to advance to the Sweet 16, picked up a 66-60 win in Nashville a season ago and now just won its third straight over the team from the SEC Conference.
Vanderbilt entered the game having more of a post presence than BG, better team speed, more players who can make shots and bigger size.
But that didn't seem to faze the Falcons. So how was BG able to defeat the Commodores for the third straight time? How was it able to take a 12-point lead into halftime, increase its lead to as much as 17 and then win by 11?
"Our coaches to a great scout and they run a lot of set plays," said Jen Uhl, who was second on the Falcons in scoring with 15. "Everytime [the Commodores] called a play we pretty much knew what they were running, so I think that might help that our coaches have scouted so well."
Automatic
Prochaska, one of the best free-throw shooters in the country, showed just that Wednesday, knocking down all 10 of her free throws.
She has now made 53 consecutive shots from the charity stripe, which broke her own school record of 45, set in 2008-09 during her sophomore year.
Prochaska needs just four straight free throws to tie the Mid-American Conference record of 57 consecutive free throws, set in 1986-87 by Central Michigan's Jody Beerman.
The NCAA record for consecutive free throws made is 66, set by Ginny Doyle of Richmond in 1991-92.
To see where Prochaska and the Falcons rank among the top free-throw shooting teams in the country, click here.
Home cookin'
BG has now won 34 consecutive regular-season games at Anderson Arena. The Falcons have not lost a regular-season game at home since Jan. 30, 2008 against Western Michigan.
BG has won 18 straight home games and 37 of the last 38, with that lone loss coming to Indiana in the third round of the 2009 WNIT.
Over 2,000 fans packed Anderson Arena Wednesday night to watch BG take down No. 23 Vanderbilt 79-68 and improve to 7-1 on the season.
"The crowd was awesome," said Falcon senior Lauren Prochaska, who scored a game-high 31 points on 8-of-16 from the field. "They knew when to really get into the game and cheer louder to get us going. The crowd was a huge factor for us and also in intimidating the other team."
Chants of "BGSU," and "Defense" circulated throughout the arena the entire night as Falcon fans watched their team defeat Vanderbilt for the third time since 2007.
"That's a huge win for us," said BG coach Curt Miller. "There's not many SEC teams that are undefeated since 2007 against Vanderbilt. That's a great victory for our program."
Something's gotta give
The Falcons lead the Commodores 3-2 in the all-time series, winning the last three games, games in which Vanderbilt was nationally ranked each time.
BG defeated Vanderbilt in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Championships to advance to the Sweet 16, picked up a 66-60 win in Nashville a season ago and now just won its third straight over the team from the SEC Conference.
Vanderbilt entered the game having more of a post presence than BG, better team speed, more players who can make shots and bigger size.
But that didn't seem to faze the Falcons. So how was BG able to defeat the Commodores for the third straight time? How was it able to take a 12-point lead into halftime, increase its lead to as much as 17 and then win by 11?
"Our coaches to a great scout and they run a lot of set plays," said Jen Uhl, who was second on the Falcons in scoring with 15. "Everytime [the Commodores] called a play we pretty much knew what they were running, so I think that might help that our coaches have scouted so well."
Automatic Prochaska, one of the best free-throw shooters in the country, showed just that Wednesday, knocking down all 10 of her free throws.
She has now made 53 consecutive shots from the charity stripe, which broke her own school record of 45, set in 2008-09 during her sophomore year.
Prochaska needs just four straight free throws to tie the Mid-American Conference record of 57 consecutive free throws, set in 1986-87 by Central Michigan's Jody Beerman.
The NCAA record for consecutive free throws made is 66, set by Ginny Doyle of Richmond in 1991-92.
To see where Prochaska and the Falcons rank among the top free-throw shooting teams in the country, click here.
Home cookin'
BG has now won 34 consecutive regular-season games at Anderson Arena. The Falcons have not lost a regular-season game at home since Jan. 30, 2008 against Western Michigan.
BG has won 18 straight home games and 37 of the last 38, with that lone loss coming to Indiana in the third round of the 2009 WNIT.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Map of BGSU athletic facilities
Below is a map of the athletic facilities at BGSU. From Doyt Perry Stadium to Whittaker Track, BG provides its sports teams with the venues needed to compete at a high level. A few years ago the Sebo Center was added at the north end of the football stadium, which serves as an all-around training facility for all Falcon athletics. The Sebo Center also consists of many conference rooms. Next Fall, Anderson Arena will be replaced with the Stroh Center, which can be seen from I-75.
View Around the horn in a larger map
View Around the horn in a larger map
Monday, November 22, 2010
Is the 2010 BG football team the worst ever?
Last week the BG football team concluded its 2010 season with a 41-7 embarrassing loss at home to Western Michigan. The Falcons ended the season with a 2-10 record.
Sitting in the press box high above Doyt Perry Stadium I asked myself, Is this the worst BG football team in school history.
By its record alone, I would say yes.
The Falcons haven't endured a more lopsided win-loss record since 1953, when the team finished the season 1-8.
Throwing records aside, however, I don't think this is the worst team in BG history.
This year's team faced many obstacles.
To start off, the Falcons lost quarterback Tyler Sheehan and star wide receiver Freddie Barnes to graduation. Two players who, quite ultimately, accounted for most of the offense last season.
Yes, this year's Falcons fell below expectations. Picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference East in the preseason poll, BG finished the 2010 campaign in a three-way tie for last with Akron and Buffalo.
The results of this season were a little misleading, though.
The Falcons easily could have found themselves a 7-t football team. five of their losses this season came by three points or less and were determined in the closing seconds of the game.
The offense was battered with injuries,most notably center Ben Bojicic and the offensive line. Every week was a mystery as who was going to start up front for the Falcons.
The defense was good...good and terrible. I have never seen a defense look so good but yet at the same time look so bad. BG's defense recorded an astonishing 35 takeaways, but also gave up 432 yards a game.
Kamar Jorden showed the wide receiver position was still in good hands, even with the departure of Barnes. Jorden hauled in 96 passes for 1109 yards and four touchdowns, averaging nearly 12 catches a game.
Dwayne Woods on the defensive side of the ball came on strong this season as a sophomore and seems to have the middle linebacker position locked down for the next two years.
Woods led the Falcon defense in tackles with 134, and was one of the top players in the country in that department.
Special teams was also a bright spot for BG this season, as Eugene Cooper had two punt returns for touchdowns, the first time in school history a player returned two punts for touchdown in the same season.
The Falcons had their moments during the 2010 season, but injuries, inconsistencies and lack of depth were too much to overcome.
To say the 2010 BG football team was the worst in school history, probably not. Just a lot of misfortunes.
Sitting in the press box high above Doyt Perry Stadium I asked myself, Is this the worst BG football team in school history.
By its record alone, I would say yes.
The Falcons haven't endured a more lopsided win-loss record since 1953, when the team finished the season 1-8.
Throwing records aside, however, I don't think this is the worst team in BG history.
This year's team faced many obstacles.
To start off, the Falcons lost quarterback Tyler Sheehan and star wide receiver Freddie Barnes to graduation. Two players who, quite ultimately, accounted for most of the offense last season.
Yes, this year's Falcons fell below expectations. Picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference East in the preseason poll, BG finished the 2010 campaign in a three-way tie for last with Akron and Buffalo.
The results of this season were a little misleading, though.
The Falcons easily could have found themselves a 7-t football team. five of their losses this season came by three points or less and were determined in the closing seconds of the game.
The offense was battered with injuries,most notably center Ben Bojicic and the offensive line. Every week was a mystery as who was going to start up front for the Falcons.
The defense was good...good and terrible. I have never seen a defense look so good but yet at the same time look so bad. BG's defense recorded an astonishing 35 takeaways, but also gave up 432 yards a game.
Kamar Jorden showed the wide receiver position was still in good hands, even with the departure of Barnes. Jorden hauled in 96 passes for 1109 yards and four touchdowns, averaging nearly 12 catches a game.
Dwayne Woods on the defensive side of the ball came on strong this season as a sophomore and seems to have the middle linebacker position locked down for the next two years.
Woods led the Falcon defense in tackles with 134, and was one of the top players in the country in that department.
Special teams was also a bright spot for BG this season, as Eugene Cooper had two punt returns for touchdowns, the first time in school history a player returned two punts for touchdown in the same season.
The Falcons had their moments during the 2010 season, but injuries, inconsistencies and lack of depth were too much to overcome.
To say the 2010 BG football team was the worst in school history, probably not. Just a lot of misfortunes.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Falcons start fast, win big against Oakland
The BG women's basketball team made a call Saturday afternoon, and it was long distance.
The Falcons made 10 3-pointers in the first half, five from senior Tracy Pontius alone, to cruise to an 80-46 win against Oakland.
Pontius finished with a game-high 17 points and paced three other Falcons in double-figures. Maggie Hennegan had 13 points while Lauren Prochaska and Chrissy Steffen each had 11.
Saturday's game was the second straight for BG in which its offense scored 80 points or more. It was also the second straight game its defense held an opponent in the 40-point range.
This is what makes the Falcons a good team, they have the ability to beat teams with their offense and their defense, which are both very good.
We knew their offense was going to be good this season, it's what has won them six consecutive Mid-American Conference titles. But the defense has been quite good.
When you think of BG women's basketball, you tend to think more in terms of its offense.
While in the last two games the Falcon offense put up 80 or more points both games, the defense allowed just 46 points or less.
When an offense is scoring in the 80s and a defense is giving up points in the 40s, the win looks pretty good at the end of the day.
BG's offense will take care of itself. It's almost a given that Prochaska and Pontius are going to put up double-digit scoring efforts every game. And if Hennegan and Steffen could do the same, this offense will be near impossible to stop.
If the defense plays the way it has over the last two games, then the entire team will be near impossible to stop.
Against Oakland Saturday, the Falcons held the Golden Grizzlies to a dismal 28 percent shooting Saturday.
BG limited Bethany Watterworth, who was a preseason All-Summit League first team candidate, to no points on 0-for-6 shooting.
Watterworth entered Saturday having scored 20 points in each of her last two games.
"Bethany Watterworth is one of the best post players in the entire Midwest regardless of conference," said BG coach Curt Miller. "Any league you put that kid in she can be great. For us to hold her without a basket is just a credit to our team approach."
BG has now won three consecutive games and will look to make it four straight Wednesday when it hosts Detroit at 7 p.m. in Anderson Arena.
The Falcons made 10 3-pointers in the first half, five from senior Tracy Pontius alone, to cruise to an 80-46 win against Oakland.
Pontius finished with a game-high 17 points and paced three other Falcons in double-figures. Maggie Hennegan had 13 points while Lauren Prochaska and Chrissy Steffen each had 11.
Saturday's game was the second straight for BG in which its offense scored 80 points or more. It was also the second straight game its defense held an opponent in the 40-point range.
This is what makes the Falcons a good team, they have the ability to beat teams with their offense and their defense, which are both very good.
We knew their offense was going to be good this season, it's what has won them six consecutive Mid-American Conference titles. But the defense has been quite good.
When you think of BG women's basketball, you tend to think more in terms of its offense.
While in the last two games the Falcon offense put up 80 or more points both games, the defense allowed just 46 points or less.
When an offense is scoring in the 80s and a defense is giving up points in the 40s, the win looks pretty good at the end of the day.
BG's offense will take care of itself. It's almost a given that Prochaska and Pontius are going to put up double-digit scoring efforts every game. And if Hennegan and Steffen could do the same, this offense will be near impossible to stop.
If the defense plays the way it has over the last two games, then the entire team will be near impossible to stop.
Against Oakland Saturday, the Falcons held the Golden Grizzlies to a dismal 28 percent shooting Saturday.
BG limited Bethany Watterworth, who was a preseason All-Summit League first team candidate, to no points on 0-for-6 shooting.
Watterworth entered Saturday having scored 20 points in each of her last two games.
"Bethany Watterworth is one of the best post players in the entire Midwest regardless of conference," said BG coach Curt Miller. "Any league you put that kid in she can be great. For us to hold her without a basket is just a credit to our team approach."
BG has now won three consecutive games and will look to make it four straight Wednesday when it hosts Detroit at 7 p.m. in Anderson Arena.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
BG to renew rivalry with Toledo on ESPN 2
For the second straight week, the BG football team will be in the national spotlight.
Tonight at 8, the Falcons will head north up I-75 to play arch rival Toledo on ESPN 2. Historically know to be the game the day after Thanksgiving and the last regular-season game for both teams, this will be the first time since the 1999 season that that hasn't happened.
Talking with Falcon head coach Dave Clawson Monday, he said a rivalry game should be the last game of the season.
The one good thing about this game, however, is that people will be able to see it. Not only is the game on national TV, but because the game isn't the day after Thanksgiving, BG and UT fans will actually be able to attend the game.
The schedule makers finally got it right.
I can see them having the game be the last of the season, but they messed up by having it over Thanksgiving. Having your biggest rivalry game fall on a day when students are home on break didn't make any sense to me. If it's your biggest rivalry, you obviously want the fans to be there.
BG will be looking for a better result this week on ESPN 2 than it endured last week against Miami (OH), which will be remembered as "The fog game." Tied 21-21, the RedHawks kicked a game-winning field goal in the midst of heavy fog as time expired.
The Falcons have won three consecutive game against the Rockets but have not won back-to-back games at The Glass Bowl since the 1992 and 1994 seasons.
Both teams have headed in opposite directions this season as BG is just 2-8 overall and at the bottom of Mid-American Conference East standings, whereas UT is 6-4 and in second place in the MAC West standings.
But with the intense atmosphere that comes with rivalry games, Clawson said this is one of those games where records are thrown out.
Tonight at 8, the Falcons will head north up I-75 to play arch rival Toledo on ESPN 2. Historically know to be the game the day after Thanksgiving and the last regular-season game for both teams, this will be the first time since the 1999 season that that hasn't happened.
Talking with Falcon head coach Dave Clawson Monday, he said a rivalry game should be the last game of the season.
"I would love for this game to be the last game of the season. I just think that's where your biggest rival belongs. I'm a fan of having your biggest rival be the last game of the season."
The one good thing about this game, however, is that people will be able to see it. Not only is the game on national TV, but because the game isn't the day after Thanksgiving, BG and UT fans will actually be able to attend the game.
The schedule makers finally got it right.
I can see them having the game be the last of the season, but they messed up by having it over Thanksgiving. Having your biggest rivalry game fall on a day when students are home on break didn't make any sense to me. If it's your biggest rivalry, you obviously want the fans to be there.
BG will be looking for a better result this week on ESPN 2 than it endured last week against Miami (OH), which will be remembered as "The fog game." Tied 21-21, the RedHawks kicked a game-winning field goal in the midst of heavy fog as time expired.
The Falcons have won three consecutive game against the Rockets but have not won back-to-back games at The Glass Bowl since the 1992 and 1994 seasons.
Both teams have headed in opposite directions this season as BG is just 2-8 overall and at the bottom of Mid-American Conference East standings, whereas UT is 6-4 and in second place in the MAC West standings.
But with the intense atmosphere that comes with rivalry games, Clawson said this is one of those games where records are thrown out.
BG netters bounced from MAC Tourney
It was short but most certainly not sweet.
The BG volleyball team saw its season come to an abrupt end Tuesday night in the first round of the Mid-American Conference, losing to Eastern Michigan in three sets 25-20, 25-15 and 28-26.
Falcon freshman Paige Penrod, as she has done for most of the season, led BG in kills with 18, bringing her season total to 405.
Fellow freshman Lindsey Butterfield added 11 kills and a .500 attack percentage against EMU while freshman Danielle Tonyan finished with six kills - becoming just the fifth freshman in BG history to post 300 kills in a season - finishing with 301.
BG ends its 2010 season with an 8-24 record and the departure of seniors Noelle Spitler and Sam Fish.
However, with a talented core of freshmen players, led by Penrod and Tonyan, expect the BG volleyball team to put up strong numbers next season that result in more wins.
Penrod was exceptional this season. She will definitely be the go-to player of the Falcons over the next three years and good player to build a team around. Very few freshmen, no matter what college sport, can make the kind of impact that Penrod did this season on the volleyball court.
Penrod played in and started all 32 matches this season, finishing with a staggering 405 kills. She set the freshman record at BGSU for most kills in a season by a freshman.
Fellow freshman Danielle Tonyan was another bright freshman on the Falcons that will be critical toward the success over the next few years. Tonyan played in 31 games, making 27 starts, and finished second on the team in kills with 301.
With a talented freshman duo who proved they can play at the collegiate level, the future is sure to be a bright one. And with the opening of the Stroh Center next fall, Falcon volleyball will be hot ticket.
The BG volleyball team saw its season come to an abrupt end Tuesday night in the first round of the Mid-American Conference, losing to Eastern Michigan in three sets 25-20, 25-15 and 28-26.
Falcon freshman Paige Penrod, as she has done for most of the season, led BG in kills with 18, bringing her season total to 405.Fellow freshman Lindsey Butterfield added 11 kills and a .500 attack percentage against EMU while freshman Danielle Tonyan finished with six kills - becoming just the fifth freshman in BG history to post 300 kills in a season - finishing with 301.
BG ends its 2010 season with an 8-24 record and the departure of seniors Noelle Spitler and Sam Fish.
However, with a talented core of freshmen players, led by Penrod and Tonyan, expect the BG volleyball team to put up strong numbers next season that result in more wins.
Penrod was exceptional this season. She will definitely be the go-to player of the Falcons over the next three years and good player to build a team around. Very few freshmen, no matter what college sport, can make the kind of impact that Penrod did this season on the volleyball court.
Penrod played in and started all 32 matches this season, finishing with a staggering 405 kills. She set the freshman record at BGSU for most kills in a season by a freshman.
Fellow freshman Danielle Tonyan was another bright freshman on the Falcons that will be critical toward the success over the next few years. Tonyan played in 31 games, making 27 starts, and finished second on the team in kills with 301.
With a talented freshman duo who proved they can play at the collegiate level, the future is sure to be a bright one. And with the opening of the Stroh Center next fall, Falcon volleyball will be hot ticket.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Women's basketball wins big in home-opener
What can be better than receiving your 2010 Mid-American Conference championship rings and unveiling your 2010 NCAA appearance banner in your 2010 home-opener?
How about a win.
That's exactly what the BG women's basketball team did Monday night in the last home-opener at Anderson Arena, using a big second half to bury Creighton 79-53.
The second half was highlighted by stingy defense and BG's ability to get to the free-throw line. The Bluejays shot nearly 55 percent in the first half but was limited to just 31 percent in the second.
The Falcons came out as the aggressor in the game's final 20 minutes, getting to the charity stripe 22 times and converting on 20 of them. For the game, BG made 26 of 29 free throws. Not bad considering the team made it to the line just six times in its season-opening loss at Evansville Friday night.
BG made it look easy against Creighton, and let's be honest, the Falcons were expected to win.
Curt Miller makes sure his team doesn't lose two games in a row, and he wasn't about to let that happen.
Not only was it the team's home opener, but it was a night in which the Falcons received their Mid-American Conference championship rings, saw their NCAA banner revealed high above Anderson Arena and welcomed back former players Laura Bugher, Sarah Clapper and Tamika Nurse.
Besides, BG entered the game having won 30 consecutive regular-season games at home.
The Falcons' offense certainly looked like the one fans had expected out of the 6-time defending MAC champions.
Seniors Lauren Prochaska and Tracy Pontius played their typical game, scoring 21 and 20 points, respectively.
What was just as impressive was the play of young Chrissy Steffen. Just a sophomore, Steffen posted 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting and had five rebounds, two assists and two steals Monday night.
She showed a lot of upside at the end of last season, especially during the postseason, and will be one of the go-to players when Prochaska and Pontius graduate at the end of the season.
For a full recap of BG's home-opening win, click here
Below are videos after the game from seniors Tracy Pontius and Lauren Prochaska as well as coach Curt Miller.
That's exactly what the BG women's basketball team did Monday night in the last home-opener at Anderson Arena, using a big second half to bury Creighton 79-53.
The second half was highlighted by stingy defense and BG's ability to get to the free-throw line. The Bluejays shot nearly 55 percent in the first half but was limited to just 31 percent in the second.
The Falcons came out as the aggressor in the game's final 20 minutes, getting to the charity stripe 22 times and converting on 20 of them. For the game, BG made 26 of 29 free throws. Not bad considering the team made it to the line just six times in its season-opening loss at Evansville Friday night.
BG made it look easy against Creighton, and let's be honest, the Falcons were expected to win.
Curt Miller makes sure his team doesn't lose two games in a row, and he wasn't about to let that happen.
Not only was it the team's home opener, but it was a night in which the Falcons received their Mid-American Conference championship rings, saw their NCAA banner revealed high above Anderson Arena and welcomed back former players Laura Bugher, Sarah Clapper and Tamika Nurse.
Besides, BG entered the game having won 30 consecutive regular-season games at home.
The Falcons' offense certainly looked like the one fans had expected out of the 6-time defending MAC champions.
Seniors Lauren Prochaska and Tracy Pontius played their typical game, scoring 21 and 20 points, respectively.
What was just as impressive was the play of young Chrissy Steffen. Just a sophomore, Steffen posted 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting and had five rebounds, two assists and two steals Monday night.
She showed a lot of upside at the end of last season, especially during the postseason, and will be one of the go-to players when Prochaska and Pontius graduate at the end of the season.
For a full recap of BG's home-opening win, click here
Below are videos after the game from seniors Tracy Pontius and Lauren Prochaska as well as coach Curt Miller.
Women's golf adds two for 2011-12 season
The BG women's golf team and coach Stephanie Young announced today the signing of two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.
Shelby Wilson of Hebron High School (Carrollton, Texas) and Patricia Holt of Frisco High School (Frisco, Texas) will play golf for the Falcons in the 2011-12 season.
Wilson is currently in the middle of her senior season at Hebron High School and boasts a 74.5 scoring average. During her career she has earned 17 wins, 58 top-five finishes and 74 top-10 finishes.
Wilson earned her team's Most Valuable Player award in both her sophomore and junior seasons.
So far in Holt's senior season, she carries a 74.5 scoring average. She is a two-time captain and three-time Player of the Year for Frisco High, including being named her team's MVP.
According to GolfWeek, Holt is ranked 12th in the state of Texas and 299th overall in the world. Among her tournament wins in high school include the 2010 state regional tournament, the Fall Kickoff tournament in 2009 and the Pre-District tournament in 2008.
And getting players from Texas appears to be a good thing for BG. Just look at Susy Grunden.
Grunden, a native of Krum, Texas, led the Falcons this fall with a 74.42 scoring average. As a freshman in 2009-10, Grunden led the team with a 78.53 scoring average throughout the fall and spring.
In high school she was ranked 14th in the state of Texas and 200th overall for the 2009 graduating class, according to the Junior Golf Scoreboard.
She has separated herself as one of the better golfers on the BG squad, and it's scary that she is still just a sophomore.
With the addition of two Texans on the way, the future appears to look bright for the Falcons, especially if Wilson and Holt can bring their southern swing to the north much like Grunden did.
Shelby Wilson of Hebron High School (Carrollton, Texas) and Patricia Holt of Frisco High School (Frisco, Texas) will play golf for the Falcons in the 2011-12 season.
Wilson is currently in the middle of her senior season at Hebron High School and boasts a 74.5 scoring average. During her career she has earned 17 wins, 58 top-five finishes and 74 top-10 finishes.
Wilson earned her team's Most Valuable Player award in both her sophomore and junior seasons.
So far in Holt's senior season, she carries a 74.5 scoring average. She is a two-time captain and three-time Player of the Year for Frisco High, including being named her team's MVP.
According to GolfWeek, Holt is ranked 12th in the state of Texas and 299th overall in the world. Among her tournament wins in high school include the 2010 state regional tournament, the Fall Kickoff tournament in 2009 and the Pre-District tournament in 2008.
And getting players from Texas appears to be a good thing for BG. Just look at Susy Grunden.
Grunden, a native of Krum, Texas, led the Falcons this fall with a 74.42 scoring average. As a freshman in 2009-10, Grunden led the team with a 78.53 scoring average throughout the fall and spring.
In high school she was ranked 14th in the state of Texas and 200th overall for the 2009 graduating class, according to the Junior Golf Scoreboard.
She has separated herself as one of the better golfers on the BG squad, and it's scary that she is still just a sophomore.
With the addition of two Texans on the way, the future appears to look bright for the Falcons, especially if Wilson and Holt can bring their southern swing to the north much like Grunden did.
Falcons picked to win MAC titles in 2011
The BG women's basketball team has been picked to win the Mid-American Conference's East Division title and the MAC Tournament title in 2001, according to the league's preseason poll.
The Falcons received 43 of 48 votes to with the East Division. BG was picked to finish ahead of Kent State, Miami, Akron, Ohio and Buffalo.
In the MAC West, Toledo was picked to come out on top, followed by Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Ball State, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.
2010-11 Preseason Poll
East Division
1. Bowling Green (43)
2. Kent State (5)
3. Miami
4. Akron
5. Ohio
6. Buffalo
West Division
1. Toledo (40)
2. Eastern Michigan (8)
3. Central Michigan
4. Ball State
5. Northern Illinois
6. Western Michigan
The Falcons should have no problem wrapping up the MAC this season. They boasts one of the best one-two punches in the league with seniors Lauren Prochaska and Tracy Pontius.
Prochaska is the reigning two-time MAC Player of the Year and I expect her to earn that award again this season.
She's third in BG history in scoring and is one of the best free-throw shooters in the country, and I'm not just saying that from what I've seen. She really is.
During the 2008-09 season, Prochaska's sophomore season, she led the entire nation in free-throw percentage with 93.3 percent.
Prochaska will enter this season with 1,699 career points and will more than likely finish her BG career with over 2,000 points.
There's not a whole lot more to say that hasn't already been said about the native from Plain City, Ohio.
She was recently named one of 13 players on the All-Anderson Team, which is an incredible feat considering she still has a year left to play.
At the end of the 2010-11 season a chapter will end for BG women's basketball. The team will call the Stroh Center home next Fall and will do so without Prochaska, who will go down as one of the greatest women's basektball player's in BGSU history.
The Falcons received 43 of 48 votes to with the East Division. BG was picked to finish ahead of Kent State, Miami, Akron, Ohio and Buffalo.
In the MAC West, Toledo was picked to come out on top, followed by Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Ball State, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.
2010-11 Preseason Poll
East Division
1. Bowling Green (43)
2. Kent State (5)
3. Miami
4. Akron
5. Ohio
6. Buffalo
West Division
1. Toledo (40)
2. Eastern Michigan (8)
3. Central Michigan
4. Ball State
5. Northern Illinois
6. Western Michigan
The Falcons should have no problem wrapping up the MAC this season. They boasts one of the best one-two punches in the league with seniors Lauren Prochaska and Tracy Pontius.
Prochaska is the reigning two-time MAC Player of the Year and I expect her to earn that award again this season.
She's third in BG history in scoring and is one of the best free-throw shooters in the country, and I'm not just saying that from what I've seen. She really is.
During the 2008-09 season, Prochaska's sophomore season, she led the entire nation in free-throw percentage with 93.3 percent.
Prochaska will enter this season with 1,699 career points and will more than likely finish her BG career with over 2,000 points.
There's not a whole lot more to say that hasn't already been said about the native from Plain City, Ohio.
She was recently named one of 13 players on the All-Anderson Team, which is an incredible feat considering she still has a year left to play.
At the end of the 2010-11 season a chapter will end for BG women's basketball. The team will call the Stroh Center home next Fall and will do so without Prochaska, who will go down as one of the greatest women's basektball player's in BGSU history.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Impact players for BG to watch out for in 2010-11
The 2010-11 BG sports is shaping up to be a good one. Below is a slideshow. As with any sport, there is always returning impact players to watch out for, and this year is no exception. Willie Geter, Tracy Pontius, Scott Thomas, Paige Berger, Matthew Pitzulo, Lauren Prochaska, Ben Bojicic, David Solway, Jon Berti and Jordan Samuels-Thomas all had great seasons last year in their respective sports. Look for each of them to have another great season this year as they are the top BG athletes to keep an eye on.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Martin introduced as new BG swim coach
BG Director of Athletics Greg Christopher announced last week that Petra Martin will be the new head coach of the BG swimming team.
Martin becomes the seventh coach in program history after Keri Buff stepped down from the same position in mid-August.
Martin comes to BG with a lot of experience as both a swimmer and coach, spending eight years competing on the Czech National Swim Team and four years as a collegiate assistant coach.
Most recently, she spent three seasons as an assistant coach at George Mason University. While at George Mason, the 32-year old coached several World Championship trials qualifiers and worked directly with swimmers who finished as high as second at the NCAA National Championships.
Prior to George Mason, Martin was the assistant swimming coach at the University of Maryland from 2003-04, after graduating from the University in 2003.
Martin's all-around experience as a swimmer and a coach will be very beneficial for the Falcons as they have struggled in years past.
Martin's time spent as a coach and as a swimmer on competitive teams will have a positive impact on a team that is looking to put its one-win season a year ago behind it.
And despite BG losing its lone senior, Meg Richardson, who was named to the 2010 All Mid-American Conference First Team, the Falcons have a talented core of swimmers - including junior Vicky Yu.
Martin will make her debut as coach of the Falcons Oct. 30, when BG opens the season at home against Akron.
Martin becomes the seventh coach in program history after Keri Buff stepped down from the same position in mid-August.Martin comes to BG with a lot of experience as both a swimmer and coach, spending eight years competing on the Czech National Swim Team and four years as a collegiate assistant coach.
Most recently, she spent three seasons as an assistant coach at George Mason University. While at George Mason, the 32-year old coached several World Championship trials qualifiers and worked directly with swimmers who finished as high as second at the NCAA National Championships.
Prior to George Mason, Martin was the assistant swimming coach at the University of Maryland from 2003-04, after graduating from the University in 2003.
Martin's all-around experience as a swimmer and a coach will be very beneficial for the Falcons as they have struggled in years past.
Martin's time spent as a coach and as a swimmer on competitive teams will have a positive impact on a team that is looking to put its one-win season a year ago behind it.
And despite BG losing its lone senior, Meg Richardson, who was named to the 2010 All Mid-American Conference First Team, the Falcons have a talented core of swimmers - including junior Vicky Yu.
Martin will make her debut as coach of the Falcons Oct. 30, when BG opens the season at home against Akron.
Homecoming
Last week I got to cover my first, and last homecoming football game at BG. But it was anything but a homecoming for the Falcons.
Playing just their second game at home in five games, the Falcons lost 28-26, and in the process, got beat in almost every aspect of the game.
The game came down to the right foot of BG kicker Bryan Wright, who missed the game-winning field goal from 40 yards out.
Aside special teams, which missed an extra point, booted a kickoff out of bounds, averaged just 38 yards on eight punts and missed the game-winner, the offense was just as bad.
Yes, BG doesn't have the likes of quarterback Tyler Sheehan and wide receiver Freddie Barnes to rely on anymore, but it's sad that it just goes to show how important those two were to the Falcon offense last season.
Against Buffalo Saturday, BG could only muster 176 offensive yards. What? Really? For and offense that entered the game averaging 327 yards of total offense, Saturday's performance against the Bulls was pitiful.
Let's be real, nine rushing yards and 10 first downs for the game; when have you seen that?
Despite having a chance to win the game at the end, the score is misleading, plain and simple. BG got handled pretty well in front of its home crowd, a crowd packed full of alumni who came back on homecoming to see its football team.
The Falcons need their quarterback back. Not Sheehan, although that would be nice, but redshirt freshman Matt Schilz.
Backup quarterback Aaron Pankratz completed a measly 12 passes out of the 37 attempts he threw. He was intercepted three times.
Pankratz has been picked off four times in the last two games and has shown he can't put the ball on the money.
Below is a link to a story I wrote following the Buffalo game.
BG vs. Buffalo recap
Playing just their second game at home in five games, the Falcons lost 28-26, and in the process, got beat in almost every aspect of the game.
The game came down to the right foot of BG kicker Bryan Wright, who missed the game-winning field goal from 40 yards out.
Aside special teams, which missed an extra point, booted a kickoff out of bounds, averaged just 38 yards on eight punts and missed the game-winner, the offense was just as bad.
Yes, BG doesn't have the likes of quarterback Tyler Sheehan and wide receiver Freddie Barnes to rely on anymore, but it's sad that it just goes to show how important those two were to the Falcon offense last season.
Against Buffalo Saturday, BG could only muster 176 offensive yards. What? Really? For and offense that entered the game averaging 327 yards of total offense, Saturday's performance against the Bulls was pitiful.
Let's be real, nine rushing yards and 10 first downs for the game; when have you seen that?
Despite having a chance to win the game at the end, the score is misleading, plain and simple. BG got handled pretty well in front of its home crowd, a crowd packed full of alumni who came back on homecoming to see its football team.
The Falcons need their quarterback back. Not Sheehan, although that would be nice, but redshirt freshman Matt Schilz.
Backup quarterback Aaron Pankratz completed a measly 12 passes out of the 37 attempts he threw. He was intercepted three times.
Pankratz has been picked off four times in the last two games and has shown he can't put the ball on the money.
Below is a link to a story I wrote following the Buffalo game.
BG vs. Buffalo recap
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
BG News in the Big House
It wasn't the performance the BG football team had hoped for in playing in front of its largest crowd in school history.
More than 109,000 people at Michigan Stadium or "The Big House," watched the Wolverines eat up the ground game and the entire Falcon defense in a 65-21 rout.
There was no answer for Michigan, and what I learned is that BG has some issues to work out on defense. How does a defense allow a team to rush for 466 yards?
Okay, so Denard Robinson, who has been the most electric college football player since the beginning of the season, rushed for 129 of those yards on five carries.
But the Falcons took him out of the game after injuring his knee. Robinson ran all over Michigan's first three opponents of the season, so I didn't expect anything less against BG. With Robinson out of the game, the Falcons allowed for Michigan rushers to run for 337 yards.
Below is a video of BG coach Dave Clawson during his postgame press conference with the media following his team's loss, and as expected, he was not a happy coach.
More than 109,000 people at Michigan Stadium or "The Big House," watched the Wolverines eat up the ground game and the entire Falcon defense in a 65-21 rout.
There was no answer for Michigan, and what I learned is that BG has some issues to work out on defense. How does a defense allow a team to rush for 466 yards?
Okay, so Denard Robinson, who has been the most electric college football player since the beginning of the season, rushed for 129 of those yards on five carries.
But the Falcons took him out of the game after injuring his knee. Robinson ran all over Michigan's first three opponents of the season, so I didn't expect anything less against BG. With Robinson out of the game, the Falcons allowed for Michigan rushers to run for 337 yards.
Below is a video of BG coach Dave Clawson during his postgame press conference with the media following his team's loss, and as expected, he was not a happy coach.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Play ball!
Welcome to the inaugural post of "Off the record," a blog where I will talk about and provide up to date information about athletics at Bowling Green State University.
In this blog I will post links to my articles from The BG News, audio and video interviews with players and coaches, maps and anything else related to Falcon athletics.
The world of sports, no matter what level, is constantly changing. Therefore, it is my job to keep the people of BG updated on the most current news regarding sports at the University.
There are 18 sports at BGSU and it's an exciting time for some of them. The BG football team will look to go to another bowl game after making it to the Humanitarian Bowl last season, women's basketball will compete for its seventh consecutive Mid-American Conference championship, hockey and new coach Chris Bergeron look to get back on the map in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and baseball has its sights set on a fourth straight MAC East title.
The softball team will be exciting to take a look at as well. Paige Berger is a bright spot on the team and will be one of the main focal points over the next three years.
Berger hit 12 home runs last season, breaking the single season school record. She led the Falcons with 33 RBIs and a .681 slugging percentage and was named MAC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-MAC and member of the MAC All-Freshman Team.It will be exciting to see what she has in store for an encore.
Another exciting up and coming attraction is the Stroh Center, which will open next Fall. The arena will be the new home to both men's and women's basketball, volleyball and gymnastics and will be a nice upgrade from Anderson Arena.
In this blog I will post links to my articles from The BG News, audio and video interviews with players and coaches, maps and anything else related to Falcon athletics.
The world of sports, no matter what level, is constantly changing. Therefore, it is my job to keep the people of BG updated on the most current news regarding sports at the University.
There are 18 sports at BGSU and it's an exciting time for some of them. The BG football team will look to go to another bowl game after making it to the Humanitarian Bowl last season, women's basketball will compete for its seventh consecutive Mid-American Conference championship, hockey and new coach Chris Bergeron look to get back on the map in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and baseball has its sights set on a fourth straight MAC East title.
The softball team will be exciting to take a look at as well. Paige Berger is a bright spot on the team and will be one of the main focal points over the next three years.
Berger hit 12 home runs last season, breaking the single season school record. She led the Falcons with 33 RBIs and a .681 slugging percentage and was named MAC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-MAC and member of the MAC All-Freshman Team.It will be exciting to see what she has in store for an encore.
Another exciting up and coming attraction is the Stroh Center, which will open next Fall. The arena will be the new home to both men's and women's basketball, volleyball and gymnastics and will be a nice upgrade from Anderson Arena.
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