2008 Woodie Awards
Battle of the birds
BG's leaving the non-conference nest and soaring into MAC play
By: Chris Voloschuk
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Sports
Tomorrow starts what could be considered BG football's second season.
After a difficult non-conference trek, the 2-2 Falcons will officially open up Mid-American Conference play at Doyt Perry Stadium against Eastern Michigan. It will be BG's first home game in almost a full month and serve as this year's Homecoming contest.
After playing their last two games way out west in Boise, Idaho, and Laramie, Wyo., the players are looking forward to very short travel, sleeping in their own beds and performing in front of their own crowd.
"It seems like forever since we played here," said quarterback Tyler Sheehan. "I feel like, with such a big win last week and it being Homecoming, you'll see all the former players and alumni and it's really cool for us to see all that."
This year's Homecoming game could be a chance to make new, rosier memories. Last year's game at EMU's Rynearson stadium was a stretch of four quarters the team would probably like to forget. Despite playing one of their sloppiest games of the season and giving up 155 rushing yards, BG was able to squeak out a 39-32 come-from-behind win on a cold, dreary Friday night in Ypsilanti.
2008 is a different year, and, for the Falcons, will hopefully produce a much cleaner result. They've got some positive momentum going in due to their 45-16 drubbing of Wyoming on the road in the non-conference finale last week.
Along with the added confidence that comes with a win will come the boost associated with playing in front of the home crowd.
"We're expecting a pretty good crowd because of our performance last week," Sheehan said. "And it being Homecoming, usually we get a pretty decent crowd. We're going to try and thrive off that."
With the Homecoming atmosphere surrounding them, the Falcons will finally open up their conference schedule. A 6-2 finish last season earned them a share of the MAC East and also propelled them to a GMAC Bowl bid.
The importance of starting out the MAC schedule on the right foot hasn't been lost on the team or head coach Gregg Brandon.
After a difficult non-conference trek, the 2-2 Falcons will officially open up Mid-American Conference play at Doyt Perry Stadium against Eastern Michigan. It will be BG's first home game in almost a full month and serve as this year's Homecoming contest.
After playing their last two games way out west in Boise, Idaho, and Laramie, Wyo., the players are looking forward to very short travel, sleeping in their own beds and performing in front of their own crowd.
"It seems like forever since we played here," said quarterback Tyler Sheehan. "I feel like, with such a big win last week and it being Homecoming, you'll see all the former players and alumni and it's really cool for us to see all that."
This year's Homecoming game could be a chance to make new, rosier memories. Last year's game at EMU's Rynearson stadium was a stretch of four quarters the team would probably like to forget. Despite playing one of their sloppiest games of the season and giving up 155 rushing yards, BG was able to squeak out a 39-32 come-from-behind win on a cold, dreary Friday night in Ypsilanti.
2008 is a different year, and, for the Falcons, will hopefully produce a much cleaner result. They've got some positive momentum going in due to their 45-16 drubbing of Wyoming on the road in the non-conference finale last week.
Along with the added confidence that comes with a win will come the boost associated with playing in front of the home crowd.
"We're expecting a pretty good crowd because of our performance last week," Sheehan said. "And it being Homecoming, usually we get a pretty decent crowd. We're going to try and thrive off that."
With the Homecoming atmosphere surrounding them, the Falcons will finally open up their conference schedule. A 6-2 finish last season earned them a share of the MAC East and also propelled them to a GMAC Bowl bid.
The importance of starting out the MAC schedule on the right foot hasn't been lost on the team or head coach Gregg Brandon.
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