The 2009 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Dave Clawson and played in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They played their home games at Doyt Perry Stadium. They finished the season 7–6, 6–2 in MAC play to finish in third place in the East Division. They were invited to the Humanitarian Bowl where they lost to Idaho.
Preseason
Coaching changes On November 28, 2008, athletic director Greg Christopher announced that head coach Gregg Brandon had been fired after six seasons and 44–30 record, including a 31–18 conference record, which was the best of any MAC coach since 2003 and led the team to three bowl games (2–1) and shares of two East division championships. Christopher stated that a culmination of on and off the field events led to Brandon's dismissal, nine months after Brandon received a three-year contract extension. The on-field problems included the Falcons 6–6 record, which was very disappointing as the Falcons were favored to win the MAC East division, and a 1–4 home record which included losses to Miami (OH) and Eastern Michigan (who finished 2–10 and 3–9 respectively) and a 40–34 double-overtime loss to eventual MAC Champion Buffalo, after the Falcons led the game by 20 points entering the fourth quarter and gave up two touchdowns within the final three minutes of the game. Off the field, eleven Falcons players found themselves in legal troubles, two of which were arrested on drug trafficking charges. The program was also stripped of nine scholarships by the NCAA because of inadequate grades on the association's Academic Progress Report. Christopher stated that Brandon's post-game tirade about the lack of student support and attendance after the Buffalo loss, did not factor into his decision to release the coach.
On December 7, 2008, the Falcons lost two valuable coaches to rival Toledo, as defensive coordinator Mike Ward and co-offensive coordinator Matt Campbell were brought to the Rockets by new head coach (and former BG assistant) Tim Beckman. The two assistants left, because they were not guaranteed contracts after Gregg Brandon was fired. Ward was a very influential tool in recruiting and a few recruits were expected to rescind their verbals to Bowling Green, because of his departure.
On December 12, 2008, athletic director Greg Christopher named Dave Clawson as the program's 17th head coach. Clawson, served the previous season with Tennessee as the Volunteers' offensive coordinator and had been the head coach at Fordham and Richmond, winning three conference championships and two Div. I-FCS Coach of the Year awards. Others that were considered for the job included former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Tim Beckman (now head coach at Toledo), Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell, former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen (now head coach at the University of Florida), Louisville defensive coordinator Ron English, LSU offensive line coach Greg Studrawa, Central Michigan assistant Zach Azzani, Missouri defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack
On January 27, 2009, Clawson announced eight additions to his coaching staff for the upcoming season. The list included Shannon Morrison and Joe Trainer hired as co-defensive coordinators, Warren Ruggerio as offensive coordinator, John Hunter as running backs coach, John McDonnell as offensive line coach, Doug Philips as defensive ends coach, Sean Spencer as defensive tackles coach and special teams coordinator, and Clint Dowdle as director of football operations. A month after being introduced as co-defensive coordinator, Joe Trainer left the Falcons to become head coach at Rhode Island, a school that he was previously an assistant and defensive coordinator.
On February 2, 2009, quarterbacks coach Jim Hofher left the Falcons to become offensive coordinator at Delaware.
Key losses Clawson dismissed Senior defensive lineman Michael Ream for an undisclosed violation of team rules in April. Ream, who had been suspended in 2007 due to violating team rules, was to be the only senior on Bowling Green's defensive line. When asked about the dismissal, Clawson stated "We are disappointed that we had to take this step, but when a student-athlete makes a poor decision, he must live with the consequences of his decision."
The following are some of the key players (all but Ream having graduated) who will be no longer eligible to play in the 2009 season:
Offense: Brandon Curtis (OL) Jeff Fink (OL) Jermiah Kelley (WR) Aaron Kent (OL) Marques Parks (WR) Corey Partridge (WR) Eric Ransom (RB) Anthony Turner (RB)
Defense: Adrian Baker (DE) Diyral Briggs (DL) Nick Davis (DL) Erique Dozier (LB) Giovanni Fillari (DB) John Haneline (LB) Kenny Lewis (DB) Michael Ream (DL)*† Joe Schaefer (DL) Antonio Smith (DB) Nate Waldron (LB) Freddie Walker (DB)
Special Teams: Sinisa Vrvillo (K)
*-Underclassman †-Dismissed from team
Recruiting
Schedule
Sources:2009 Bowling Green Falcons Football Schedule, BGSUFalcons.com, accessed 3 April 2009.
Roster (as of 09/06/2009) Wide receivers 2 Ray Hutson – sophomore 3 Chris Scheidt – sophomore 6 Calvin Wiley – senior 7 Freddie Barnes – senior 8 Tyrone Pronty – senior 9 Adrian Hodges – sophomore 12 Chris Wright – senior 19 Kamar Jorden – junior 80 Austin Collier – freshman 80 Justus Jones – freshman 82 Jordan Hopgood – freshman 83 Sean Joplin – freshman 84 Derek Brighton – junior
Offensive line 56 Tyler Donahue – junior 60 Casey McHugh – junior 61 Ben Bojicic – sophomore 62 Preston Burrell – sophomore 64 Scott Albert – senior 65 Kyle Bryant – freshman 66 Ricky Retzinger – freshman 67 James Garnett – 68 Scott Lewis – sophomore 69 Marc Stevens – freshman 70 Brady Minturn – senior 71 Chip Robinson – freshman 75 Shane Steffy – senior 77 Blaec Walker – freshman 79 Tim German – freshman
Tight ends 36 Lewis Parks – junior 44 Nick Rieke – junior 81 DeMark Jenkins – freshman 85 Chris Paliska – freshman 87 Alex Bayer – freshman 89 Jimmy Scheidler – senior 95 Sheldon Hall – freshman
Fullbacks 40 Vince German – freshman Quarterbacks 11 Matt Schilz – freshman 13 Tyler Sheehan – senior 14 Kellen Pagel – freshman 14 Aaron Pankratz – freshman 16 Tony Hunter – senior 18 Bart Tanski – freshman
Running backs 1 Willie Geter – junior 20 John Pettigrew – freshman 22 Jason Rice – sophomore 28 Steven Dunlap – freshman 30 Mark Mays – freshman 33 Chris Bullock – senior 34 Zach Akenberger – sophomore 37 Erique Geiger – freshman
Defensive line 50 Winston Etheridge – freshman 55 Angelo Magnone – junior 58 Jarius Campbell – freshman 58 Micky Wagner – sophomore 59 Jordon Roussos – freshman 72 Nick Torresso – junior 76 Jake Thompson – freshman 88 Nick Tuminello – freshman 90 Dylan Farrington – freshman 91 Chris Jones – freshman 92 Kevin Alvarado – sophomore 93 Ted Ouellet – freshman 94 Carlos Tipton – junior 96 Ronnie Goble – freshman 97 Darius Smith – junior 98 Andrew Johnson – sophomore Linebackers 4 Jerett Sanderson – senior 35 Ryan Crow – junior 42 Eugene Fells – junior 43 Brandon Jackson – senior 45 Cody Basler – senior 47 Dwayne Woods – freshman 51 Anthony Lawson – freshman 51 Paul W. Swan – freshman 52 James Schneider – senior 53 Alex Thomas – freshman 54 Eric Jordan – freshman 57 Neal Dahlman – junior
Defensive backs 5 P.J. Mahone – senior 10 Calvin Marshall – junior 15 Lane Robilotto – freshman 17 Marquese Quiles – freshman 21 Adrien Spencer – freshman 23 Robert Lorenzi – junior 24 Jahmal Brown – senior 25 Jonathan Davis – freshman 27 Giovanni Fillari – senior 28 Cameron Truss – freshman 31 Roger Williams – senior 32 Jerrel Parks – junior 32 Keith Morgan – sophomore 38 Aunre' Davis – freshman 41 Tim Moore – freshman
Kickers 26 Nick Iovinelli – senior 39 Matthew Norsic – sophomore 48 Jerry Phillips – freshman 49 Stephen Stein – freshman 87 Matt Oczypok – freshman
Long snapper 46 Craig Rutherford – senior 57 Neal Dahlman – junior * Injured; will not play in 2009
Game summaries
Troy
The Dave Clawson era at Bowling Green began with a home contest against the Sun Belt's Troy Trojans in the first meeting between the two schools. The game was also the first time that Bowling Green opened the season at home since 2003. The Falcons came into the game as a 7-point underdog.
Troy received the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards down the field on ten plays in just under two minutes, led by Troy quarterback Levi Brown, who had played under Clawson at Richmond. Troy running back DuJuan Harris finished off the drive, running the ball in from two yards out to put Troy up 7–0. The teams would trade punts on the next two drives before Bowling Green pushed the ball into Troy's territory. After completing a pass on fourth and six to Troy's 25-yard line, Tyler Sheehan was intercepted by Troy defensive back Bryan Willis ending the Falcons' deepest drive of the first quarter. Troy would push their lead to 14–0 after Brown hit wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan for a 13-yard touchdown. The Falcons would answer on the following drive, as Sheehan hooked up with senior wide receiver Freddie Barnes for a 31-yard touchdown pass cutting Troy's lead to 14–7. Late in the second quarter Troy drove deep into Bowling Green's territory, but their drive stalled at the Falcons' 17-yard line after the Trojans failed to convert on fourth and one. The Falcons would run the clock out and end the half trailing 14–7
The Falcons would show a totally different look in the second half effectively shutting the door on the Troy's offense, including forcing a fumble and intercepting Brown twice. The Falcons scored on their second drive of the third quarter, as Sheehan found Barnes for eight yards and their second touchdown of the game. On the first play of the fourth quarter, senior defensive back Roger Williams intercepted a Levi Brown pass at Bowling Green's 29-yard line. Bowling Green would take the lead on the following possession, as freshman kicker Jerry Phillips converted a 21-yard field goal making the score 17–14 in Bowling Green's favor. Bowling Green would score on its second consecutive possession, as junior runningback Willie Geter capped off a 4 play, 49 yard drive with a one-yard rush, increasing the Falcons' lead to 24–14. Bowling Green freshman defensive back Adrien Spencer sealed the win for Bowling Green after he picked Brown off on a fourth and four and took the ball back for a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown, increasing the score to 31–14.
During the game, Bowling Green senior wide receiver Freddie Barnes set the school record for most receptions in a game, as he collected 15 receptions for 157 yards and Clawson became the eighth consecutive coach to win their debut as the head coach at Bowling Green.
Missouri
The Falcons' second game of the season came on the road against the Big 12's Missouri Tigers who came into the game ranked #25th in the nation. The Falcons entered the game with a 3–1 series advantage, including a 20 – 13 victory the last time the two teams met at Faurot Field in 2001. The Falcons came into the game as a 20-point underdog and were not expected to cause the Tigers much of a threat.