Pop culture and the Bowling Green football team are on the same page.
There is a Snickers candy bar commercial that may describe the Falcon gridders scenario perfectly. In the commercial, an enthusiastic coach gives a spirited talk to his team. “First we’re going get changed,” the coach yells. “Then were going to get on the bus. Then were going to go home. Then we’re going to take a nap.” The battered football players get more enthusiastic with each proclamation by their coach.
Believe it or not, as BG was running off the field after its 16-11 win over Akron Saturday, the Falcons were celebrating more than their victory – they were celebrating their chance to take a nap.
“All of them kept yelling, ‘We finally get to sleep!” said BG coach Urban Meyer. “It’s amazing what motivates kids.”
The Falcons earned their much-needed rest seven games into the season sporting a 5-2 record. Injuries become an epidemic as the season progresses and BG has its fair share of wounded soldiers.
Quarterback Andy Sahm is nursing a hip pointer injury. BG’s other offensive weapon at quarterback, sophomore Josh Harris, is a few steps slower with an ankle injury. Meyer, who came in as a coach with offensive firepower in his game plan, may have to put some more lighter fluid in his playbook to make up for even more offensive injuries. Gamebreakers Joe Alls (runningback) and David Bautista (receiver) have been nursing ankle and knee injuries the past couple of games.
“We were a very wounded football team going into Akron,” Meyer said. “We saw a bunch of kids play their hearts out. That was probably one of the best effort games we have played all season.”
“I told all of the coaches and players that we should see absolute, complete exhaustion by the time we get back to the bye week,” Meyer continued. “I know how to rest a team. We’ll be the most rested team in I-A by the time we get to Miami.”
The bye this week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Falcons to take their naps. Next week the Falcons will be in for a battle with a home bout against Miami. The Falcon-RedHawk rivalry has always lived up to its name with some classic battles over the years. Miami was the one team that gave even the legendary Falcon coach Doyt Perry some trouble. Perry, who had an amazing 77-11-5 record at BG over 10 seasons, was 3-5-2 against the team from Oxford.
“We’re going to need every ounce of preparation we can to get ready to play Miami,” Meyer said. “Their record proves that if they’re not the best team in the MAC East, then Miami and Marshall are the top two.”
