The Falcon football team upset Missouri to start the season. Great. Next!
Bowling Green head coach Urban Meyer conveyed a “here and now” attitude yesterday when asked about his inaugural 20-13 victory over Mizzou Saturday. Meyer said the focus needs to be squarely on Buffalo, and any lingering on Saturday’s win could backfire next Saturday when the Falcons host the Bulls at 6 p.m.
“As of our team meeting at 5 o’clock [Monday], Missouri was over,” Meyer said.
BG has good reason to concentrate on Buffalo. It was a loss to Buffalo last year that marked arguably the lowest point of the BG season. Buffalo had not defeated a Division I opponent prior to that.
BG’s offensive line, a place that does not have a whole lot of depth, will be down a starter for the rest of the season as guard Andy Hart tore all his major knee ligaments Saturday. He is scheduled for surgery this week. Greg Kupke is expected to replace him.
The team’s lack of depth is something that Meyer addressed.
“We don’t have depth right now. … The reality is, we have some guys that can’t contribute the way we need,” he said. “Our [first stringers] are ones, but our [second stringers] are third.
“With our schedule, we can keep this up for a couple of games, but we … need depth.”
The depth at some positions should get a boost. Meyer said running back Godfrey Lewis is close to being back from injury, and tight end D’Monn Baker should be full speed ahead for Buffalo. Tight end Jason Van Dam is still out.
Meyer brought up concerns about his kicking game, which had an extra point blocked that prevented the Falcons from taking the lead in the second half.
“Field goals and kickoffs are an extremely disappointing part of our game,” he said. “Sean Suisham and Nate Fry have shown they can play, but right now they are not being accountable to their teammates.”
Meyer said he discussed giving the kickoff duties to punter Pat Fleming, but he had never done it before. Backup kicker Phil Messer may get a chance to win the kickoff job.
Cornerback Janssen Patton had two interceptions in the second half Saturday, the school-leading fifth and sixth of his career. Meyer, however, said Patton was a beneficiary of quarterback pressure.
“If you look at the film, the [second] interception hit Janssen right in the chest. Chris Glantzis caused the interception. He came up and hit [Missouri quarterback Darius Outlaw] in the mouth right before. He was tentative, looking around, afterward and he threw off his back foot.”
Players
The BG players all expressed a desire to put the Missouri game behind them and get to Buffalo.
“We need to forget about Missouri, and focus on an opportunity for a win [against Buffalo],” wide receiver David Bautista said. “Last week, we were focused. This week, we are even more focused. Buffalo beat us last year and probably thinks they can beat us again. We need to play as hard as possible.”
Bautista caught the first BG touchdown pass of the season in the first quarter Saturday, capping an 80-yard drive that answered a Mizzou field goal.
“When [Missouri] scored, we didn’t get down. We have a great offensive scheme. It was very important for us to put that drive together and score.”
“The offensive drive was huge, to have our offensive line go down there and push a Big 12 offensive line around was huge,” defensive end Ryan Wingrove said.
“The biggest thing is to get Missouri out of our system,” running back John Gibson said. “We are looking forward to what we hope will be a packed Doyt Perry Stadium on Saturday.”
