It will have been 10 days since Bowling Green lost on national television to the Boise State Broncos, and they are ready to get that foul taste out of their mouths. They want to show their faithful fans what real Falcon football is all about tomorrow when they face-off against the Temple Owls.
“The fans should expect a defense flying around, hitting guys and an offense lighting up the scoreboard,” said team captain Ted Piepkow, senior.
This would be in stark contrast to the defense seen in the first three games of the season, including losses at Wisconsin and Boise State and a win at Ball State. That defense displayed poor execution and a lack of fire and intensity.
However, after a week of tough practice, renewed dedication and more energy, the team hopes those problems are a thing of the past.
“We’re hungry,” Piepkow said. “We know we can play better and it’s up to us to do that.”
Coach Gregg Brandon thinks one of the biggest advantages of tomorrow’s homecoming game will be a more relaxed young football team. With no outside distractions like jet lag, getting on a bus, and worrying about where meals will be, the team will only have one thing to think about – the football game.
“All of the little things that you don’t have to worry about at home- our younger players need to play a home game. Our older players and our coaches need to play a home game.”
Many of the players are anxious to perform in front of their home town fans.
“It will be really good to see orange, instead of red, purple and all those other colors,” said defensive end Devon Parks. “As a team, playing in front of a home crowd, where 30,000 people are on your side, is something you look forward to as a football player.”
“Everybody is pumped up and can’t wait,” said senior left tackle Rob Warren.
“Everyone is extremely excited that we finally get to play at home in front of our own crowd,” added Piepkow. “It’s homecoming, it’s [my] senior year, I can’t wait.”
However, Temple, isn’t a team to be overlooked.
They have had ups and downs all season, thanks in large part to a schedule that has featured Arizona State, Wisconsin and Toledo, who share a combined record of 10-1.
“Look at their schedule,” Brandon said. “I would be inconsistent against those people.”
Brandon said the high level of competition has not given the Owls an opportunity to showcase the talent they have.
“They’ve got some talent on that team. They were in the Big East, so they were recruiting at that level and they’ve got some guys who can play at that level,” Brandon said.
Whereas the Falcons have shown a lack of passion, coach Bobby Wallace said Temple has shown plenty, but a lack of smarts.
“Not only do you have to play with your heart,” Wallace said, “but you have to play with your head, and we have to work on that.”
Wallace isn’t fooled by the Falcons poor performance in Boise, he knows first hand that Bowling Green can be a tough team to beat. The Owls were on the wrong end of a 70-16 thrashing last season at Temple.
“What they did to us last year was about as thorough beating as you can have,” Wallace said. “I just think that they’re an outstanding team and that the Boise game was uncharacteristic.”
