With injuries and depletions becoming increasingly important as the Bowling Green football team continues into the second half of its season, Coach Urban Meyer shifted the focus of his weekly media luncheon to a task that will affect the program for years to come: recruiting.
Meyer, in the last few weeks, has continuously expressed his excitement about the group of prospective Falcons that will be visiting campus later in the season.
Now, he has begun addressing what his program needs to do to be able to compete with other Mid-American Conference schools and Big Ten schools in the recruiting war.
“Where we’re at right now, we’re moving in the right direction,” Meyer said. “In the next six weeks, you’re going to see the best student-athletes, the best prospects in the history of Bowling Green State University. It’s critical that we put our best foot forward.
“When you look at Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Ohio, UT; everyone’s facilities are getting going, everything’s moving. We need to get moving, and we’re going to get moving.”
Most of the recruiting war will be won on the field, which still remains the Falcons’ No. one task at hand. Coming off a dramatic and exhausting 48-45 overtime win over Western Michigan Saturday night, BG must regroup to face the Ball State Cardinals this Saturday.
A difficult enough task with a full squad becomes even more difficult with all of the aforementioned injuries to the BG defense.
Quarterback Josh Harris, who leads the nation in scoring and points responsible for, sustained an injury to his knee against Western Michigan, and is feeling the effects of that injury this week.
He will likely play. Defensive back Jerry Wagner broke a finger in the win, and offensive lineman also sustained a knee injury.
Offensive lineman James Williams, injured against Central Michigan two weeks ago, will likely not play Saturday, and neither will Rick Mauer, also hurt against Central. Linebacker Luis Llamas is also out another week.
Defensive backs Jason Morton and Michael Malone both saw limited playing time against the Broncos, and are questionable, as is starting tailback joe Alls, who separated his shoulder against Ohio.
Despite the injuries, though, Meyer still has seen great things from his players thus far, especially what he calls his players “not flinching.”
“We had a theme this summer, and we called it ‘don’t flinch’,” Meyer said. “When your number gets called, you’ve got to make a play. Alex Glantzis’ number was pushed in Kansas [when he forced a fumble, which was recovered for a touchdown], and it was pushed Saturday when he blocked that field goal.
“Mitch Hewitt’s number was punched, and Chris Haneline’s was punched [on a fake punt in the second quarter]. Jerry Wagner broke his finger, but he knocked down a pass to help us win the game.”
Also at issue will be the Falcons’ run defense, which has surrendered two straight 100-yard rushers. The Falcon defense had allowed 11 of its previous 18 foes under 100 yards rushing as a team.
This week, it won’t get any easier, with Ball State’s Marcus Merriweather, a 1,000 yard back from a year ago, on the warpath again. Merriweather has totaled 837 yards already this year in just seven games.
“I think he has 800 yards rushing so far; they’re not playing around,” Meyer said. “He’s big, that’s why PJ Pope is appealing to me, he’s a 210-pound back. There’s a difference between a 180-pound guy hitting you and a 210-pound guy hitting you. They’re not going to trick you, they’re second in the league in possession time, and they’re going to run the football.”
