With just one week left before they meet their destiny this season, the Bowling Green football team is already feeling the anxiousness that comes with playing Toledo.
“It’s a rivalry game,” BG head coach Gregg Brandon said. “That’s always fun.”
The rivalry has been going since 1935, when the Rockets beat the Falcons 63-0. According to the 2004 Toledo media guide, BG officials decided not to play against the Rockets because of the unruly behavior of the UT fans. By 1948, the rivalry was ready to resume and the Falcons were ready, winning the game 21-6.
Since then, it has been one of the most heated rivalries and the Falcons have lead the all-time series 36-28-4.
“It’s been a rivalry for awhile,” Brandon said. “The schools are only 20 miles apart and that is always intriguing. It’s a rivalry because no one team dominates the other one, there’s always a lot at stake in the game.”
This was as true as ever last year, as the winner was guaranteed to win the West Division in the Mid-American Conference. Winning the game also opened up a strong possibility of making a bowl game.
During the past six years, the rivalry has reached a high level. The Rockets have been contenders to win the MAC for most of the last decade while the Falcons have struggled in that time. It wasn’t until recently that the Falcons have become a force in the conference.
In each of the last two years, the Falcons have come in ranked. They were No. 22 in the nation last year and No.24 this year.
Making the game even more intriguiging, the teams have gone back and forth the past six years, with the home team winning every battle.
This may not look like a good sign for the Falcons, but they’re not concerned. This is a game in which anything can happen.
For BG running back P.J. Pope, the game itself is enough to get him motivated.
“Not much else needs to be said about it,” Pope said.
Upon coming to Bowling Green, football players know what they’re here for and know that no matter how bad the season is going, there is still a game against Toledo that can salvage the season.
“Everything everyone talks about from the time you step on campus is that you’ve always got to beat the team up north,” BG center Scott Mruczkowski said.