I was on the Internet, namely CBS Sportsline, taking a look at college football statistics, Heisman Trophy candidates, stuff like that. I don’t do this very much. I was just really bored out of my skull. Anyway, I took a look at the stats for quarterbacks in Division I-A. I was surprised to see a familiar name in the fifth spot. You guessed it (If not, don’t feel bad.), Omar Jacobs, the fifth best QB in the nation.
The Bowling Green State University Football Program is, without a doubt, more widely recognized than anytime before 2002. Their transformation into a MAC power began in 2001, under then Head Coach Urban Meyer, when the Falcons finished 8-3. The next season they started off 8-0, 5-0 in the MAC. Their downfall that year came thereafter as they went on to lose three out of their last four games, including the “Battle of I-75” against Toledo at the Glass Bowl.
2003 began with a new coach, Gregg Brandon, but the same player core. The Falcons finally reached the pinnacle (at least for a mid-major) by winning their first MAC West Championship, their first title of any kind in the modern era. They lost to Miami in the MAC Championship Game at the Doyt, but rebounded to win the Motor City Bowl, 28-24 over Northwestern in Detroit, their first bowl appearance (and victory) since the Las Vegas Bowl in 1992. They finished the year 11-3, thanks to receivers Cole Magner and Charles Sharon, defensive back Keon Newson, and especially quarterback Josh Harris, who is now a member of the Baltimore Ravens practice squad in the NFL. Harris is widely thought of as the greatest QB that Bowling Green has ever had…
…until now.
The Falcons came into the 2004 campaign with some questions about their new quarterback, redshirt-sophomore Omar Jacobs, who really hadn’t played any significant time during his first season of eligibility. However, there were high expectations for him in his first season as a starter. He still had his receivers, one of the best groups, stat-wise, in the nation. He also had the biggest offensive line that this program has ever put on the field blocking for him. It was just a question of his ability.
That question was immediately answered as he performed brilliantly, completing 24 of 41 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Besides that, he threw no interceptions and rushed for 22 yards on seven carries as the Falcons made a moral statement by losing, 40-24 to the Oklahoma Sooners, the #2 ranked team in the nation going in.
The great performances continued as he, despite throwing his first pick-off of the season, completed another 24 passes for 285 yards and four TDs, a career high which he has matched in four of his first seven games. He has thrown for more than 360 yards in three of those games. The opponent was Southeast Missouri State, and the final was 49-10.
The next week wasn’t as profitable, as BG lost a big conference game against the Huskies of Northern Illinois, 34-17. However, Jacobs still performed well, completing 29-42 for 275 yards. The Falcons rebounded the next week by defeating Temple, 70-16. The next week, Jacobs had his best game of the year in a 38-14 drubbing of Central Michigan, passing for a career high (to date, amazing as that may be) 387 yards on a 32-41 passing day.
Homecoming came next as the lowly Ball State Cardinals were no match for the Falcons. Final score: 51-13. By the way, another four touchdown day for Jacobs. Finally, Sunday’s game was yet another big day for Omar as he had a current career high 389 yards in the air, in a 41-16 victory.
Get the point? If not, let me explain.
Omar Jacobs, in case you haven’t noticed, is having one of the best seasons in the history of Bowling Green State University football. He has passed for over 2,000 yards (2,200 to be exact) in only seven games! This includes 20 touchdowns to only two interceptions! That’s good for a passer rating of 164.54, 5th in the nation. All this in his first year as a starter? This kid definitely has a gift.
Why is it that I am bringing this up? The answer is something that I have been trying to prove since before the season began. Omar Jacobs will be the best quarterback in BGSU history.
Can I guarantee that? Of course not. But, I can guarantee that Jacobs is better at this point in his career than his predecessor, current Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad QB Josh Harris, who led this program to its first MAC West Championship and first bowl appearance since 1992.
Josh Harris was recruited before the 2000 season, but it was not as a quarterback. He actually started his collegiate football career as a defensive back. He did not play much that season. During the offseason, he switched to QB and became the backup to starter Andy Sahm in 2001. Harris split time with Sahm as the team finished 8-3. The next year, things were different. The Falcons moved to the Western Division of the MAC, and Josh Harris was named starting quarterback. The team won its first eight games, but lost three out of their last four including a loss to Toledo. They finished 9-3, 6-2 in the MAC. 2003 was the year that finally got Harris noticed. The team went 11-3 and won both the MAC West and the Motor City Bowl against Big Ten foe Northwestern.
Josh Harris was drafted in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He is currently on the practice squad, but is still making upwards of $1 million a year. The point of all this gibberish is this. The way Omar Jacobs is playing to this point in his career as a starting quarterback, he will not only get drafted, but in a higher round. He will not only make an NFL roster, but will start his first game sometime during his rookie season. Barring a catastrophe, this should all happen.
Want more? Jacobs will win two MVP awards, and will lead his team to three Super Bowls, winning two of them. Years later, he will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, becoming the first man in dredlocks to wear the coveted cream-colored jacket. Satisfied?
If not, fine. I don’t need to validate my opinions and expressions through you, the reader. After all, that’s why they call these things “Opinionated Columns”.
