BGSU football fans attended the home opener vs. Fordham last Thursday at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
Students were able to attend the game for free, and before the game, BGSU President Rodney Rogers and his wife Sandy hosted a free tailgate for all Bowling Green students.
“So a tradition we started quite a few years ago is the first home game we have a President’s student tailgate, so Sandy and I get to host a barbeque tailgate for all our students,” President Rogers said.
Many students, like freshman history major Miles O’Sullivan, believe the tailgate is a great way to “socialize and meet new people.” As a freshman, going to a college with nearly 20,000 students is a big change; especially with friendships and events. O’Sullivan was most excited to “experience a way bigger crowd than high school,” and of course to run across the field with other students.
Students meet at the northwest corner of the Doyt and run across to the student section to start the first home game, known as the First Game Run out. Overall, students are excited about the atmosphere surrounding BGSU football.
“I’m most excited for the energy that the student section is gonna bring, it’s gonna be a lot of fun, and there’s gonna be a lot of loud fans tonight,” sophomore sports management student McKenna Duman said. A fellow sophomore sports management student, Luke Suchyta added that he was excited “to see them win their opener and all the crowd energy.”
With nearly 13,000 fans in attendance last Thursday, the ‘orange wave’ brought the energy Duman and Suchyta were looking forward to. “Everyone there cheers for the same team you are,” Duman added, “and everyone gets super excited for the same moments that you get excited for.”
With an incoming freshman class of around 3,900 students, Suchyta says it’s important to learn chants like ‘Aye Ziggy Zoomba’ which is his personal favorite. Suchyta finds BGSU more special than other colleges based on “how the students get involved in the game.” BGSU football would not be the same without the student section dubbed the Falcon Fanatics.
The energy doesn’t stop when the football team isn’t playing, though. The student section got on their feet for the Falcon Marching band as well. The band played a movie night show incorporating songs from, Back to the Future, Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, Batman, and Star Wars.
“I’m really excited to kick off this year and see this great football team perform this evening and to watch the second-largest marching band in the country, the Falcon marching band,” President Rogers said.
Overall, President Rogers wants students to come together to support something that they are all passionate about- Bowling Green State University.
“You know, a big part of the college experience is certainly bringing together the community,” Rogers added. “So I invite all students to come to events like this not only to have some fun but also to make those new friends.”
BGSU won their home opener against Fordham 41-17. Next week they play away at Penn State. The next time to see your Falcons at home is September 28 against Old Dominion. You can get your free student ticket through the BGSU Athletics app.
