In an era of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness (NIL) in college athletics, the Battle of I-75 remains a hotly contested and highly respected rivalry dating back to the 1915-1916 season.
BGSU men’s basketball (7-12, 2-5) fell to Toledo (11-8, 5-2) at the Stroh Center on Friday night, 84-71, with the Rockets avenging their loss to the Orange and Brown in Bowling Green last season in the 183rd all-time meeting between the rivals.
“It’s a rivalry game. It just means more. Ton of respect for Bowling Green as an institution, their leadership, from their president to their athletic director; it’s a first-class place,” Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk said postgame. “I got nothing but good things to say about them, just that there’s some dislike from the two with the rivalry, that’s all, which is fine.”
Some feel that the current state of college athletics has affected the meaning and value of rivalries.
“I think there’s maybe not the same vitriol of when it’s four guys that have been in it for their fourth year and eighth contest, or 10th contest depending on tournament and all that sort of stuff. Those where you’re just seeing the same guy over and over; that’s kind of what makes college football great,” BG head coach Todd Simon said postgame. “You watch Michigan-Ohio State, and you’re like, is Jack Sawyer ever going to graduate? There’s something beautiful about that in college sports, and you don’t get that in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play in college basketball. It does take away a little bit.”
However, Bowling Green wants to win the game against Midnight Blue and Gold as much as ever.
“To a man in that locker room, they wanted to beat Toledo. All week, we talked about it. They talked about it on the visit, we talk about it in summer, and people talk about it in the community from the win they had last year,” Simon said. “So, it’s still a big deal. It’s a game they’ll remember. 10 years down the line, they’ll still remember it. They’ll still remember losing it because it matters.”
There are many great rivalries in college athletics. Some that immediately come to many people’s minds include ‘The Game’ between Ohio State and Michigan and the ‘Iron Bowl’ between Alabama and Auburn.
With the MAC, it is the Battle of I-75 and the ‘Wagon Wheel’ game between Akron and Kent State.
“I know [Rob Senderoff] and [John Groce] often disagree. They keep on saying it’s the best rivalry in the MAC. It’s not, this is,” Kowalczyk said. “They’ve been both pretty good the last 10 years or so. In history, this goes back a long, long time. This is a heck of a rivalry, and it’s the best in the MAC. If I offend those other two schools, that’s okay. They’re close; they’re a great rivalry, too.”
The Bowling Green community showed out for the game, with a season-high 4,072 in attendance at the Stroh Center.
“The community’s spectacular. The fanbase has been nothing but supportive. Our group is easy to get behind because they do leave it on the court; they play hard, they’re good guys. But I think that represents this community, this campus,” Simon said. “Our guys want to win for Bowling Green; there’s no question about it. They have pride in the Orange and Brown in an era where I don’t know that’s always the case; these guys hurt to lose. No one’s playing for themselves, no one’s doing all that stuff; they want to just win and win for Bowling Green, which is special.”
Friday marked the first time Bowling Green senior forward Marcus Johnson and redshirt freshman Jamai Felt have played in the rivalry.
Johnson, who scored a season and game-high 28 points, has heard all about the meaning of the matchup during his time at BG.
“I knew about the rivalry. Just being on the visit, just knowing that Toledo’s 30 minutes down the street,” Johnson said. “This game really means a lot to both towns. This is the biggest game all year.”
Felt, who recorded his second double-double of the season, had experienced four matchups between the two teams from the sidelines over the past two years while injured.
“It was great. I mean, I got to watch it for two years before I actually got to play on the floor, but it’s the same as the last two years,” Felt said. “Just high energy.”
The Falcons and Rockets will battle again at Savage Arena on Saturday, Feb. 22.
“This game means a lot to the fans,” Johnson said. “So, we have to try and get it the second time.”
