With the conclusion of Mid-American Conference (MAC) media day in Detroit on Thursday, the season is almost in full force as we are just under a month away from Bowling Green’s first game against Lafayette.
The Falcons sent up to Ford Field head coach Eddie George, Quarterback Drew Pyne, and Defensive end Eriq George.
Here are my Falcon Four takeaways from MAC media day:
- NIL is still a cluster for college athletics.
There still is no “answer” for NIL (name, image, and likeness) as it continues to grow day by day for the NCAA. MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher talks more about the House v. NCAA settlement. “The settlement is neither good nor bad. It is simply a framework for providing and evolving a set of guidelines and guardrails to guide us in the emerging economic opportunities for student athletes. Currently, the rules behind NIL and additional benefits are still being developed, as are the mechanisms to oversee those rules.” NIL is still a very young process that will need time to develop. So until then, we will have to wait and see how this shapes out.
2. The student in student-athlete is still very important.
Something that Jon Steinbrecher really emphasized was the importance of being a student-athlete, but focusing on being a student just as much as you are an athlete, while trying to navigate the NIL and transfer rules as well. “We are seeking to balance multiple goals. Economic opportunities for student athletes and successful educational outcomes. This is what makes college sports different from professional sports: the goal is to get a college degree, and we need to have eligibility and transfer rules that we can enforce, support, and facilitate that outcome,” said Steinbrecher.
3. When head coach Eddie George talks, you listen.
Eddie George will enter his first year as head coach at Bowling Green State University this fall. The players really seem to have a connection with Eddie George and feel like he pushes them to their highest potential every day. Quarterback Drew Pyne has all the praise for Eddie George and was a big reason why he chose the Orange and Brown.
“Coach George is such a great leader. He’s someone that all the players look up to and respect. He’s a proven winner,” said Pyne. “He’s pushing us to the highest limit physically and mentally. He incorporates this thing called GUTS, which is gumption, understanding, tenacity, and sacrifice. Every Friday after a workout, we’d get our GUTS in. So, it’s a little extra, something to push your mind to make you wanna quit that you can’t quit. When he talks, we listen.”
GUTS is something that Eddie George came up with while at Tennessee State and wants to implement it here at BGSU to show players how to face their challenges and overcome their adversities.
“In order to do anything worthwhile that’s aligned with your god given purpose. It takes courage to be a leader. It takes courage to wake up and do the right things day in and day out. It takes courage to be disciplined consistently, said Eddie George. “I came up with GUTS for me, I had to have guts to pursue a career in the NFL, go into Broadway and get my master’s. It’s how I respond to my adversities.”
4. Team chemistry is still at an all-time high.
Despite losing a lot of production on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, the chemistry is still intact, and a large part of that is because of the offensive line. A lot of new faces are in the building, but despite that, Pyne mentions how close of a group the men in the trenches are, “they’re all real leaders of the offense, but real leaders of the team as well. That offensive line unit really travels in a pack, anywhere they go. They’re a very tight-knit group, and it all starts with them.“ Said Pyne.
Eddie George’s son, Eriq George, was in attendance yesterday as a member of the defensive side of the ball, as he plays on the defensive line, explained that the defense welcomed him with open arms and thinks this group fits well together.
“The guys who have been here have been very open with transfers, including myself, with open arms,” Eriq George said. “They love to be around each other, they love to play ball, I think that’s once camp rolls around that we’ll be able to gel pretty well and get a good, very productive defense.”
Next month, we will see a new era of Bowling Green football take place as Eddie George, Drew Pyne, Eriq George and the rest of the Falcons take the field for the first time in 2025 as they kick off their season on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. against Lafayette at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
