BGSU football is in do or die mode with three games remaining in the season and a ton of drama surrounding the program due to the firing of their offensive playcaller and the arrest of three players.
Here are some of the questions that were sent in for this week’s Falcon Media Sports Network mailbag:
Q: What is the best move for quarterback next year? 1. Stay with Drew Pyne, Lucian Anderson III or Hunter Najm 2. Hope we find someone from the transfer portal 3. Bring in a freshman and develop him to be good in two years
A (Sean Connelly): The best move for quarterback next year from my standpoint is the first option: give Anderson the start. When Scot Loeffler departed from the program, the whole team, not just quarterback, was uncertain, and I was shocked that Lucian didn’t get the nod to start year. I would say if Anderson stays, he’s the best option with the most experience for the future. Next on the list, if Anderson decides to transfer, is Hunter Najm. We saw Najm for the majority of the second half this past weekend against Buffalo and saw some positives, especially with his arm strength. The best option from my perspective is Anderson or Najm.
Q: Why are No. 23 and No. 14 running backs just now playing?
A (Tyler Kavalecz): The running backs you are referring to are Chris Edmonds (No. 23) and Austyn Dendy (No. 14). The answer for one is much simpler than the other. Dendy got the opportunity to step up against Kent State with the absence of Cameron Pettaway due to injury, and has continued to be a focal point of the offense since. For Edmonds, he has been buried down the depth chart all season and has begun to get some playing time. There is not much more information on his situation outside of that.
Q: Is this season a failure? Sure, we beat Toledo, but we might not even make a bowl.
A (Connelly): Saying this season is a failure would be a major overstatement. Beating Toledo alone will at least bring some positivity to this season. Looking at the grand scheme of things going into this year, the expectations were to be flirting with a bowl game. According to BetMGM, the over/under for the win total for the Falcons this season was 5.5. If we win two out of the remaining three games, that would mean we’re sitting at five wins, just under the preseason over/under. Say, worst-case scenario, we go winless over the next three games and finish the season at 3-9. Then, I would say there’s some disappointment, but by no means a failure. The quarterback situation has not helped anyone’s case on the offensive side, either. To say this season is a failure is an overreaction, considering it was just year one in the Eddie George era.
Q: Is it impossible to make a bowl game now?
A (Kavalecz): No, it is not impossible. However, it will be a difficult task. The Falcons will have to win their final three games—Eastern Michigan, Akron and UMass—to make a bowl game. If they do not win out, the Falcons will not be eligible for a bowl game for the first time since the 2021 season.
Q: Will the loss of Travis Partridge as offensive coordinator have any impact on the quarterback situation?
A (Connelly): The quarterback situation will still be up in the air for who starts in the coming weeks. I don’t think Partridge being let go will have an impact on who will start. Eddie even stated that whoever’s under center, they will have to put together the best game plan to help whoever that may be, to be successful.
To submit questions for next week’s mailbag, fill out the short form here.
