I can honestly remember when Bowling Green went 2-9 and the fans were calling for Clawson’s head.

I can honestly remember when the Falcons went 5-7 and we were all just hoping to finish at .500.

I can honestly remember losing games due to missed extra points and last second turnovers; however I can also remember winning the MAC Championship knocking of nationally ranked Northern Illinois and Heisman hopeful Jordon Lynch.

I can remember a lot of BG football over the past four years and this year is something truly special. For the first time since 2008-2009, the team will appear in back to back bowl games, and for the first time since 1992, the Falcons won the MAC Championship.

I would say around half of BG’s students weren’t even born yet, including quarterback Matt Johnson.

But why should we be excited for the Little Caesars Bowl? I mean, we lost our coach and some of his staff, and it isn’t even a big bowl game, right?

This year is a special opportunity at the Little Caesers Bowl game because for the first time in a decade, BG could win 11 games and begin to even up the losing postseason record that currently stands at 4-6.

BG also will be facing Pittsburgh who had a streaky season to finish at 6-6, but Pittsburgh comes from the ACC which is an automatic-qualifying conference. This is an opportunity to beat one of the larger conferences and represent the MAC.

The Little Caesars Bowl is just as prestigious as any other non-BCS bowl game, and until BG goes undefeated, this is likely the best we can hope for, so we may as well appreciate the opportunity.

A win would make a large difference in next seasons recruiting, which is likely to take a hit with Clawson’s sudden departure. An 11 win team, MAC Champions and Bowl winners says a lot to the next batch of college standouts.

Most importantly it gives the world one more look at how good this team can be. BG turned a lot of heads in larger circles than just the MAC after their trampling of Northern Illinois. Larger conferences were thanking the Falcons for not allowing NIU to bust their party, which means larger conferences were taking notice. The Associated Press had 10 votes for BG to become nationally ranked.

When many tuned in to watch Jordon Lynch extend his Heisman campaign, they instead saw a sophomore phenom that despite setting defenses on fire all year saw little attention. Matt Johnson was not selected for any All-MAC honors despite his accolades and school records. Another game means more heads to turn.

The Falcons currently boast the fifth best defense in the nation, which should give Pittsburgh quite a handful, even with BG’s interim coaching situation. Nonetheless, it would be naïve for anyone to write off Pittsburgh in the game, so I guess you’ll just have to go to Detroit on Dec. 26 to watch.