BOWLING GREEN -- It seemed like everybody in the area was at the Bowling Green State University/University of Toledo rivalry game at noon Saturday on the crisp, sunny, and windy day.

Tailgaters started as early as 8 a.m., and the parking lot was a sea of motor homes by 9 a.m. The first of the tailgaters to arrive were BGSU graduates Kenny and Carol Rodgers of Bowling Green and alumnae Wendy DeGarmo of Nashville and Randi Euler of Chicago.

In the BuckeyeCable System tent were Terry and Debbie Neal of Perrysburg and John and Kaiko Zureich of Sylvania. Also there were Sara Sheils and many others including former Freddie Falcon Jeff Merrill, from the class of 1990-91. He was the first Bowling Green High School grad to become a Freddie Falcon. His backup was Brian Pcionek, who also was at the game.

Mary Lou Rudolph, who was tailgating earlier with her husband, Phil Rudolph, Jr., was in one of the hospitality suites while he stayed in the stands. She had a chance to chat with her daughter, Caitlin Rudolph, a junior at BGSU, who was working in the suites that day.

In the presidential suite were BGSU president Mary Ellen Mazey and UT president Lloyd Jacobs, who then went to the directors suite where other UT fans were watching the game. Stopping by the presidential suite was Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, a former UT football player.

Also hobnobbing were state Rep. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green), Fritz and Mary Wolfe and their daughter Lisa Wolfe, Diane and Bill Primrose, Don and Fredrica Irwin, Bruce and Janet Misamore, Tom and Marilyn Fox, Doug and Karen Simmons, and many others.

In the stadium club was Kerm Stroh, for whom the Stroh Center was named. He was with his wife, Mary Ellen Stroh. Also seen was Mark Welker, who played football for BGSU in 1941 and 1942, and then played again after returning from the war in 1946. By his side was his wife, Mickey Welker, who was the first woman to receive an alumni service award. Ken Hoffman, the game director for Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl, was chatting with Greg Christopher, BGSU athletic director.

Also seen in the stadium club were three former Falcon football players who were celebrating their 50th reunion: Ed Phillips, there with wife Diane; Jack Harbaugh, who also was a long-time coach for several universities, there with his wife, Jackie, a BGSU graduate, and Ed Owen, with his wife, Cathy.

Sally and Clarence Metzger were also in the club, along with many others.

In the Bureau Concrete suite was owner John Bureau, who was celebrating his birthday with family and friends. Frank Mihalik, a UT fan amid all the BGSU orange, brought a birthday gift -- blue and gold M&M's.

In the admissions suite were Bowling Green Schools' Superintendent Ann McVey, principal Jeff Dever, assistant principal Bob Yenrick, and many others.

In the Huntington suite was president Sharon Speyer, decked out in UT's blue and gold, and her husband, Dean Monske, decked out in BGSU's orange and brown. Later she headed to the Toledo Walleye's season opener, where she tossed out the first puck.

First Published October 20, 2011, 4:15 a.m.