BOWLING GREEN - When Dave Clawson looks out at Perry Stadium from his third-floor perch in Bowling Green State University's Sebo Athletic Center, the Falcons football coach doesn't see an empty stadium.
He envisions a sea of orange and brown spilling onto the field as players and fans celebrate a Mid-American Conference championship on a crisp, late autumn day.
The road to that vision one day becoming a reality starts today for Clawson and the Falcons with the first of 15 spring practices this afternoon, concluding with a spring game April 25 at Perry Stadium.
BG opens its season Sept. 3 at home against Troy.
"I'm excited just to see the guys play football," Clawson said. "You learn a lot about the players in terms of how they compete and how they work in [winter conditioning sessions], but until you get out there and watch them play football live, you really don't know who you're coaching."
Other than ramping up player evaluations, spring football also will allow Clawson and his assistants to start implementing the team's new playbook on offense and defense.Clawson said the team will run multiple schemes utilizing three, four and five-man fronts on defense. The Falcons will run multiple schemes on offense as well, with principles from the West Coast offense as a base.
BG returns 14 seniors who have starting experience.
"We need to get a good feel for our personnel," Clawson said. "It's important that you have the right guys in the right spot. We think we know what we have, but until you get out there, you're really not sure."
Clawson said he's had a smooth transition so far in his first year with the Falcons, and he's even begun to put his handprint on the program.
Three areas of emphasis during the offseason for Clawson have been instilling discipline in the program, promoting community involvement with his players and making the Sebo Center and BG football offices player-friendly environments.
"It's been great," Clawson said of his first three months in Bowling Green. "We're undefeated, people have been very receptive and the community has treated us very well. Part of it is the honeymoon period you go through as a new coach, but we're trying to build relationships, build a trust and work on building a program."
Contact Zach Silka at:
zsilka@theblade.com.
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