Article published August 08, 2009
The clock's ticking for Falcons
By DONALD EMMONS
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
BOWLING GREEN - The calendar clearly shows Bowling Green State University doesn't have a whole lot of time to prepare for a season that begins in grueling fashion.
The Falcons have less than a month to get ready for a season-opening month of four nonconference matchups that would make many college coaches perform a double-take when looking at the opponents.
BGSU first-year head coach Dave Clawson opens with games against Troy University (Sept. 3), at the University of Missouri (Sept. 12), at Marshall University (Sept. 19), and against Boise State (Sept. 26). In recent seasons all four have been college bowl-caliber programs.
"We want to win every one of those games," Clawson said. "Our [nonconference] schedule certainly prepares us for the MAC conference schedule."
A rough start for the Falcons would make it tough for BG heading into MAC play.
"We're a young team, but we're expecting big things," said P.J. Mahone, a senior defensive back. "But we've got a long way to go."BARNES' HOMEWORK: Freddie Barnes spent about 20 minutes after the Falcons' first practice working on catching footballs delivered by a throwing machine. He caught practically every ball that came his way.
The senior wideout suffered a shoulder injury last season that caused him to miss three games. Yet, he still managed to finish second on the team with 40 catches for 355 yards.
Barnes, a 6-2, 212-pounder, who shifted from quarterback to wideout as a freshman, figures to be Tyler Sheehan's No. 1 target.
"I feel like I'm at perfect health," Barnes said. "The Lord has blessed me to make it through the entire summer without missing any workouts."
As a sophomore, Barnes caught a team-leading 82 passes for 962 yards, including a team-high nine touchdowns to earn All-Mid-American Conference third team recognition.
GAME DUCATS: Tickets for individual home football games at Doyt Perry Stadium will be available on Monday at 9 a.m. Tickets range from $12-$21 with special reduced prices for tickets purchased in groups of 20 or more ranging from $7-$9. (Groups of 50 or more will cost $7 while groups 20-49 will cost $9.) Tickets can be purchased online at bgsufalcons.com or by phone at 877-BGSU TICKET or at the BGSU athletic ticket office, which is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Anderson Arena's main lobby.
COST CUTTING: The BGSU athletic department is feeling the affects of a struggling economy. BGSU officials opted to not print media guides for any of the 18 sports programs on campus this year. Jason Knavel, BGSU assistant athletic director for athletic communications, said the decision will save the department $45,000. To accommodate media and anyone else interested in Falcons sports teams, Knavel said media guide information will be made available on BGSU's athletics website, bgsufalcons.com in pdf-format.
BG is not the only school in the Mid-American Conference that elected to go paperless for media guides this year. Ball State University, University of Buffalo, and Miami are also not printing media guides for any of their athletic teams this year.
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