BOWLING GREEN — On one sideline Thursday, a Michigan alumnus will lead a coaching staff loaded with former Wolverines into his first game as the head coach of a program looking to become a winner again.
And on the other sideline is, well — the exact same thing.
Doyt Perry Stadium is the unlikely host of a Michigan reunion that will skip the golf outing and dive right into the football season.
An agreement signed two years ago between Bowling Green State University and Morgan State turned into a unique collision of former teammates who are not only at the exact same point of their careers at the exact same time, but serving as each other’s first opponent.
Scot Loeffler, a former UM quarterback, will coach his first game at BG against former standout Wolverines running back Tyrone Wheatley, who took over the reins at Morgan State, the Baltimore-based HBCU. Given how both men filled out their coaching staffs, the sidelines Thursday will not be at a loss for people who know all the words to “The Victors.”
A total of 10 coaches in the game either played or coached at Michigan, including five members of Michigan’s 1993 team: Loeffler, Wheatley, Morgan State assistants William Carr and Derrick Alexander, and Loeffler’s associate head coach, Steve Morrison.
That the get-together is taking place on a Thursday in Bowling Green, Ohio, feels at least a little odd to the coaches involved.
“It’s weird — it’s beyond weird, to say the least,” Loeffler said. “I’ve known Tyrone since I was 16 years old. I’ve known Derrick Alexander since I was 17 years old; Will Carr and I came in [to Michigan] in the same class.
“I’ve thrown a lot of balls to Derrick Alexander. I’ve handed off a lot to Tyrone Wheatley. They’re great men. That staff will do a great job turning that program around.”
On Bowling Green’s side, Thursday marks the first step for Loeffler, whose hiring led to a reunification of Lloyd Carr’s Michigan coaching staff.
Loeffler, a former Wolverines quarterbacks coach, hired Morrison to be the associate head coach, Terry Malone to be the Falcons’ offensive coordinator, Erik Campbell to direct the passing game, Kevin Tolbert to oversee the strength and conditioning program, all roles in line with what they did as Michigan assistants.
The group stayed in touch over the years and discussed possibly reassembling if and when one of them earned a head coaching job.
“We always talked about it, whoever had the first chance to bring guys back together was going to make the call,” Campbell said. “Scot was the first one, and he made the call, and I didn’t hesitate.”
For Malone, who spent a decade at Bowling Green from 1986 to 1995 before a stay at Michigan from 1997 to 2005, the choice to reunite with two parts of his coaching past ignited deja vu.
“You look around the table, and to see the familiar faces, that’s a fantastic feeling,” Malone said. “For me, it’s been 14 years since I was at Michigan, but we picked up right where we left off. I love those guys, and we had such great experiences there at Michigan that we want to continue that here.”
Both programs find themselves in similar positions. Bowling Green went 9-27 from 2016 to 2018 after winning the Mid-American Conference in 2015. The Bears have not won more than four games in a season since making the FCS playoffs in 2014.
Aside from sharing an alma mater, Loeffler said he and Wheatley have similar ideals as head coaches.
“A lot of the same values, a lot of the same things that we’re doing here, they’re doing there, I can promise you that,” Loeffler said. “He’ll get that job turned around and he’ll do a great job there.”
The Bears have a handful of supporters in BG, though that goodwill will temporarily go on hold Thursday evening.
“I want to see them win every single game except one,” Loeffler said. “Except this Thursday.”
First Published August 27, 2019, 4:26 p.m.
