BOWLING GREEN — There’s no question that Eddie George’s name still holds a lot of value, especially in Ohio.
That’s the last thing, however, the new Bowling Green State University football coach wants to focus on as he begins his tenure leading the Falcons.
“I never made it about me,” George told reporters after his introductory news conference March 10 at the Stroh Center. “It’s always about BG. It was always about [Tennessee State University] when I was there.
“So it’s about the experiences you’re going to have when you get here. You’re going to be raised to be a man, you’re going to be held accountable at every turn. I don’t make it about ‘Hey, here’s my Heisman Trophy.’ I said, ‘Well, I can show you how to get there with the trust in the blueprint. It’s not going to be easy.’ Bowling Green will not be for everybody, and that’s OK. There’s a place for mediocrity, but it’s not at Bowling Green. So that’s how we look at it.”
The buzz around BGSU has still been high since George was announced as the 21st football coach in program history less than two weeks ago. The former Heisman Trophy-winning running back at Ohio State, who went on to become a four-time Pro-Bowl selection in a successful NFL career, brings a wealth of knowledge on the gridiron that includes leading Tennessee State to its first conference title in 25 years and its first FCS playoff appearance in 11 years during the 2024 campaign.
“What a spectacular hire. Credit to [BGSU athletic director] Derek van der Merwe and all the folks that made this happen because he certainly raises the profile of our university,” BGSU men’s basketball coach Todd Simon said. “But it also is a testament to Bowling Green State University because to be able to attract somebody of his credibility is spectacular.”
George’s passion for coaching — “I’m having the time of my life, man,” he said — is one of several reasons why van der Merwe decided to bring him in to lead the Falcons. A former co-captain for Central Michigan’s football team in 1995, van der Merwe said George reminded him of one of the leaders that was inspirational during his playing days.
“I had a great, great college coach in Herb Deromedi, and when Herb would come into the locker room and speak to us, we were inspired. We wanted to play for him,” van der Merwe said. “He changed our vision and our perspective of what is success.
“At the end of the day, I wanted somebody in that locker room doing what Herb did for me, and when I met Eddie and got to know him and talk to him, his passion, his heart, he leads with his heart. He leads with a care for people. To me, I could imagine being in there after a win as he’s talking to that team giving them a speech about the value of football and how it changes you as a person, and I wanted him to be my coach. That’s why he’s here.”
George retaining several BGSU assistant coaches
With the hiring coming at a time where nearly every FBS program is going through spring practice, George has to quickly build his coaching staff while learning about his players, as well.
George is expected to bring several of his assistants from Tennessee State to BGSU, but he will retain a handful of coaches from previous mentor Scot Loeffler’s staff.
Greg Nosal, Alex Bayer, Derrick Jackson, and Brian White will return for BGSU. The four coaches bring plenty of experience that can be beneficial to George.
White has been BGSU’s running backs coach for the past three seasons, while Jackson has spent the past two years as the Falcons’ secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator. Overall, the duo has more than 60 years of combined college coaching experience.
Nosal has been BGSU’s co-offensive coordinator, along with the run game coordinator and offensive line coach, the past two seasons. He has been with BGSU since 2020.
Bayer, a former two-time All-Mid-American Conference tight end for the Falcons, has coached two of BGSU’s biggest strengths for the past several seasons. He has been BGSU’s special teams coordinator since 2022 and the Falcons’ tight ends coach since 2023.
All about MACtion
George will get his first taste of the midweek phenomenon known as MACtion, and although he’s embracing it, he will have to wait until nearly the end of the season to experience it.
BGSU’s final two regular season games — at home against Akron on Nov. 18 and at Massachusetts on Nov. 25 — are on a Tuesday. The only other midweek game on the 2024 schedule is the season opener on Aug. 28 at home against Lafayette.
“I’m curious to see how the schedule works out with that during the course of the week. That would be exciting,” George said. “I know when we were getting ready for our games during the course of the week [at Tennessee State], we would have MACtion on television in the background. I always recall watching Toledo and Ohio and Bowling Green play during the course of those games, and now we’ll be a part of that whole process.
“So it’ll be exciting to be a part of that and have a chance to watch all of college football without the pressure of playing that day. But that’ll be something new and interesting that we’ll learn to embrace.”
George certainly has respect for the MAC and how evenly matched teams are throughout the league. He was impressed by BGSU’s performances at ranked power conference opponents Penn State and Texas A&M last season as well.
“The talent level from team to team, from top to bottom, is very slim in terms of, they’re equally matched. So that’s what’s exciting; it’s very competitive, it’s physical,” George said. “Bowling Green lost by [seven] points at Penn State against a team that was in the final four? OK, and went to Texas A&M and lost by [six]? So the pieces and parts are there.
“Now, we’ve just got to work that margin from going good to great. That’s the smallest margin that you can attain. It’s that close from good to great, but it’s the toughest because it requires a little bit more of everything. Sacrifice, it requires more focus, requires more discipline. So those are the things that we’re going to have to really work on when I get in here, and it’s going to be exciting.”
Pro day set for Monday
BGSU will conduct its annual pro day Monday. Sixteen former players, including consensus All-American tight end Harold Fannin, Jr., are expected to be in attendance.
Whether Fannin participates in drills is to be determined. Fannin, who is projected to be one of the top tight ends selected in the draft, took part in the NFL combine several weeks ago.
First Published March 21, 2025, 5:15 p.m.
