BOWLING GREEN — At a time where most college football teams across the country were either going through or getting ready for spring practice, there was some uncertainty within Bowling Green State University’s program.
Six-year head coach Scot Loeffler, who turned the program from a bottom-dweller in the Mid-American Conference to a respectable contender, decided to accept a position with the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles as their quarterbacks coach on Feb. 28. Throughout the next week, questions about what would happen next swarmed the Falcons.
“When we found out that [Loeffler] left, we were shocked. I wish the best for him, but during those [days], we were worried, always overthinking, like, ‘What’s going to happen next? How will we be as a team?’” BGSU senior wide receiver Rahkeem Smith said. “And then when we found out that Eddie George is our coach, we were ecstatic. We were ready to work right there.”
The hiring of George, a four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection who was the 1995 Heisman Trophy-winning running back from Ohio State, has current and former BGSU players excited for what the future of the program holds.
There’s no question, though, that players are happy for Loeffler and the next step of his coaching career.
“It’s a great opportunity for him to get back in the NFL,” said former BGSU quarterback Connor Bazelak, who played under Loeffler for the past two seasons. “I know college head coach is a hard job right now with all the NIL stuff, the transfer portal. It’s not for the weak, and he’s been doing it for the past six years.
“So I totally understand why he would maybe want a break of it all, get back in the NFL. It’s a little more chill, have some more downtime, spend more time with his family. So super happy for him.”
The general consensus of players who recently completed their college careers under Loeffler was gratitude for what he did for them. Loeffler helped develop players like Karl Brooks, who starred along the defensive line for five seasons with the Falcons before being selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft, as well as consensus All-American Harold Fannin, Jr., whose record-breaking 2024 campaign was the highlight of his three-year BGSU career.
“Obviously, I’m proud of Scot Loeffler, especially what he’s done for me,” said Fannin, who will likely be one of the top tight ends selected in next month’s draft. “I’m happy for him, I’m pretty sure he’s happy as well.
“... Ever since I was a freshman, he’s kind of been helping me out with stuff like that. He always pushed me to be more professional in terms of like my body and stuff. But these past few months, he’s been doing his own thing, but I feel like he kind of prepared me over the years, the three seasons I’ve been here.”
Loeffler guided BGSU to back-to-back winning seasons the past two years — a first for the program since the mid-2010s — and three consecutive bowl appearances after going 7-22 in his first three years. Numerous standouts, like Fremont native and defensive lineman Dontrez Brown, stayed at BGSU for their entire career.
“Coach Loeffler meant a lot. My first head coach here in college, I played for him for five years, so I’m happy that he got an opportunity,” Brown said. “I was just glad that I was part of that era, just bringing BG back to what it once was 10 years before.
“So I was happy to be about that, and I’m ecstatic for the guys here to get to have Eddie George as their head coach. I think they’re in the right hands.”
BG started spring ball on Saturday with George and his new group of assistants, including a handful of coaches he brought from his previous head coaching position at Tennessee State. The Falcons’ new leader has liked what he’s seen so far regarding energy and effort.
The players are using the opportunity to soak in everything George is teaching them.
“Just being able to learn from him, knowing where he’s been and that’s where I’m trying to get, being able to learn from him is like a blessing and probably the biggest opportunity I’m going to have at this level,” BGSU senior running back Justin Pegues said. “So I’m just dialed in ready to learn.”
Added senior offensive lineman Nate Pabst: “It’s a good energy. The guys are pumped, we really trust the staff that coach George put here. I think we’re beginning to build on what we put in our offense, put in our defense, so it’s only forward from here. But I think we’re starting a good foundation here with coach George and the staff.”
First Published March 26, 2025, 4:22 p.m.
