► Meet Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs. Like Gradkowski, Jacobs was a high school prospect not getting any love from D-1A schools. After Kansas State reneged on a scholarship offer, his choices were Buffalo or Florida International. But then-BG coach Urban Meyer heard about him from K-State and signed him up when he met him. All Jacobs did last year was throw for over 4,000 yards, 41 TDs and 4 interceptions, setting a record for the best TD-to-INT ratio in NCAA Division 1A history.
This year, again like Gradkowski, has been a letdown from last year — especially since Jacobs has missed a couple games with a separated shoulder. But the 6-4 Falcons will forget about the 4 losses if they can simply beat their rival.
► Meet head coach Gregg Brandon. Brandon inherited a team energized by hip young football coach Urban Meyer, who has since globetrotted to Utah and now Florida. Brandon began his coaching career in the Rocky Mountains, starting the D-1A carousel at Wyoming and moving around to Utah State, Northwestern and the U. of Colorado before finally being brought in by Meyer to BG. In Brandon's first two years he has won two straight bowl games, one against his former employer Northwestern.
► Meet the implications for each team if they win. If Bowling Green wins, they will win the MAC West title and play in the MAC championship. If Toledo wins, they will have a chance to win the MAC East if Northern Illinois loses Wednesday.
Other players for each team to watch:
- Toledo RB Trinity Dawson has 1000 yards rushing this season.
- Bowling Green WR Charles Sharon has the BG record for most receiving yards in a career.
The game is on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. Eastern. I'll be watching.
Article comments
1 - Chelsea Snyder
So it's about time that I resurface on BC, and I figure if I'm going to do it, I'll do it as an overzealous alum:
GO FALCONS!!!!
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Allow me to second the going of the Falcons, in that they go all over the Rockets.
Yes, I was able to write a fairly balanced perspective on the only football rivalry I have any stock in.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
That certainly didn't go to well from my side of the stands.
Toledo 44
Bowling Green 41
Double Overtime