Dave Wottle Day

It was forty years ago today...

that what I believe to be the greatest moment in Falcon sports history occurred.  The location was Munich and the event was the 800M final.  And, improbable though it was, a Falcon, Dave Wottle, trailed through most of the race, unleashed a fearsome kick and won the Gold Medal in incredibly dramatic fashion.

It is the only Falcon with a gold medal in an individual event.

I remember some of this.  I was a young boy at the time, but I remember going to the parade they held for him in Bowling Green and getting his autograph, which is long gone.  I remember going out to the track and watching the MAC Championships, which Wottle participated in.  I remember him dueling down the homestretch with Kent's Gerald Tinker in the 4x400 relay.  He spoke at our school, too, not just about the race but about the tragedy with the Israeli Olympic team.

Anyway, it is a special moment in the history of the university.  They have been talking about it in various forums, including the alumni magazine.  He's incredibly humble about it.  "Never for one day has it been a burden," he said.  "It has been a blessing."

And so we take this moment, on a Sunday night, to salute Dave Wottle.  Falcon.  Gold Medalist.



FWIW, here is my ranking of the top 5 moments in Falcon history.  Comments?

1. Dave Wottle Olympic Gold Medal
2. Ken Morrow and Mark Wells in Miracle on Ice
3. BG wins NCAA Ice Hockey Championship
4. BGSU Women's basketball team makes Sweet 16.
5. BG defeats #2 Loyola (IL) in men's basketball by 17 points.