Football Verbal: Shawn Thigpen

100% COMMITTED 🤝🏽🧡🤎 @CoachLoefflerBG @ErikCampbell @BG_Football pic.twitter.com/Kzhd3ZA783

— Shawn Thigpen🔮🎯 (@thigpen_shawn) August 31, 2022

 So, BG landed a verbal commit for the football team today and it looks to be a good one.  His name is Shaun Thigpen and he's from Springfield, OH...not the one in Lucas County, the one in Clark County.

He's a 3-star commit who had offers from (according to 247) Indiana, Purdue, Syracuse, and Kentucky, along with MAC schools Akron, UB, CMU, EMU, UT.

He's 6'4" and 170 pounds, which is something you have to like. 

Last year, Thigpen reeled in 54 catches for 780 yards and five touchdowns.

He caught 10 passes for 105 yards, both career highs.In Springfield’s 23-13 loss to Lakewood St. Edward in the Division I state championship game last year.

Worth nothing that it was Springfield's first trip to the state championship game.

Welcome to the Falcons, Shawn

Will Sadness Accrue Again? Football preview.

There are two ways you might measure how deep this trough has been for our football program.

1.  A commenter noted that it might be our best team in 7 years and he might be right and we wouldn't even need to be that good.

2.  If you google "sadness accrues," this blog shows up on the first page.

Sigh.  Maybe, just maybe, it can happen this year.  Time will tell.

So, here's a preview of what I think we might see this year....or need to see.

The dominant narrative is the coach.  I understand many people disagree and have already given up on him.  My view is that this is what he has promised and if he finishes the job and brings us back to where we were, it's the best thing for the program.  I'd love to see the program succeed and not have to have a new coach re-tool everything.  I think we are on track for Loeffler to get it done.  Perhaps I am wrong, but that's how I feel.

At one point, it seemed like 6 wins had been set as an official metric for a contract extension--even one year.  With a new AD, I'm not sure how that will play out....or even if a new AD will be in place in time for prime coach hiring season in early December.

It would be nice to answer the questions and keep building.

So, how does this best in 7 years team look?

I think a forgotten key is the defense.  Coach said that he had tried to build the defense first, "like Clawson did."  It's badly needed.  BG has not finished above #8 in scoring defense since the 2013 season--the last year Mike Elko led our defense.  Most of the time, we have been last or 11th.  It has been an awful 9 years for the defense.

So, even being average would be a help.  I think we have a shot.  We were defending pretty well until Brand and Ferguson got injured.  They are back now, additional talent and depth has been added and we have what I think is a pretty good DC now.  In fact, he might be the best coach we have.  So, there's reason to think the defense will be a contributor this year.  We were 11th last year, allowing 36 a game.  If we cut 8 off that, we'd be in the middle of the pack.

There's reason to think that could happen.  BG was #6 in yards per carry and #3 in pass efficiency defense last year, results aren't reflected in points allowed but are something to build on.

Formula for "success:"  Have a defense that gets off the field.

Next, we turn to the offense.  The key is the offensive line.  BG's line was dreadful last year with way too many FR to compete.  If you can't block, you can't do anything. You can't run and you can't pass.  It's clear that the staff recognizes this, because they brought in 7 transfers to go with the existing 3 returners on the offensive line.  It was all-hands-on-deck, desperation time. We saw how it all shook out with the depth chart yesterday.

Yes, we are older and stronger.  We will be better.  We are still pretty young on the line, though and none of the guys who transferred here were stars at their previous school (or they probably wouldn't be here).  Also, there will also need to be chemistry among a line made up mostly of people who never met each other until this year.  

So, yeah.  We will be better.  Will we be good enough?  That remains the key question for the season.  Will we have the 7th best line?  Fourth?  Third?  I'd suspect something in the middle of the pack.  Anything less is a disaster.

BG was 10th in yards per carry last year and the best runner won't be back.  However, there is depth at this position and if they can get support from the offensive line, I think the backs are good enough to move the ball.  It's vital.  BG needs a balanced offense to succeed.  I don't think there's any reason to think we can succeed it if we rely solely on the passing game.

Which leaves us with the most important position on the field: QB. As with every team, you will pretty much go as far as your QB takes you. And you've seen our record.  Look, no doubt, we haven't given McDonald much of a chance to succeed during his time at BG.  We've lacked linemen and WRs.  There has been no running game to speak of.  So, he hasn't really had an optimal situation to show what he can do.

Having said that, I haven't really seen him exceed expectations either.  Coach Loeffler has bet his entire head coaching career on McDonald.  Other QBs he has recruited have transferred rather than wait behind McDonald.  At every chance, Coach has bet on McDonald, even when he was injured.  I know Loeffler's got this reputation as a QB-guru (at least some of which is shameless hype)...but this bill has come due. 

When I ask for evidence that McDonald is what Loeffler feels like he is, I get practice tape from Boston College and last year's OU game, when our line was able to protect him because most of OU's defensive line had COVID. He was effective in that game, to be sure.

Look, I hope the line protects him and the running game is effective and he pays off this bet.  Because if all those things don't happen, then we're back in the wilderness again.

Also, I hope he stays healthy.  We don't need to hear about him playing half the season with a serious injury again.  We also don't need to have to replace him, with unproven players in the #2 and #3 slots.

Last thing.  The kicking game is a big question mark.  We have a first-year punter from Australia.  And right now the field goals are looking to be split between our kickoff guy and a transfer from West Liberty. Let's hope we can get punts off and don't need a game-winning FG for winning #6.

The schedule is not easy, but I don't have any sympathy for that.  You're in year 4 of a rebuild and you promised we would be competitive in the MAC.  It's time to compete, not wish for an easier schedule.

The Marshall game will be key to getting to 6.  If BG beats EKU and Marshall (at home), then a 4-4 MAC season gets the team to 6-6.

I am hopeful that BG finally has a competitive team.  I am hopeful that Loeffler pays off on the rebuilding he was promised.  If those hopes don't pay off....sadness accrues.

Presser and Depth Chart

It's official.  It is game week. BG has UCLA on the horizon and today was the presser and the depth chart came out as well.  Let's take a look.

Loeffler gives the worst presser in program history. He rarely says anything interesting.  Today was no exception.  (The questions from the media are no better..."how does it feel" and other things).

Anyway, by my count three things of note.

1)  They are not talking any more about Terion Stewart to protect his priavacy, which 100% makes sense to me.

2)  All the guys on the line are going to play.

3) The most interesting piece was when Coach talked about getting the players BG needs to compete.  He said that the portal made it possible--he doesn't know if we would have gotten here with HS players. Which is just interesting and essentially indicates that we were behind and no on track when the portal finally hit big.

Anyway, that's what we got.

So, the depth chart is also out. 

To break it down a little.

I think most of us were curious who was going to emerge from the now crowded OL room to make the two-deep. For reference, after losing Murphy and Van Gorder, BG returned five lineman who started at least once last year.  Grant, Bank-Wall, Padgett, Zimmerly and Wollschlaeger.  All five of them remain on the two-deep.

Grant started mostly at C this year and will start at G.  Wollschlaeger made two starts but was ID'd as a comer and is 4th Team All-MAC on Phil Steele.  He will start at RT.  Banks-Wall is the backup at LT, Zimmerly at RG and Padgett at LG.

The other three starters are Tunde Fatukasi, the Rutgers transfer who didn't commit here until August. He will play the vital LT positon.  Jakari Robinson, the Memphis C who is the only Sr. on the offensive line, will start at C. Bronson Warner, from Abiliene Christian will start at RG. BG also has transfers backing up at LT, C and RT.

The line simply must be good enough.  It certainly will be better, but it has to be good enough.  Let's hope we have the talent and depth we need to block the run and pass protect.

(UPDATE: Cincinnati Burger Guy had a good question in comments.  What happened to Marcelo Mendiola, who as an OL transfer from UC.  The answer is that he was in camp but left the program.  Here is a potentially relevant tweet from him---Mendiola, not Cincinnati Burger Guy).  Most likely, not starting "ain't for him."

Sometimes you gotta read between the lines…. Everything ain’t for you

— Marcelo Mendiola (@celo2times) August 22, 2022

No real surprises at the skill positions.  The WRs will be a rotation of Broden, Lewis, Hiliare, Osborne, Croom and Embry, which should be pretty strong.  Not quite as important who starts.  TEs are Sims and Gazarek, with Harold Fanin jumping onto the two-deep as a true FR.  And RBs appear to be Mosely and Patterson with Keith and Johnson being more 3rd down/passing game backs.

Cam Orth is the backup QB and Drew Gunther is the #3.

On defensive side....

BG is putting a 3-4 on its depth chart.  The defensive line--Haire, Hawkins and Brooks as starters, with Brown, Roberts and Porter as backups.  These are the lineman we returned from last year.

The four LBs would also appear to be a strength.  You have Anders, probably our best defender, Bryce Brand back from injury, Blaine Spires, who was talked up as being vastly improved, and then Brock Horne and Wake Forest transfer DJ Taylor.  The other backups are all players who were with the team last year.

In the back end, BG returns Jordan Anderson and Davon Ferguson.  They add transfer Chris Bacon and DeShawn Jones, Jr. who had 2 pics in the OU game last year.  The second line is Day, Burton and Simms, all program guys, and then Samford transfer Jordan Oladokun.

Special teams is an area of concern this year.  The punter is Sami Sir, an Australian.  The K is an "or" with Mason Lawler, who is our KO specialist, and Owen Rozanc, the transfer from West Liberty.

Stewart to miss 2022 Football Season

Be back real soon🦅 #bgsu pic.twitter.com/KpVUA6RkFy

— Terion Stewart (@StewartTerion) August 29, 2022

 

This is a setback for the Falcons.  Their top returning RB, Terion Stewart, announced via Twitter that he will be sitting out the coming to season to "focus on his health and academic responsibilities."

Obviously, wishing Terion nothing but the best and I hope when the time comes, he's in the right place.  Our players are human beings and if this is what is best for him, we are for it.

Stewart has shown a lot of promise on the field, often running behind sub-par lines. In 107 career carries, he had 6.6 yards per carry.  He has also scored 9 TDs.

BG now has 9 players listed as RB.  This is a critical position.  BG simply has to be able to generate a running attack in order to have a chance at competing.

• Nick Mosley:  A sophomore, he was BG's 2nd leading rusher last year.  He has 77 rushes with 4.4 yards per carry.
• Jaison Patterson, BG's fourth leading rusher, with 65 carries last year and a 4.2 YPC.
• Treyvon Raymore. Missed last year with an injury.  Played in 6 games in 2019 and 2022, with 4.7 YPC in 2020..
• Taron Keith, who is largely a situational back.  He ran the ball 34 times (2.7 AVG) but had 26 catches for 9.4 yards per reception. He as BG's fourth-leading pass catcher.
• Jamel Johnson, who had 15 carries and 15 receptions.  4.6 yards per carry.
• Braxton Todd, incoming FR from West Virginia.
• Jaylen Jennings, incoming FR from Columbus.  All-District.
• Pasean Wimberly.  Recently granted a scholarship. Has played in 6 games.
• Jordan Jackson, who is from FL and was not listed on a NSD list, so possibly a PWO. He is at BG after a year at Army Prep, played with Taron Keith in HS.

The cupboard is not bare, but it is missing its best-known piece of China.  The OL is also a key element here.  BG cannot succeed without running the ball effectively.  Here we go....6 days.

MBB Schedule Released...

 

So, the MBB basketball schedule has been released.  As a reminder, if you need one, when last we saw this team they were getting humiliated against UT and failing to make the MAC Tourney.  It was a very disappointing season, obviously.  Both starting G's were injured or out for the year, two other transfers were dismissed.  Since then, it was a typical year in portal-land, with BG losing and adding players. Coach Huger got a secret COVID-extension and there's a new AD coming in.

The schedule is above.  It's decent and not the worst schedule BG has played.  It isn't going to earn an at-large bid, but there are decent games.  It's a little harder than it used to be to anticipate this stuff, since there is so much turnover every year.

A few notes:

BG will open with Air Force, at home.  This is at least a name team to play in our gym.  They play in MWC, which was the #7 conference last year.  I'd make it the most interesting non-conf opponent in BG since Florida Gulf Coast. That's both notable and a little sad.  They have been in the big tourney (2004 and 2006) and made the NIT semis in 2007. They were 11-18 last year.

The early part of the schedule has some familiar but tough opponents.  BG will be at Oakland (20-12).  BG beat the GG as one of their bigger wins last year.  

Next is Wright State, who won a Play-in in the NCAA and made the field last year.  They were 22-14 and beat BG by 18 a couple years ago in Dayton.

Then BG moves into the Gotham Classic, which is one of these MTE's where BG never gets anywhere near anything like Gotham.  It will be the toughest part of the schedule.  First is St. Bonaventure, 23-10, made the semis of the NIT.  And then Notre Dame, 24-11 and in the Sweet 16 last year.

Then, a game in BG against Southern Indiana, still part of the Gotham Classic.  Southern Indiana is moving from DII to DI (in the OVC) and they were 18-8 last year.

BG's next game is against Queens.  No, not from NY, from Charlotte. They are also moving from DII to DI (Atlantic Sun).  They were 30-4 last year and the #4 DII team in the country.

Things get a little easier after that.  BG hosts Morgan State (13-15) and then makes a road trip to Virginia.  First is @Hampton (9-19) but then BG is at Norfolk State (24-7).  Made the big dance, beat BG by 6 at the Stroh.

The last D1 non-MAC game is UT-Martin, 8-22 last year.  For the non-D1 games, BG will host Fairmont State, they are DII and took BG to overtime in an exhibition last year on their way to being 23-8.  And then it ends with Ohio Dominican (7-21 last year, also DII).

Of course, it's the MAC play that matters most.  Make it to Cleveland, win 3 games and make the tourney.  BG will take on Emoni Bates in his MAC debut at EMU.

Moosbrugger Fired

So after dangling in the wind for the past few weeks--since it "leaked" that BG had decided to part ways with Bob Moosbrugger--the decision has finally been made.  At the time, he was up for a job at the University of Washington, but he did not get it.  So, it's just him and his buy-out ($137,500).

I wrote a little bit about this when it was first announced.  You can read it here along with a few comments.  It's still how I feel.  If you are curious how he feels, here is the letter he sent around the AD....see his letter below.

Stacy Kosciak, who is currently a deputy AD, will be the interim AD while a nationwide search is conducted.  This will be very interesting.  You have the lowest funded athletic department in the MAC and more than the minimum number of sports and the same expectations as everyone else.  (UT, for example, has more money and is at the minimum).  This is a tough assignment and I wonder what kind of interest it will draw.  There are easier ways to go--on the other hand, if you can do it here, it will certainly position you for a better job.

Just had this sent to me...this is the letter that Bob Moosbrugger sent to the athletic department at BGSU: pic.twitter.com/P5Ognl2rK9

— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) August 24, 2022

Football has "new to me" verbal

 So sometime during the middle of July, BG had a football verbal that I failed to take notice of.  Here it is...

His name is Emable Wakilongo.  He's from Centerville where he is a RB.  He had a big junior year with 900 rushing yards, 12 TD and on Twitter he claims to run a 4.4.  According to his feed, he went to camp at BG and has visited a couple times, was at the spring game, etc.  I don't see anywhere where he has other offers.

Welcome to the Falcons, Emable.

Offensive Line Roll Call

So the dust has settled on the transfers (we assume) and camp is underway.  Just wanted to take a second to look at where things stand.   There is nothing more important to BG's success this year.  They were 11th past year in pass blocking and 12th in run blocking (PFF). Obviously, that's an unwinnable situation.  If the line improves and McDonald lives up to the billing and BG can run the ball, the Falcons have a shot at being decent. 

BG brought in 7 transfers with 15 players in "the room."  At least one of those is a walk-on. (We had a previous report of Quinton Bradford transferring here, but he is not on the roster and has now deleted his twitter account.)  Some of the other players who have announced transfers could be here as PWOs as well.

Further, one of the players (Luke Harmon, who came in during the Jinks/Loeffler shoulder class) has not played in a game during his time year.

Obviously, tracking players year to year is next to impossible in today's portal-world. It's possible 5 of these guys play and the other 9 transfer.  Having said that, all but one of the players would have the option to return. It has seemed like a lot of guys, but they could be projected for PT down the road.  9 of the 14 players have 3 years of eligibility remaining, including this year.

I'm not sure this is the approach that Coach wanted to take, but the clock has run out on the re-building and more bodies--and more older bodies--we needed. In the short-term the worry is chemistry.  With all these new faces, will they be able to gel into a unit in time to provide the offense with the blocking it needs to get the team to 6 wins or above.

In the medium term, the question is whether there are enough good players to keep us stocked for a while, or whether raiding the portal for this many lineman becomes an annual affair.

Jakari Robinson: 1 (Memphis)

Marcelo Mendiola: 2  (UC)

Cedric Dunbar: 2 (Jackson State)

Luke Harman: 2

Kameren Stewart: 2 (Coastal Carolina)

Cade Zimmerly: 3

Delonius Kabir: 3 (Florida &M)

Jalen Grant: 3

Bronson Warner: 3 (Abilene Christian)

Jeremiah Banks-Wall: 3

Alex Wollschlaeger: 4

Alex Padgett: 4

Tunde Fatukasi: 4 (Rutgers)

Jack Burns: 4 (UC)

Walk On:

Leiris Manzi, Hocking College

BG Adds Additional OL for '22

So....BG has added yet another transfer OL, eligible for the 2022 season.  This is Tunde Fatukasi, the transfer from Rutgers mentioned in the post on Jake Burns.

Fatukasi went to Erasmus Hall HS in Brooklyn...the alma mater of people as wide ranging as Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand and Mae West.,,the list goes on.

His older brother played for BG Asst Julian Campenni at UConn and is a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars and another older brother signed as a UDFA with Tampa Bay in the Spring.

He is 6'5" and 300 lbs and did not play at Rutgers.  He will have four years at BG but has used his redshirt year. By my count, that makes 13 14 OL on the BG roster, with 8 transfers.  That does not include Jake Burns or Quinton Bradford, whose twitter feed shows he is coming here but is not on the roster.

He was all-city and all-conference at Erasmus.  He was a 3-star recruit on 247 and the #13 player in NY, again according to them.

In addition to Rutgers, BG, UMass and UB were other D1 programs that offered him out of HS.

According to this Rutgers blog, he was on the two-deep as a true FR.

Welcome to the Falcons, Tunde.

BG Lands Transfer OL, other may be on way

Cincinnati transfer OL Jake Burns, who walked on with the Bearcats, committed to Bowling Green https://t.co/MiF1yLsbzG

— FarrellPortal (@farrellportal) August 1, 2022

BG has now added its eighth OL to the roster via the portal.  This is Jake Burns, who is transferring from UC, where he did not appear in a game.

He played his senior year at Archbishop Hoban in Akron.  Before that, he went to HS in Wooster.  Listed at 6'2" and 305 pounds, he had offers out of HS from Youngstown State, Marist, Valparaiso, Akron and Illinois State.

He was first-team All-Ohio in Division II as well as All-District. He was also a highly-successful wrestler, winning over 100 matches and winning the Districts (at least).

I have no idea if he will be eligible this year or not.  I don't know if he declared his portalship before the deadline....we will eventually hear more, I am sure.  He is listed on the roster and apparently good to go.

Also, there is a report on the Internet that Tunde Fatkasi of Rutgers is in the Portal and planning to come to BG.  He's from NYC and BG recruited him out of HS.

Welcome to the Falcons, Jake.