Loeffler Presser. Bad day in the Falcon Nation.

Sigh. Not a great day in Falconland.

First, you have the hockey team involved in a hazing scandal...unbelievable at Bowling Green of all places.

Then, Loeffler's presser was sobering.  I had mentioned after the game that it was a bad sign when he invoked "hell or high water" less than 30 minutes after the game ended.

Turned out to be the right way to read that. We have a lot of injuries.  We canceled practice for today.  I cannot say how shocking that is.  We have moved everything back and won't be able to make a game plan until later in the week when we actually know who we are going to have available.

He said, "at a lot of positions we don't know where we are at."

A lot.

We are going to have to "dig down."

He didn't provide any specific info on the QBs, but he said Bazelak was hurt in the EIU game.  He had limited practices and the medical personnel ruled him out on Friday.  Nothing more on Orth or any of the other specific players, even Hardamon.

Saturday presents a big challenge.  OU is the defending East Champion. They beat us 38-14 last year without Rourke, who is back.

Coach was philosophical about it and determined to find a way.  They're going to need a really good game plan.  Ohio plays great defense and if we're running the B team out there on offense, it is going to be rough.

Coach promises us a killer gameplan.  He's going to need it. 

OU has opened at a 13-point favorite.  Who knows?  If it happens, this will be a dig down for the ages.

It has caused a lot of conversation among Falcon fans about the scheduling practices of our football program.  In short, the practice of playing these P5 teams for the money and the injuries that can come from it.

Saturday is an extreme example.  But it is an example.

As I understand it, the schedule is what it is because the athletic department needs the money.  As we know, we are among the most underfunded athletic programs in the FBS and in the MAC, for that matter.  In 2022, 12% of our athletic department funds came from competition guarantees.  It's almost 50% of our football program.

Of the 12 teams in the MAC, 8 of them play 2 P5 opponents.  WMU actually plays 3.  UB, EMU, UT and OU only play 1.

Since 2015 and excluding the COVID year, BG has played at least 2 P5 games 6 times and less than 2 only once (the first Jinks season).  We played 3 twice, including the 2015 Championship season.  At least it was Purdue and Maryland, not the #2 ranked team.

Just to say this practice isn't new and it isn't just us.  It is part of playing in the MAC.  You could get more global and talk about the priority we place on football, but that's part of 100 other decisions that woven throughout our athletic program.

Maybe it would be better if the P5 schools went their own way and we only play G5 opponents.  We'd have less money but that would mostly impact administrators and coaches.  Other revenue streams would probably be less.  Anyway, for now this is what we have and the situation we are facing this week is part of the deal.  We have under-performed many times in the last few years.  It would be so great to see us rise above circumstances Saturday.