Carle’s Corner: BG faces difficult rebound following loss to Kent State (11-21-12)

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The Bowling Green football coaching staff wants to make sure Kent State doesn’t beat the Falcons in
back-to-back games.
On the field, the Golden Flashes slipped past the Falcons 31-24 Saturday. The win allowed Kent State to
claim the Mid-American Conference East title and a berth in the MAC championship game.
Off the field, the BG coaches are working to make sure the loss doesn’t mentally carry over to Friday’s
regular-season finale against Buffalo in Columbus Crew Stadium. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.
"It’s certainly understandable to be disappointed, but in no way should we be discouraged … We
still have a lot to play for,” said BG head coach Dave Clawson. "Sometimes when you play a big
game, it’s emotional and our kids really, really sold out last week in (our) preparation level and the
practice intensity.
"Anytime a team makes that type of investment in a game and comes up short, it’s only natural that
they are going to be a little bit disheartened and disappointed in the outcome,” Clawson added. ”After
that game in the locker room, we had some guys (who) were very emotional.”
Clawson said that you want to see disappointment from a team after a tough loss, but that the Falcons
have to refocus and be ready for Buffalo.
"That is always one of the great challenges in coaching, coming back from a huge emotional win and
also coming back from a tough emotional loss,” Clawson said. "We have to move forward; we have no
choice. There is still a lot at stake; we’re still playing for a lot.
"The sign of a good football program is win or lose, they take that same mentality getting ready for
the next game, and we need to do that.”
A win over Buffalo would be BG’s eighth of the season, the most since the 2007 Falcons went 8-5.
With eight wins, the Falcons would almost certainly be in a bowl game.
"In order for those things to happen, we have to turn the page and focus on a Buffalo team that is
playing extremely well," Clawson said. ”If we hang our heads and we don’t focus on the task at
hand, we’ll have no shot to win on Friday.”
The Bulls are 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the MAC, having won three straight games. The Falcons are 7-4
overall and 5-2 in the MAC, having won six of their last seven games.
The MAC has three automatic bowl berths and four secondary agreements. Northern Illinois and Kent State
are protected and will fill two of the three automatic berths.
BG, Toledo, Ball State and Ohio will attract attention and should get bowl games.
After NIU and Kent State, the next two selections in my mind are: Ball State, coming off back-to-back
wins over Toledo and Ohio; and Toledo because of its fan base and a signature win over Cincinnati.
With a win over Buffalo, I would rate BG as the MAC’s No. 5 choice. How that plays out, I’m not sure, but
with eight victories it’s going to be hard to keep the Falcons out. But the Falcon Nation has been
disappointed in the past, so don’t finalize any travel plans just yet.
Here are my keys to victory on Friday.
• Mental preparation. Clawson said it’s up to the leadership of the team and the team itself to make a
decision of looking back or moving forward. The Falcons will need to move forward, because the Bulls are
not going to be a pushover.
I look for Chris Jones and Jordon Roussos to do everything in their power, both verbally and on the
field, to make sure this isn’t their last game for BG.
• BG’s defense must regain its form from the recent six-game winning streak – limiting the opposition’s
running attack. Kent State had too many big plays in the running game. The Falcons will need to tighten
things up as Buffalo has proven it can run the ball especially if Branden Oliver is healthy. Oliver has
played in only six games, but has rushed for 801 yards
• If you have told me a month ago that BG would thrown for 355 yards and three touchdowns in a game and
still lose, I would have called for a straitjacket for you.
It happened Saturday as Kent State shut down the Falcons’ running attack, forcing BG to throw.
Against Buffalo, if the Falcons can achieve offensive balance and account for UB linebacker Khalil Mack,
their chance of winning improves greatly.
Put all those positives together and it should be a good bus ride home for the Falcons.

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