Gregg Brandon was one of the most successful major college head football coaches in the country over the past six years.
BGSU fired him.
What were AD Greg Christopher, president Carol Cartwright and the trustees thinking?
Brandon represented the continuation of the era of Urban Meyer, the best football coach in the country. Meyer had maintained close ties with BGSU, the school where he began his remarkable head coaching run eight years ago. He visited this year. Meyer would have taken Brandon to Utah (and perhaps Florida) with him if BGSU had not offered Brandon the head job. Meyer apparently encouraged players to attend BGSU long after leaving.
Now BGSU apparently has cut itself off from the No. 1 football coach in the nation, Meyer, along with terminating a very good football coach, Brandon, for no good reason.
Look at Brandon’s record and related issues:
BG played a tougher non-conference schedule than OSU.
BG beat a top 25 team (Pitt) and played a top 10 team (Boise) tough.
BG lost close to a Big 10 team (Minn.).
BG decided to play “money games” on the road against because the athletic dept. runs a $10 million annual deficit..
BG’s player behavior problems were minor compared to UT’s alleged game-fixers and OSU’s Maurice “the felon” Clarett, etc.

Now BGSU is out $250,000 to pay off Brandon in addition to the $300,000-400,000 it will pay its new coach. UT is paying $360,000-plus for its new coach, who has raided two top BGSU assistants already.
Brandon’s 59 percent overall win record is impressive, especially with all the big name opponents, and his 64 percent MAC win record is astounding.
Unlike some MAC schools, BGSU under Brandon never played soft in a non-league game to get ready for a league game. At times this left BG beaten up physically for the MAC contests.
Even in the meaningless UT game BG players went all out less than 7 days after a heartbreaking double-overtime defeat to Buffalo. The win made BGSU bowl eligible as ESPN reported during Buffalo’s impressive win over unbeaten Ball State.
The Doyt with artificial turf and the Sebo Center filling one end is an attractive venue (thanks to ex-AD Paul Krebs), but the improvements have significantly reduced the home field advantage. No more uncertain grass surface. Fewer tricky winds.
The fan experience at BG games is mediocre. It starts with the lackluster PA announcer. BG’s radio play by play radio guy is boring. Televising BG home games on BCSN TV hurts home attendance. Doyt tickets are overpriced. We attended the BGSU at Akron game. Guest tickets were $5. These are Christopher’s failings.
In conclusion, Gregg Brandon ran a respectable, winning program. He is a decent, honorable person and a good family man. He made us proud. He deserved another year. As loyal alumni, Falcon Club members, and long-time season-ticket holders, we are ashamed of BGSU for its embarrassing and expensive actions.

Jack and Kay Hartman - Powell, Ohio