If Freddie Barnes does set an NCAA for receptions in a season, he’ll have earned it.
A fifth-year senior at Bowling Green, Barnes has 107 receptions for 1,176 yards and 10 receiving
touchdowns heading into tonight’s game at Miami. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
The NCAA record is 142 catches by Houston’s Manny Hazard in 1989.
With three games remaining, Barnes would need 36 catches to pass Hazard.
As the focal point of BG’s passing attack this fall, Barnes faces a great deal of defensive scrutiny
every game.
In addition, BG head coach Dave Clawson doesn’t plan to do anything special to help Barnes get the
record.
"With records like that, if it comes up in the normal flow of the offense it’s deserved,"
Clawson said. "We’re going to try to throw the ball to Freddie this week like we do every week it’s
just part of our base gameplan. (If) we start force-feeding him and we stop running good offensive
plays, we’re really doing the rest of the team a disservice.
"Would I like to get him that record? Absolutely," he continued. "But if he gets it, it’s
going to be through the normal flow of the offense not because we artificially called a bunch of plays
in pursuit of the record.
"Every catch he’s had this year, he’s earned."
Barnes has also been cited as a darkhorse candidate for the Heisman Trophy by some in the national media.

"How many of his catches have changed the game? Where would we be without him?," Clawson said.
"I would love to see Freddie on the ballot. If he goes to New York City I would love to go with
him.
"I think it’s great he’s getting that attention. It’s certainly well-deserved by him. And it’s good
for our program," Clawson added. "It’s a compliment to Tyler (Sheehan, BG quarterback), the
offensive line and our whole football program that we have a guy whose name is getting thrown around for
awards."
WINS: Bowling Green is 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the Mid-American Conference.
"In three of our wins this year, we’ve been behind by double-digits," Clawson said. "I’m
certainly proud of our resiliency. I would like (to have) one of those games where we play well early,
get a lead and stay in front; we haven’t found that formula yet.
"I would love for us to start a game fast, finish it and play four great quarters," he added.
"It’s never going to be a perfect game; that’s the goal. I don’t think we’ve come close to
that."
NEXT: After tonight’s game with Miami, the Falcons host Akron on Nov. 20 with kickoff at 5:30 p.m.