Random thoughts with only 51 days until the Daytona 500:
RECRUITING: Falcon hockey coach Chris Bergeron has been criticized for Bowling Green’s recruiting of
Dajon Mingo.
But the recruiting of Mingo isn’t a big deal – even though he was known to be an academic risk during the
recruiting process.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a chance on a recruit from time to time under the right circumstances.

The redshirt-sophomore recently was declared academically ineligible for the rest of the season. He’s
expected to return to BG for the spring semester in an effort to regain his eligibility for next season.

Mingo definitely has helped the Falcons on the ice, thanks to his skating and offensive skills.
And if BG didn’t recruit him, another school would have – perhaps one the Falcons’ rivals in the Western
Collegiate Hockey Association.
Just as importantly, BG is faring well in the classroom as a team, so having a player who is questionable
academically won’t significantly hurt the team’s GPA or its NCAA Academic Progress Rate.
The Falcons had a 3.296 grade-point average during the fall semester.
If the Falcons were recruiting two, three, four or even five players who were academic risks each season,
that would be a different story. But recruiting a player like that from time to time is fine.
Mingo was ineligible as a freshman because he didn’t meet NCAA entrance requirements and then missed BG’s
first three contests this season for academic reasons.
But during the recruiting process, BG’s coaches believed the Canton, Mich. resident would succeed
academically with the help of the culture in the locker room and the academic support services offered
by the department.
So far, it hasn’t worked out.
Mingo’s a likeable guy with an infectious smile and an outgoing personality that have helped him move
along in life, and not every athlete is going to be academic All-American or a 3.0 student.
Now, the 23-year-old finally is being held accountable. It’s up to him to do the work and respond in a
positive fashion from his latest wakeup call.
STEADY: Although the Falcons have had a mediocre start and they’ve moved to the WCHA, their attendance
has remained consistent with the last three seasons.
The Falcons are averaging 2,101 fans for their nine home games this season, compared to 2,158 last
season, 2,078 during the 2011-12 season and 2,167 during the 2010-11 season.
The attendance has been greatly enhanced by a strong student turnout.
However, the attendance is down from 2,319 during the 2009-10 season.
If BG can win consistently in the second half, attendance should pick up during its final eight home
league games.
But one can only wonder how much attendance will be hurt in the long run by having fewer home games
against Miami, Western Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Notre Dame.
The Falcons have only one home game against those teams this season and that was against OSU back on Oct.
18.
BG is the only NCAA Division I school in the WCHA.
THANKS, NICK: Every college football coach in America owes Alabama coach Nick Saban a big thank you.
Saban recently received a contract extension that included an annual salary worth a reported $7 million
to $7.5 million.
Because of the competitive nature of college athletics, Saban’s increase will help many other coaches
receive a pay raise.
The trickle-down effect of Saban’s raise can easily go all the way down to the Mid-American Conference.
And it won’t be long before a MAC football coach will be making a $1 million a year.
And if the MAC can’t keep up with coaches salaries, conference members will be hiring head coaches from
schools like Bluffton, Defiance and Heidelberg.
GOOD RIDDANCE: Here’s wishing that two annoying things would go away in sports – 1) the Gatorade bath a
head coach receives after a big win, and 2) and the phrase Falcon Nation, Buckeye Nation, Browns Nation,
etc.