Chippewas face tough test at BGSU
Amanda Papke
Mike DeBord describes his team as one of uncertainty.
Uncertain of how it will respond with the loss of two key offensive players. Uncertain of the team’s potential if it were to execute for an entire game.
With the cloudy picture surrounding the Chippewas, there is one thing DeBord is sure of.
“The next four games, we’ll be underdogs no doubt,” DeBord said.
Starting at Bowling Green Saturday, DeBord guides CMU into its toughest stretch since he became coach in 2000. Games with No. 17 Northern Illinois, Toledo and at Central Florida follow the one at the No. 28 Falcons.
DeBord hopes this serves as a motivation factor. Last season, the Chippewas nearly defeated two ranked opponents — Bowling Green and Marshall.
“We were close in those games last year,” DeBord said. “If we put everything we have mentally and physically, then we can have an opportunity to win.”
Winning will be no easy task. BGSU (3-1) won 27-26 at ranked Purdue earlier this season and fell just short (24-17) against defending champion Ohio State in its last contest.
“They are playing with great confidence right now as a football team,” DeBord said. “You can’t find any weaknesses on their football team.”
The Falcons success rides on the play of dual-threat quarterback Josh Harris. The senior has passed for 1,076 yards and eight touchdowns this season, while completing 62 percent of the passes.
Halfback P.J. Pope (308 yards) and wideouts Cole Magner (425) and James Hawkins (271) give BGSU a multi-dimensional look.
“We’ll find out if we can stop them,” DeBord said. “I have confidence in our players. We just have to make plays and our defensive line needs to get more pressure on the quarterback.”
Experience abounds on the Falcons defensive unit — one paced by seniors linebacker Mitch Hewitt, cornerback Janssen Patton and safety Jason Morton.
“They are a battle-tested team,” DeBord said. “They are older, mature and more confident.”
With BGSU’s vast experience, first-year coach Gregg Brandon hopes his team will be ready for the rigors of MAC play. Saturday not only marks the Falcons home opener, but their homecoming as well.
“I’ll be fired up and this team will be fired up,” Brandon said. “We’ve concentrated on winning the right games for Bowling Green. This is certainly the right game, because MAC play is what is important to where we want to be in December.”
DeBord continues to face coaches he has connections with, as they served together at Northwestern in 1992.
“He’s a good football coach,” Brandon said. “He’s a running coach and his teams are always solid in that area. They can really run the football. That is our biggest concern.”
The Chippewas are hurting from the season-ending knee injury to junior quarterback Jeff Perry and the leg injury that knocked freshman halfback Jerry Seymour out for a month. DeBord looks to combat this with solid team play.
“The biggest thing is we have to go back to fundamental football,” DeBord said. “We can’t go in and turn the ball over. We have to get turnovers from them. We can’t go in and make stupid mistakes that give them field position.”
With the travel into a hostile environment, the injuries and the team’s season-opening inconsistent play, uncertainty exists for the course of the season. Instead of worrying, DeBord said his team will make the most out of the situation.
“Programs and teams have crisis,” DeBord said. “What crisis cannot do is lessen your vision to where you want to go. There is a lot of football left in this season.”
