Well-rested Falcons ready to square off against Miami

11/8/2010

BOWLING GREEN — College football teams are creatures of habit.

By the time the calendar flips to November, most squads follow a comfortable routine. Each day has a specific task, all leading up to a game on Saturday.

But the Bowling Green State University football team has seen that routine upset a bit as it prepares to host Miami at Perry Stadium Wednesday, with kickoff at 8 p.m.

The Falcons have not played since Oct. 30, giving them three extra days to prepare for the RedHawks.

“When you are coaching in this conference, you get used to that,” said coach Dave Clawson after noting that his team's three games this month include two Wednesday contests and the season finale on a Friday. “As a coaching staff, we spent time in the past offseason researching the best way to handle these types of games.

“As a result, we've had a couple of extra practices, and we've been able to shorten a few practices.”

The extra few days of rest also have helped injured players on both teams heal.

“We were so beat up, these few days off were more important to get some players back,” Miami coach Michael Heywood said. “We needed the break to give some guys a chance to heal up, and for everyone to get fresh legs.”

The Falcons also expect to get some players back for Wednesday's contest. Clawson said he expects junior safety Keith Morgan to return; Morgan did not play at Central Michigan after suffering a concussion the previous week.

Clawson also said junior center Ben Bojicic practiced on Sunday but remains questionable — “it would be a bonus if we had Ben,” Clawson said. Cornerback Cameron Truss also remains questionable for the Miami contest.

JUST FOR KICKS: Clawson said freshman Kyle Burkhardt remains the Falcons' kicker after making two extra points and a 34-yard field goal that proved to be the difference in the win over Central Michigan.

“With a young player in the lineup for the first time, it's important to have success to give you confidence,” Clawson said. “Kyle hit a tough field goal into the wind, and since that time he has been more consistent in practice.

“He has a chance to be a very good — and very consistent — kicker for us.”

LEWIS ON THE LINE: If Bojicic isn't able to start, Northview High School product Scott Lewis will snap for the Falcons Wednesday.

“Scott was very solid versus Central Michigan — he did a good job settling us down,” Clawson said of Lewis, a junior. “Outside of Ben, he is one of our most experienced linemen.

“If he doesn't start at center, we can use him at right guard or left guard. He is very deserving of playing.”

NATIONAL NUMBERS: Even though he didn't play last week, junior wide receiver Kamar Jorden moved up one spot in the NCAA FBS national rankings.

Jordan has 76 catches in the first nine games; his average of 8.44 receptions per game leads the MAC and is up to third nationally. His 825 yards receiving averages out to 91.67 yards per game, which is 14th nationally.

The only other Falcon among the top 10 nationally is sophomore linebacker Dwayne Woods, who is tied for ninth with 10.89 tackles per game.

Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com or 419-724-6481.