End zone: Bowling Green 11-22

11/22/2012

Losing Saturday's game to Kent State may have been the best thing that could happen to the BG football program.

That's not a typo, believe it or not. I did say "best." And the reason why is the last word in that first sentence.

Yes, it's not best for the seniors, who will not win a MAC title. But there are precious few of them, as 10 starters are expected to return on offense for the Falcons next season and nine should be back on defense.

What's more, even though there's no guarantee of a second chance to win the MAC, the large number of returnees makes a second chance possible, and now this team will understand what it takes to win a title.

"Kent's a very good team, and we needed to play our ‘A' game to beat them," coach Dave Clawson said. "And I don't think we played our ‘A' game. We didn't play poorly, but we didn't execute at a level we needed to win a championship."

And while Clawson still will be an attractive candidate for big-time job openings, a win over the Golden Flashes would have made him a white-hot property. Now there's a chance he may return and help the Falcons take that final step to a MAC title.

Doesn't all that help take away the sting of Saturday's loss? Didn't think so.

For all things BGSU athletics, follow John's blog, Falcon Fodder.