MILITARY BOWL NOTES
Bowling Green players at full strength as game draws near
12/25/2012WASHINGTON — On Tuesday the Bowling Green State University football team fought the elements in one of its final practices of this season.
The steady rain that fell on the practice field at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in suburban Alexandria, Va., wasn’t the biggest hindrance to the practice, nor was the 37-degree temperature.
A busy day’s schedule put the Falcons on the field practicing in virtual darkness.
BG soldiered on in preparation for its appearance in Thursday’s Military Bowl contest against San Jose State at RFK Stadium in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Falcons were at full strength in the practice, with the only players unavailable being those who suffered season-ending injuries — with one exception. Sophomore defensive back DeVon McKoy did not make the trip for the bowl game.
Coach Dave Clawson said McKoy was suspended for one game because of "contract detrimental to the team." Clawson declined to comment on the cause of the suspension, but he said McKoy did not violate a team rule and was still a full-fledged member of the team.
San Jose State reported that two players did not make the trip for the bowl game, including one of the team’s top tacklers.
Junior defensive tackle Anthony Larceval is in an San Jose area hospital with what the team is saying is a "serious illness." Larceval, who ranks third on the team with 6.5 sacks, has been hospitalized since Dec. 16.
Also not traveling with the Spartans was freshman linebacker Hector Roach, who was listed as a starter at linebacker but split time with Dough Parrish. Roach was ruled ineligible for the contest but the school did not disclose the reason for his ineligibility.
VISITORS: On Tuesday two former players for Clawson during his time at Richmond visited the Falcons.
One was Tim Hightower, who was drafted by Arizona in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, and spent time in the NFL with the Cardinals and Washington.
The other was Lawrence Sidbury, a defensive tackle who was selected by Atlanta in the fourth round in 2009 and played for the Falcons that season.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE: The Falcons will begin their day with a visit to the HSC Pediatric Center. Following an afternoon practice, the team that will take an evening tour of the National Mall and monuments.
MILITARY BOWL TRIVIA: The game will mark the third time the Falcons have played on the home field of a Major Soccer League team this season.
BG’s game at UMass took place at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Revolution, while the Falcons’ season finale against Buffalo was played at Crew Stadium in Columbus.
RFK Stadium is the home pitch of D.C. United.
San Jose State’s home field, Spartan Stadium, hosted an MLS team (San Jose Earthquakes) from 1996 to 2005.