Noticeable absences as BGSU opens football camp

Falcons open season at home against Tulsa Aug. 29

8/3/2013

BOWLING GREEN -- The Bowling Green State University football team held its first practice for the coming season today, and among those who did not report are offensive tackle Fahn Cooper, running back Anthon Samuel and cornerback Johnny Joseph.

Cooper, who started all 12 games at offensive tackle last season as a redshirt freshman, left the team for "personal reasons," according to coach Dave Clawson.

“It was not a discipline issue – he wasn’t kicked off the team or told he couldn’t come back,” Clawson said of Cooper. “Like a lot of young men between the ages of 18 and 22, he has a lot of things going on in his life.

“He and his family thought it was in his best interest to be at home right now.”

Samuel, who started for the Falcons at running back each of the past two seasons, is transferring to Florida International University to be closer to his wife and infant son, who live near that school.

“It’s important that he is with his wife and son, and that decision was made in December,” Clawson said of Samuel. “I think he’s happy, and feels good on all fronts with what he’s doing.

“And we wish him nothing but the best. There’s no animosity – we are big Anthon Samuel fans.”

Joseph, who was a reserve cornerback for the Falcons last season, left the program at the end of the spring semester.

The Falcons welcomed 105 players to camp in preparation for team's opener against Tulsa at Doyt Perry Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 29 starting at 7 p.m.