Coaches happy with new UT-BG date

BOWLING GREEN -- When Dave Clawson first heard that the Bowling Green State University's football game against its archrival, the University of Toledo, was moving to the end of the season, the Falcons coach wasn't a fan.

"When it was first moved up, I wasn't happy with it," he said.

But Clawson understands and appreciates the reasons the game has returned to the middle of the season. The Falcons and Rockets will do battle Saturday at Doyt Perry Stadium.

"I think a rivalry game should be at the end of the year," Clawson said. "But you want to have the students at both institutions involved with the game.

"The more I've thought about it, I'm glad for the change. The weather is going to be great, and I think we'll have more students involved. I think the positives outweigh the negatives."

BGSU's schedule

UT's schedule

The two schools have met annually since 1948, and the game traditionally was played in mid-October until 1985, when it moved to late November for two seasons. In 1987, it was moved back to October until the 2000 season, where it was the last game on BG's schedule until it was moved up to a date just before Thanksgiving last year.

"After this game was played after Thanksgiving [for a few years], it was moved up to provide a better atmosphere and more student [attendance]," said UT coach Tim Beckman, who was an assistant at BG from 1998-2004 and now is in his third season at Toledo. "Playing this game now means better weather and more students.

"But whenever this game is played, you know it's going to be a great game."

Both teams enter the game with 3-3 records, but the two teams have been heading in different directions recently. The Rockets have won back-to-back Mid-American Conference games, while Bowling Green has lost its last two contests by a combined score of 100-31.

When asked if the timing of the Toledo game might take away the sting of those two setbacks, Clawson said, "I get asked a lot about the timing of this game or that game, but we don't worry about that. Win or lose, you get ready for your next game.

"This is our Homecoming game, and it's a game against our biggest rival. Will that help us? Maybe. But I think you should always be excited to play every game, because you're only guaranteed 12 opportunities a year."

DEPTH CHANGES: The Falcons didn't make many changes to the depth chart for this week's game.

One is at nose guard, where sophomore Jairus Campbell is listed in front of sophomore Ted Ouellet, who was injured and did not play at Western Michigan.

The other was at running back, where true freshman Anthon Samuel steps in front of sophomore Jordan Hopgood into the starter's role. Samuel had 59 yards in 14 carries against the Broncos after missing the West Virginia game with an injury; Hopgood was injured against the Mountaineers and saw action only on special teams late in the WMU game.

CAPTAINS: After selecting game captains for the first six games of the season, the Falcons have named senior center Ben Bojicic and junior defensive tackle Chris Jones team captains for the rest of the season.

Bojicic was a game captain three times -- at Idaho, Miami, and Western Michigan -- while Jones was a captain at Idaho and Miami.

CCHA honors Carpenter

Bowling Green freshman forward Ryan Carpenter was named Central Collegiate Hockey Association rookie of the week.

Carpenter had a goal and three assists in the a season-opening series against Connecticut.