Bowling Green State University Athletics
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Know the Opponent: Miami
July 27, 2017 | Football
Over the course of six weeks, BGSUFalcons.com will break down the 12 opponents that BGSU Football will face during the 2017 season. The Falcons' sixth game of the season comes Oct. 7 at Miami. The RedHawks and Falcons are picked to finish second and third in the MAC East Division and the game could play a big role in the final finish at the top of the divisional standings.
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
SEASON TICKET BENEFITS (SPARK PAGE)
ROAD GAME TICKET PRICES/SALES INFORMATION
FOOTBALL TICKETS PAGE
RECORD-SETTING
Miami became the only team in college football history to drop their first six games and still become bowl-eligible. It began when sophomore Billy Bahl was replaced with redshirt sophomore Gus Ragland. Ragland, coming off an ACL tear, led the 'Hawks to an 18-14 victory at Kent State. After that, they rattled off wins against Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Buffalo, and Ball State. After a first half of the season during which they were outscored 176-102, they went on to outscore opponents 179-116 in the latter half. They finished 6-6 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-American East to earn a share of the title. They qualified for the St. Petersburg Bowl where they lost to Mississippi State, 17-16.
PREVIOUS KNOW THE OPPONENT FEATURES
MICHIGAN STATE
SOUTH DAKOTA
NORTHWESTERN
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
AKRON
RUGGED RAGLAND
Quarterback Gus Ragland knows a thing or two about adversity. After taking a year to redshirt, Ragland spent his first year of eligibility at Miami as part of a three-quarterback system where he primarily ran the read option. After the season, though, he suffered a torn ACL that normally requires a ten-month rehabilitation period. With the RedHawks sitting 0-6 with no confidence under center midway through 2016, however, Ragland, just six months removed from his knee injury, stepped in and played out of his mind. The Cincinnati native completed 115-of-179 passes for 1,537 yards. He compiled 17 touchdowns to just one interception – the lone pick coming in their bowl game loss to Mississippi State. He ran, too, racking up 202 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His top performance came at home against Central Michigan when he threw for 218 yards and four touchdowns en route to a 37-17 win over the Chippewas.
KEEPING THE CORE
Miami entered the 2017 season as one of four teams in the country returning their entire coaching staff. Head Coach Chuck Martin leads the group going into his fourth year at the helm of the 'Hawks. Martin, formerly the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, holds an 11-26 record since his first season in 2014. After finishing sixth and tied for fifth in the MAC East in 2014 and 2015, respectively, he led them to a first-place tie in the division in 2016.
RETURN TO THE WINNING WAYS
As of last season, Miami leads Bowling Green in head-to-head faceoffs 43-23. Aside from the Falcons' 40-26 loss to the RedHawks last season, they are used to besting the team from Oxford, Ohio recently. Beating the 'Hawks three consecutive times from 2011-2013, the Falcons outscored them 119-38 with their most recent dismantling of them coming in the form of a 45-3 beat down. A Bowling Green win will make it five wins in the last seven meetings with Miami.
BECKER IS BACK
Redshirt junior Nate Becker returns at tight end for his first game action since suffering a Lisfranc tear at the top of his foot that caused him to miss the 2016 season. A former walk-on, the 6-foot-5 Carmel, Ind., native was placed on scholarship after it became clear he could develop into a playmaker. In 2015 – before his injury – Becker appeared in all 12 games, starting ten. He caught three passes for 32 yards. This year, however, the 'Hawks will pair him with senior Ryan Smith, a preseason First-Team All-MAC as released by Athlon Sports. He is coming off a 2016 season during which he caught 31 passes for 356 yards and five touchdowns.
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
SEASON TICKET BENEFITS (SPARK PAGE)
ROAD GAME TICKET PRICES/SALES INFORMATION
FOOTBALL TICKETS PAGE
RECORD-SETTING
Miami became the only team in college football history to drop their first six games and still become bowl-eligible. It began when sophomore Billy Bahl was replaced with redshirt sophomore Gus Ragland. Ragland, coming off an ACL tear, led the 'Hawks to an 18-14 victory at Kent State. After that, they rattled off wins against Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Buffalo, and Ball State. After a first half of the season during which they were outscored 176-102, they went on to outscore opponents 179-116 in the latter half. They finished 6-6 overall and 6-2 in the Mid-American East to earn a share of the title. They qualified for the St. Petersburg Bowl where they lost to Mississippi State, 17-16.
PREVIOUS KNOW THE OPPONENT FEATURES
MICHIGAN STATE
SOUTH DAKOTA
NORTHWESTERN
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
AKRON
RUGGED RAGLAND
Quarterback Gus Ragland knows a thing or two about adversity. After taking a year to redshirt, Ragland spent his first year of eligibility at Miami as part of a three-quarterback system where he primarily ran the read option. After the season, though, he suffered a torn ACL that normally requires a ten-month rehabilitation period. With the RedHawks sitting 0-6 with no confidence under center midway through 2016, however, Ragland, just six months removed from his knee injury, stepped in and played out of his mind. The Cincinnati native completed 115-of-179 passes for 1,537 yards. He compiled 17 touchdowns to just one interception – the lone pick coming in their bowl game loss to Mississippi State. He ran, too, racking up 202 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His top performance came at home against Central Michigan when he threw for 218 yards and four touchdowns en route to a 37-17 win over the Chippewas.
KEEPING THE CORE
Miami entered the 2017 season as one of four teams in the country returning their entire coaching staff. Head Coach Chuck Martin leads the group going into his fourth year at the helm of the 'Hawks. Martin, formerly the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, holds an 11-26 record since his first season in 2014. After finishing sixth and tied for fifth in the MAC East in 2014 and 2015, respectively, he led them to a first-place tie in the division in 2016.
RETURN TO THE WINNING WAYS
As of last season, Miami leads Bowling Green in head-to-head faceoffs 43-23. Aside from the Falcons' 40-26 loss to the RedHawks last season, they are used to besting the team from Oxford, Ohio recently. Beating the 'Hawks three consecutive times from 2011-2013, the Falcons outscored them 119-38 with their most recent dismantling of them coming in the form of a 45-3 beat down. A Bowling Green win will make it five wins in the last seven meetings with Miami.
BECKER IS BACK
Redshirt junior Nate Becker returns at tight end for his first game action since suffering a Lisfranc tear at the top of his foot that caused him to miss the 2016 season. A former walk-on, the 6-foot-5 Carmel, Ind., native was placed on scholarship after it became clear he could develop into a playmaker. In 2015 – before his injury – Becker appeared in all 12 games, starting ten. He caught three passes for 32 yards. This year, however, the 'Hawks will pair him with senior Ryan Smith, a preseason First-Team All-MAC as released by Athlon Sports. He is coming off a 2016 season during which he caught 31 passes for 356 yards and five touchdowns.
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