Remember a couple months (and about four posts) ago when we had a near-perfect weekend for BG athletics? Well, we’re 1/5 of the way through another that would make the first one look like an early season win over Urbana.

Last night, the hockey team dominated (then held on. Whew!) #1 Miami(OH) at the BG Ice Arena. They go back at it tonight, and while BG can probably expect to see a completely different (and desperate) team coming at them, a win to sweep the RedskinHawks might just seal the best weekend in Falcon hockey in 15 or more years. (The last win over a #1 team was 1993, I can’t imagine the last time they swept #1 over a weekend.)

But wait, there’s more. The women’s hoops team is currently up 17 on Chicago State (after seeing a 24-point lead dwindle before halftime) in an appetizer before the real fun begins. Or so we hope. The men open MAC play against Ohio at 4pm, and a win over a strong Bobcats team would be incredible. By all accounts, the guys were a bushel basket of turnovers away from being even more in a game against a tough Duquesne than they already were (they fought back to within four or five before losing it down the stretch, and watching the margin expand with free throws). Not saying they can click their heels and make turnovers go away, but if they can limit them, they might have a shot to beat OU, and send a throng of cocky Bobcat fans home with their tails between their legs.

Of course, after the second half of the hockey series Saturday night, the day we’ve been waiting for since we started turning things around in November has arrived. BG vs. Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl. The more I think about how strong Tulsa’s offense is, the more I think about how our defense stepped up against Toledo and shut down a Rocket offense that had been clicking through November.

And how.

Even though BG didn’t play for a MAC Championship, they were clearly one of the best teams (and CMU got awfully wishy-washy after locking up the MAC West) in the conference during the last four weeks, and make a damn fine bowl representative. Some grade/discipline-related issues thin the ranks a little in some key spots, but if we’ve learned anything with this team, it’s to never count them out.

A liveblog from afar might not be out of the question. GO BG!

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Ryne Hamblet is excused for messing with perfection on Friday night.

The BG senior knocked down some big free throws to ice the win over Cincinnati Sunday, capping an outstanding performance that was only outshined (again!) by Cincy native Chris Knight. This kid came with some high accolades, and if this weekend was any indication of what he can do, the accolades were spot on. Twenty-four points tonight in the 69-67 win.

Unfortunately for BG, the women’s soccer team couldn’t make it a perfect day for those in Brown and Orange, they fell to *ugh* UT in penalty kicks for the MAC Championship. Still a great effort, though, and a Falcon team to watch in ‘08!

Also, it’s worth noting again and again that the hockey team has won four straight, finishing back-to-back sweeps with a win over Ferris State. Derek Whitmore had a hat trick, one of which was ANOTHER Falcon power play goal. It should be noted that WMU and Ferris aren’t exactly the cream of the CCHA crop, but Ferris had been playing some good hockey and, more importantly, when it comes down to the end of the season and the standings are sorting themselves out, you don’t want to look back on the first month of the season wishing you’d have finished off the teams that are fighting for your position. Keep it up, icers!

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Poor, poor Ryne Hamblet.

If only the lone senior on the BG men’s hoops team could have gotten his 3-ball to fall, BG could have wrapped up one of the busiest days in their athletic history with perfect results. Of course, it’s silly to blame Hamblet completely, and the three would have only forced overtime — with no guarantees — but it would have been fun. Number 21’s 11 points and seven assists cushions the blow a little, but getting Coach Orr a win in his debut would have worked in nicely with the rest of the day.

To recap:

Earlier in the afternoon, the women’s soccer team beat top-seeded Ball State, 3-0 in penalty kicks, to advance to the MAC Championship against Toledo, who they beat a little more than a week ago with two late goals. Momentum, check. Confidence, check. BEAT TOLEDO!

(And for reference, here’s how I know I’ve got BG in my blood… when I saw that they play the championship Sunday at 1 p.m. in Muncie, I quickly did the math to see if I could make it to the game and back in time for work. If gas weren’t $3.18 a gallon right now among a few other minor details, I’d probably make the drive.)

The unfortunate men’s loss to Western Carolina evened BG’s record up for the day, but it seems there are some good things and some of the same old eye-rollers with this team. Hopefully as they work in Coach Orr’s system, they’ll start clicking and do some damage in the MAC. After all, they don’t really have to know what they’re doing until they get to Cleveland, right? Hats off to Chris Knight, who threw up a double-double in his return home to Cincinnati, and to Otis Polk for his three blocks, double-digit points, and not picking up his third and fourth fouls until late in the game.

Also, if you thought the new brown unis looked sharp in the team picture, they look even better in action.

Next up, the women’s basketball team collected some jewelry for another MAC title last season (apparently with a surprise visit from Ali Mann, jetting in from Luxembourg to pick up her ring), and dropping a banner commemorating the Sweet 16 appearance, the current version of the Falcons did little to disappoint. Lauren Prochaska showed off her scoring touch and Lindsey Goldsberry did a little bit of everything as BG rolled to an 81-56 win over Valparaiso. Who knows what kind of team Valparaiso may have this year, or what kind of adrenaline rush the Falcons may have gotten from the home opener along with the other festivities, but if this is the “more of the same” that it appears to be, this season could be ridiculous.

(And, even though peeking ahead to next year with one game gone in this season might be a bit pretentious, the only two seniors on the team, Achter and Taylor, combined for 11 points. That collective shudder you just felt was the rest of the MAC.)

Staying with the ladies, the Falcon volleyball team is winding down it’s regular season, sweeping Buffalo for the second time this season, putting the tough loss to Ohio U. this past Sunday behind them for the moment, and heading to Akron to wrap up the season this weekend.

On the ice, the BG hockey team doubled up Ferris State 6-3 behind FOUR powerplay goals, two by James Perkin, and freshman Nick Eno moved to 3-0 on the season/his career (Shhh! Them hockey types are the superstitious sort!). The Falcons have now scored nine powerplay goals in six games, after scoring a total of 23 all of last year.

Finally, there’s the football team. This post probably doesn’t do any of tonight’s game justice, either from the “pro” side or the “con” side, but in the end, it was good to see BG come together and pull out a win in a game they probably didn’t deserve to win. Mental errors and more poor tackling put their backs against the wall, but Tyler Sheehan and the offense pulled out of it, putting together a late touchdown drive to beat Eastern Michigan 39-32.

And from the “How In The Hell Did That Happen Department”… the winning touchdown drive covered 61 yards in seven plays, and even though Anthony Turner had rushed for 49 yards and two scores in the game from the “Slash” role he’s excelled at in recent weeks, he didn’t touch the ball once on the drive. Instead, Chris Bullock, who hadn’t touched the ball until that point, ran for 49 yards on the drive, Sheehan ran for the other 12 and the score (he led the Falcons with 65 yards on the ground, too, though he only scored as many touchdowns as offensive lineman Shane Steffy on the night). None of the plays on the drive were passes.

Oh, and Sinisa Vrvilo hit a 41-yarder in what was reported to be kinda windy conditions. MORE FREE DINNER!

In a rather long-winded nutshell, that was the day in Falcon athletics. 5-1 on the day, the men’s team has a shot at redemption Saturday night against Belmont (who looks like they know how to score some points, putting up 86 on tourney host Cincinnati). Hockey’s back at it, looking for their second sweep in as many weeks, volleyball wraps things up at Akron, and we all get to look toward Sunday when that women’s soccer team tries to BEAT TOLEDO!

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Memorial Day is fast approaching, which can only mean one thing.

Football. Of course. I mean, why wouldn’t it?

The guys at CollegeFootballNews.com are always thinking about football, and they’ve just released their preview of the 2007 grit iron gridiron Falcons. As you might expect following last season’s trainwreck, the CFN crew isn’t exactly predicting a return to dominance for this year’s team.

Dig this:

Last year was about reloading; this year is about producing. The East, the easier of the two divisions, is certainly winnable by anyone with some offensive pop, and defensive consistency, and while Bowling Green might still be a year away from being a title contender, it should be far better.

Makes some sense, right? As hard as 2006 was to stomach, at least Gregg Brandon et al were able to get a bunch of reps for Anthony Turner, Freddie Barnes, Chris Bullock, Jacob Hardwick, Jarrett Sanderson, Jahmal Brown and a bunch of other young players. And they’re right. This year’s team should be far better.

But here’s where I get off the CFN train:

The season will be a success if … the Falcons win six games. The young team has the potential to improve by at least two games after the 4-8 season as long as it doesn’t get too down after an almost-certain rough start. As long as they win the games they’re supposed to, and are able to come up with at least one good home win over a top MAC team like Ohio or Toledo, six wins is a more than attainable goal.

6-6 is a success? As far as I can tell, this team’s ready to win right now.

Oh, they’re not going to be as good as the team that won in West Lafayette. They’re not going to be as good as the team that embarrassed Memphis in the GMAC Bowl. They’re not going to crack the Top 20. If things go terribly wrong, they could lose nine games. But look around the MAC. Who’s clearly better?

As TG knows all too well, I’ve got a soft spot for Kent State, but the Flashes lost their best receiver and arguably their three best defensive players from a team that went 6-6 and lost to Buffalo by four touchdowns. Ohio won the division in ‘06, but lost most of its strong linebacker corps and 40% of its offensive line. Akron’s clearly rebuilding, having lost quarterback Luke Getsy and four starting offensive linemen. Miami went 2-10 last year and lost its only big-time offensive weapon in Ryne Robinson. Buffalo and Temple are Buffalo and Temple.

Does that make BGSU the favorite to win the East? Probably not, but it certainly makes a division title and a bowl game a realistic goal.

Now then. Onto the other sports.

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Missing Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, the Washington Wizards were facing a ridiculously steep climb in their first round series with the Cavaliers. They’ve gotten some outstanding individual efforts and kept a few of the games interesting, including a night in-night out effort through three games from Antonio Daniels. AD put up 20 and 13 tonight, pushing his average above 13 points a game, and pushing 12 assists an outing. In fact, he’s one Game Two point away from posting double-doubles in all three games thus far. Even more impressive when you look at his season averages of 7.1/3.6. Their backs are against the wall now, we’ll see if Tone can keep up the outstanding play as long as the Wizards can stay alive.

Unfortunately, things aren’t so hot for the lone former Falcon left on the ice. Apparently, Kevin Bieksa couldn’t finish Game 7 of the Canucks’ first round series with Dallas, and has been scratched for the first two games of the second round matchup with Anaheim. They’re calling it fatigue-related, which makes perfect sense when you look at the workhorse effort he put in early in the Dallas series. Injuries during the NHL playoffs are discussed about as openly as mob secrets, but one note of encouragment has to be Kevin’s upgrade to “questionable” for last night’s double-OT win over the Ducks. Here’s to good Falcon health!

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Game Seven tonight in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Vancouver and Dallas for all the first-round marbles. If playoff hockey is like a never-ending fudge brownie, Game 7’s are like the vat of ice cream that comes with it. It’s just that good.

Of course, for those of you paying attention, it means Canucks defenseman and former Falcon Kevin Bieksa is again sharing part of the spotlight. He has no points in the series, and probably a few more minutes in the box than he’d care for, but he’s getting plenty of ice time. And with Greg de Vries and the Thrashers exiting quickly at the hands of the NY Rangers (though de Vries did find the net in Game 4), Bieksa is the lone brown and orange hope to lift the Cup at the end of this ride.

Meanwhile, the NBA playoffs are firing up, and while it might be a short stay for the Arenas-less Wizards against Cleveland, Antonio Daniels contributed nicely in their Game 1 loss. AD put up nine points, 11 assists, 7 boards and a steal with just two turnovers. Game Two is Wednesday night in Cleveland.

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If you’re planning on paying any attention at all to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, chances are you’ve already got a team in mind to follow. However if you want to experience the greatest two months in sports and have no particular affiliation, a couple Falcons will be skating in the postseason:

Greg de Vries (Atlanta): The Thrashers defenseman only played 24 games during the 1991-92 season for the Falcons, but de Vries has turned in 13 NHL seasons, scoring 43 goals in 730 games. He had three goals and 21 assists this year for the Southeast Division champion Thrashers, who will face the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.

Kevin Bieksa (Vancouver): Wrapping up his first full season in the league, Bieksa has scored 12 goals and played in 81 of Vancouver’s 82 games this season. The defenseman totaled 24 goals and 51 assists in four years with the Falcons through the 2003-04 season. The Pacific Division champions will take on the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Other Falcons who saw ice time in the NHL this year:

Rob Blake - 14 goals, 20 assists, -26, 82 penalty minutes in 72 games for Los Angeles 

Jonathan Sigalet - 0 goals, 0 assists, -2, 4 penalty minutes in 1 game for Boston

Mike Johnson - 11 goals,  20 assists,  +6,  40 penalty minutes in 80 games for Montreal

Ken Klee - 3 goals, 16 assists, +16, 66 penalty minutes in 81 games for Colorado

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