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| Bowling Green | @ Miami |
When: November 12th
Where: Oxford, Ohio
All Time Series: Miami 27-15-4
Last 10 Meetings
| Date | Miami | BG |
| October 18, 2008 | 27 | 20 |
| October 13, 2007 | 47 | 14 |
| November 15, 2006 | 9 | 7 |
| November 15, 2005 | 14 | 42 |
| December 4, 2003* | 49 | 27 |
| November 4, 2003 | 33 | 10 |
| November 3, 2001 | 24 | 21 |
| October 14, 2000 | 24 | 10 |
| October 9, 1999 | 45 | 31 |
| October 10, 1998 | 24 | 12 |
Why this game? Two new coaches for two venerable MAC teams, Miami (1948, second oldest member), and Bowling green (1952, Sixth oldest member). In the 54 years that both teams have been members one or the other has been the Conference champion 22 times. The Timing of this game so late in the season will also add weight to its outcome.
Bowling Green has new leadership on the sideline is, in no small part, due to Greg Brandon's epic meltdown after the Buffalo Game. His 44-30 record belies the fact that he had not won an outright division title in five seasons, and that his last three seasons the falcons had record of 18-19. Even with the recent record up until the Buffalo loss there were only whispers about replacing Brandon but after the worst press conference of all times there was little doubt change was coming:
"That crowd was pitiful and I'm so disappointed. The fans that showed up, that's awesome because they're the true fans. Our kids deserve so much better than that. To be in a championship with so much on the line and [having] that kind of crowd, disgusts me," -- Gregg Brandon
He is replaced by Dave Clawson who has had a very successful career at the FCS level vastly improving the Fordham and Richmond football teams winning a total of 3 conference titles in eight seasons before spending one season under Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee.
Miami's coaching change was anticipated far earlier in the season as the RedHawks Shane Montgomery finished his career with a four year 17-31 record including two 2-10 records. He resigned his position at the end of November and in early 2009 took up the offensive coordinator duties for the Akron Zips. Montgomery's replacement, Mike Haywood, has spent time as an assistant coach at some of college footballs big name programs (LSU, Texas, and Notre Dame). While this is his first time as a head coach he has an impressive list of mentors through his career including S Nick Saban, Mack Brown, and Lou Holtz.
Last year Bowling green was a hairs breath from division title. While it was the collapse against Buffalo that cost Bowling Green the upset division the loss to Miami kept them out of a Bowl Game. Bowling Green, in a tie game, deep in Miami Territory through a late interception off of which Miami would drive for the go ahead score.
Bowling Green is expected to compete for the MAC East division title and this game is late enough in the year to be a make or break contest. Miami could drive a stake through the heart of the Falcons as they have the past two seasons (their head to head victory in 2007 game Miami the East Division and their 2008 win kept the Falcons out of a Bowl).
These two schools are three hours apart so Falcon fans wishing to make the trip will have to, at least, take the afternoon off if they want to be at the game, for those unable to make the trip there is always espnu.
How Miami dominates BG in so many sports is beyond me. This was once a good rivalry, now BG can't even claim it as a rivalry because we don't win often enough.
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