BGSU Head Coach Gregg Brandon raises the trophy in victory as Falcon players Omar Jacobs (left) and Jovon Burkes (right) celebrate their GMAC Bowl win against Memphis. Presenting the trophy was GMAC Financial Services Chairman Eric A. Feldstein (center).

GMAC Bowl win caps record-setting season for football Falcons

BGSU’s football Falcons added the final chapter to their record-setting, 2004 success story with a 52-35 win over Memphis in the GMAC Bowl Dec. 22.

The triumphant trip to Mobile, Ala., capped a 9-3 season—the third straight in which BGSU has won at least nine games. The Falcons’ 29 victories during that time are the most over any three-year period in BGSU history. Over the last four seasons, this year’s seniors have helped Bowling Green compile a 37-12 record—the best in the Mid-American Conference from 2001-04.

Leading the offensive onslaught in Mobile was sophomore quarterback Omar Jacobs, who set a record for a MAC team in any bowl game with five touchdown passes. That brought his season total to 41, also a conference record and first in the nation in 2004. Throwing only four interceptions, Jacobs also had the best single-season, touchdown-to-interception ratio in NCAA history among quarterbacks with at least 30 TD passes.

Completing a BGSU-record 66.9 percent of his throws, the Delray Beach, Fla., native was second in the nation both in passing, averaging 333.5 yards per game, and total offense, with a MAC-record 358.5 yards per game. As a unit, the Falcons were also second nationwide in total offense, with 506.3 yards per contest; third in passing, and fourth in scoring, averaging 44.3 points per game. The total offense and scoring numbers are new conference records as well.

Running back P.J. Pope finished fourth in the nation in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game, as did defensive back Keon Newson in interceptions, with six.

BGSU Trustee Robert Sebo gives a big "Go Falcons" to Coach Gregg Brandon (seated, left) and President Sidney Ribeau (seated, right) as he receives a GMAC Bowl "Champion of Life" award during the Mayor’s Luncheon Dec. 21 in Mobile, Ala. Award recipients are selected for achieving great success in their respective fields through dedication and hard work. Sebo, a BGSU alumnus, is a retired senior vice president of Paychex Inc. Presenting the award is Thomas Sullivan (standing, left), vice president of Mobile City Council. The Falcons defeated Memphis in the bowl game the following night.