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New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
From Broadway to Bowling Green, Eddie George finds his next stage
The whispers could be heard as he walked down the street to Urban Meyer's restaurant. When he stood on the sidewalk speaking to a small group of reporters, more passersby began noticing. 'That's Eddie George, a famous Ohio State player,' one woman told her kids. Some across the street tried to get a good angle to take a photo. Once he moved inside the restaurant, fans took pictures of George through the glass that led to a closed-door fundraiser event for his latest venture: coaching Bowling Green football. Advertisement Thirty years ago, George won the Heisman Trophy as a running back at Ohio State. Since then, he's starred in the NFL, started businesses and even dabbled in acting. Now he's wearing a brown suit with a Bowling Green pin on his lapel, bringing attention to an unexpected location. Unlike most Mid-American Conference football coaches, George is a celebrity everywhere he goes, no matter what color he wears. He can't help but attract attention. It was the case when he was in Nashville, where he played for the Titans and spent the past four years coaching Tennessee State in the second-highest level of college football, in the FCS. It's even truer in Ohio. On this day last month in Dublin, outside of Columbus, George talked to Bowling Green boosters and football alumni to get to know them and encourage donations to his new program. He talked about his vision for Bowling Green and what allowed him to go from zero coaching experience to the FCS playoffs in four years at Tennessee State. What made him the right person for the Tigers' rebuild is why Bowling Green bet on him: He has the name to attract attention and resources to a program in need of a jolt, but he doesn't go out of the way to draw attention to his fame, either. And that's what he's leaning into in his first FBS coaching job in the same state where his football hero status began. 'I've been a celebrity in this state for over 30 years. That's not going anywhere, but when it comes down to it, when I put that whistle around my neck, we are in the heat of battle, I'm training guys or pushing them beyond their comfort zone, that's a different animal,' George said. 'That? I'm back to my old playing days. That's the spirit and that's not to be played with.' When George retired from the NFL in 2005 after rushing for more than 10,000 yards, he wanted something different. Tired of the games, the practices and the late nights, he left the sport entirely. His pursuit of other interests led him to unexpected places. Even Broadway. During his playing time, George had become interested in acting, but he didn't start taking it seriously until after he retired. He hired an acting coach and earned roles in multiple plays, making it all the way to New York in 2016 with the long-running musical 'Chicago.' On top of acting, he earned his master's degree in business administration at Northwestern and started businesses in Nashville and Ohio, including a restaurant with multiple locations and the Edward George Wealth Management Group. He was inducted into the Nashville Entrepreneurs' Hall of Fame in 2023. Advertisement He had a good life with his wife, Tamara, and two sons, Eriq and Jaire. The only time he thought about coaching? When building dynasties in the 'NCAA Football' video game. That changed in April 2021 when Tennessee State let go of longtime coach Rod Reed and called George. Another HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), Jackson State, had hired Deion Sanders the previous fall despite his lack of college coaching experience. Now Tennessee State needed some life breathed back into the program after finishing below .500 three years in a row and winning more than seven games just twice in 11 years. At first, George was hesitant to entertain interest because he didn't see himself as a coach and didn't want to be a prop to sell tickets. If he was going to take over the Tigers, he wanted it to be about the players. 'I wasn't going to do a reality show tied to it,' George said. 'It's not about the camera, my hits on Instagram, my content or any of that. There's a place for all that, but it was important, especially in the beginning, that it not be about me, it be about them.' The administration committed to George as the coach, not the celebrity, and he considered the job. He talked with his wife about it and thought more about what type of culture and philosophy he wanted to imprint on the team. Everyone knows George was a talented football player, but his journey beyond football was one worth telling and one he thought he could use to help athletes at Tennessee State. 'It meant sacrificing a lot of things I had been working on prior to that, acting and business,' George said. 'But the gratification that I got from helping young people and giving them guidance and seeing the light bulb go off — challenging them and developing them to become leaders is really God's work.' After 15 years away, George loved getting back in the locker room, putting a game plan together and pushing players beyond their limits. He loved returning to the grind of football. But being a first-year head coach with no experience as an assistant isn't easy. George took over a Tennessee State program with limited resources and got a reality check with all of the off-the-field responsibilities, especially at an FCS school with budget constraints. Advertisement Once he got his bearings, the program started trending in the right direction. Though Tennessee State lost three of its first four games under George, it went on a four-game winning streak after that and finished 5-6 in the fall of 2021. 'There were a lot of moving parts at TSU, from compliance to the players to equipment, making sure lines are on the field, the scheduling — all of it was overwhelming,' George said. 'I had to organize my thoughts, but once I got a rhythm of it and I realized where I needed to spend my time, it was, 'OK, the culture has to be felt from top to bottom, period. Excellence all the way through.'' George's words still come to Rodell Rahmaan's mind before each of his professional indoor football games with the Omaha Beef. No mas. The first time he heard those words in a football setting was days before Tennessee State traveled to Eastern Illinois for a midseason game. The Tigers had won two in a row when George walked into a team meeting and relayed the message of the week. 'He wanted us to dominate them, have them saying no more, like they're done,' Rahmaan said. Tennessee State embraced it and beat Eastern Illinois 28-0, the largest win in George's first season. With about four minutes left, Rahmaan heard a 'no mas' chant break among players. 'I could remember the looks on their faces with our whole team yelling,' Rahmaan said. 'Everybody rallied together.' A graduate of Beechcroft High, 20 minutes from Ohio State, Rahmaan was well aware of who George was when he graduated from Bowling Green in 2020 and transferred to Tennessee State to play for George with his final year of eligibility. 'To have a legend from your hometown college hold me in that high regard, I felt like I was in heaven getting a call from him,' Rahmaan said. Rahmaan spent one year with George, who displayed natural coaching instincts despite his inexperience. His playing experience gave him the ability to show players how to do things rather than just telling them. George kept everybody calm, even in high-intensity moments, and found ways to bring out confidence in his team. Still, it wasn't a straight line of success. The team ended his first season on a three-game losing streak and then backtracked to a 4-7 record in 2022. George saw discipline issues he had to address on his roster and coaching staff. His focus was getting his culture under control as he learned how to coach on the fly. Advertisement 'The first year was like, 'Do I like this? Do I love it? I don't know,'' George said. 'But seeing the small wins, I got addicted to it. All the years of preparation and the life after the game prepared me for this.' The Tigers started 6-2 in 2023 but ended on a three-game losing streak. So in the 2024 offseason, he implemented a new mindset called 'nine strong,' which became a phrase used around the facility. George focused on making sure all nine position groups were strong from top to bottom so that at the end of November they were playing their best football. Last fall, Tennessee State won seven of its final eight games before losing to Montana its first FCS playoff appearance in 11 years. Three months later, George was watching ESPN when news came across the bottom ticker that caught his eye. Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler had left to be the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterbacks coach, an early-spring move that put the Falcons in a precarious position long after the coaching carousel slowed. 'That's a bad situation to be in right now,' George remembered thinking to himself. 'I wonder what they're going to do.' 'Lo and behold, it's me,' he said recently. When athletic director Derek Van der Merwe began his search to replace Loeffler, he reached out to former coaches Meyer (2001-02) and Dave Clawson (2009-13). Both told him he had to find a coach who could embrace the community. Meyer gave Van der Merwe the 51-year-old George's name. 'I was a little bit skeptical about a Heisman trophy winner and the Titan,' Van der Merwe said. 'He said, 'No, do you know Eddie as a person?' I would say the first phone call I went in thinking how does an individual who has done what he's done translate into the leader of a college football team? Does he have that heart of service?' Advertisement It took one conversation to realize that George was different. 'You saw a humble spirit, one who understood the value of higher education,' he said. 'It was clearly evident to me that this was a man who spent his life learning, viewed the future and was committed to growth.' George, who also interviewed with the Chicago Bears last winter, worried because he wasn't actively trying to leave Tennessee State. There were challenges in the Tigers' athletic department with an expiring contract coming up for George, some bad financials and other things that George said he and the administration were working out, but he intended to stick it out. He didn't want word getting back to his team that he was interviewing at Bowling Green if he had no interest in leaving the program he just rebuilt. He got assurance that nothing would leak and began talking to Meyer, his wife, former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and others. He started to believe it was right for him. 'We talked over the pros and cons and led to a decision that it was the best decision for me, not from a financial standpoint, but a support standpoint,' said George, who signed a five-year deal with a base salary of $600,000. 'We could really build this brand in a conference that is well established and going places.' Bowling Green made the hire official on March 9. 'Eddie talked about his journey and how hard work defined who he was, how he just kept working and was going to get better at everything whether as a player or on Broadway or as a head football coach,' Bowling Green president Rodney Rogers said. 'That is a great fit at schools like BG, because that is in essence who we are.' Before George found a house in Bowling Green, he moved into a Best Western, eating waffles for breakfast in the lobby and going to dinner at local restaurants. He had to put a program together while intertwining himself with the alumni base and a small, tight-nit community. 'I have a hard time envisioning Eddie in a Best Western,' Meyer said. 'But it's important he acclimates to that town.' Advertisement The town of Bowling Green has a population of just over 31,000 nestled amid northwestern Ohio farm land. The state university has an enrollment of under 20,000. It's the type of place where somebody of George's stature can't go into a restaurant or store without somebody stopping him. 'Bowling Green is big enough to be a Division I athletic program, but we're small enough where everybody kind of knows everybody and you can kind of do things and see the results of what you do,' Rogers said. Meyer, who went 17-6 with the Falcons before leading Utah to an unbeaten season and winning a total of three national championships at Florida and Ohio State, still raves about the Bowling Green community, which is why he hosted a fundraiser at his Columbus-area restaurant in May. Clawson, who recently retired as the head coach at Wake Forest, still visits Bowling Green and holds fond memories of the patience and support he received. After winning seven games to begin his career, he won two the next year and finished 5-7 in Year 3. 'Everybody had my back,' Clawson said. Two years later, he won the MAC title, beating Northern Illinois 47-27 in front of a sea of orange that made the trip to Detroit to see the program's first conference title since 1992. 'I still get goosebumps thinking about that game and how much orange was in the stands,' Clawson said. 'It felt like a big deal that we were in that game. The amount of students, the amount of community members, the amount of buses that came up, it was awesome.' The Falcons won another MAC title two years later under Dino Babers, who left for Syracuse. But the past decade has been a struggle to reach those heights. Bowling Green made a surprise move to replace Babers with Texas Tech running backs coach Mike Jinks, who went just 7-24 before being fired in his third season. In came Loeffler, whose slow build eventually led to a pair of 7-6 records in each of the past two years to end the program's streak of seven consecutive losing seasons, only for Loeffler to leave to become an NFL position coach. Advertisement 'People who embrace this campus and build this program with the community beside them have had success, because they view this exercise of success through building the community around the program,' Van der Merwe said. 'The community has helped the coaches solve programs. Then they move on and we celebrate that and we find the next person. Where we've made mistakes is when we fail to bring somebody in who embraces that.' The Falcons were just one win away from the MAC championship game last season, but a loss to Miami (OH) in the last week of the regular season cost them a trip to Detroit. Despite the program's struggles over the past decade, upward mobility in the conference is readily available. There are a lot of similarities between MAC schools, and 10 programs have won at least one conference title in the past 20 seasons. Roster turnover in the transfer portal age has now made the conference even more fluid. 'It's good to see teams clumping at the top, that's what you want to see. You hope that continues,' MAC commissioner John Steinbrecher said. 'We are an evolving enterprise. You used to be building a program for three or four or five-plus years, but now you're rebuilding a program year after year.' Though George didn't arrive until March — long after the first transfer portal window in December — he made a splash in the April portal window. Bowling Green's transfer class over the two windows is ranked No. 1 in the MAC by 247Sports, including an April commitment from ex-Notre Dame and Missouri quarterback Drew Pyne after George arrived. Bowling Green had an average announced attendance of 13,358 last year, seventh out of 12 MAC teams. According to a Bowling Green spokesman, season ticket sales have risen 40 percent from last season so far, while sales for single-game and group tickets have risen 2,000 percent since they opened on June 2. '(Tennessee State) is not an easy position, but he did a nice job there and I look forward to him continuing to build the BG program,' Steinbrecher said. 'I expect there will be a buzz around BG road games this year, not that there wasn't before, but this is another element that comes with it.' Advertisement George's celebrity isn't going anywhere, especially in Ohio, where he's a hero to people like Rahmaan and many of the BG players who grew up in the state. There's little doubt his name recognition has already worked in his favor when it comes to community support in Ohio and putting Bowling Green on the college football map nationally. But that's just one side of George. The side that fell in love with the grind of being a head coach and teaching is who Van der Merwe fell for. It's also the one George can't wait to show as the next stage of his unexpected new career begins. 'I lived the entertainment world,' George said, 'but this has to come from a real place.'
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Bowling Green Football Preview 2025: Falcons Make Bold Move With Eddie George
Former head coach Scot Loeffler busted it to get the Bowling Green program up to might not have won any MAC titles in his six seasons, and he went 0-3 in bowl games, but in three years, he made the Falcons good, and he pulled off two winning seasons over the two then he bolted to coach Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles Green made a bold move in its head coaching search, and it might have clobbered a home run getting Eddie Ohio State and NFL legend took over Tennessee State in 2021, and in Year Four won a conference title and got to the FCS Playoffs. He's more than ready for this gig, but the roster is a bit thin.A bowl game is possible in his first year, and if nothing else, George will bring plenty of attention to the school and the MAC. - Travis Partridge will handle the coordinator duties after cranking up the passing game for Eddie Georgia at Tennessee State. The running game won't go away, but it'll be more of a pass-heavy attack for the oft-traveled Drew Pyne to run. It's his sixth year in college, getting most of his production in a 2,021-yard, 22-touchdown pass season with Notre Dame in 2022. Lucian Anderson is still around after getting in a little bit of work as the No. 2 man last year. - The receiving corps remains strong, but record-setting tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is off to the Cleveland Browns. Coming in is Arlis Boardingham (Florida), who made 44 grabs with six scores over the last two years with the Hogan is a good outside option with experience, and now he'll get the ball his way more. Rahkeem Smith is the leading returning receiver with 25 catches. - The backs won't be used as much as the receivers, but they won't be forgotten. JUCO transfer Chris McMillian has the quickness, and 22-pound Mar'Kel Porter should bring more thump.- The line has veteran parts. Tunde Fatukasi started out at Rutgers and worked last year as the Falcons' left tackle. Alex Padgett is a 330-pound interior blocker who can play guard or center, Jake Burns will likely work in the middle, and Nate Pabst can go anywhere. - Defensive coordinator Brandon Fisher comes over from Tennessee State after a strong season. His Tiger D was terrific at getting into the backfield and great at taking the ball away. Unlike the offense, the defense will rely more on the transfer portal, except for …- The line gets back a slew of Falcons. Myles Bradley can be used as an outside linebacker or pass rushing edge option, and Collins Acheampong will get his shot on the other side after not seeing time at Miami or UCLA. There's not a ton of experience on the inside, but everyone in the rotation has been around the program for a few years. - The linebacking corps needs a ton of work. Gideon Lampron (Dayton) was a monster tackler last year at the lower level - more on him in a moment - and after him it's … it'll take a bit. Several career backups need to rise up in fall camp.- The starting four/five in the secondary should be okay, but the depth isn't there, at least coming out of the offseason. Mayes Doggan (NW Missouri State) and JoJo Johnson (Indiana) are expected to step in and take over on the corners. Kal-El Pascal should grow into one of the safety gigs, and after missing a bulk of last season, Darius Lorfils will be one of the team's leading tacklers. Bowling Green Falcons Key to the Season The offensive line has to will need tweaking under the new coaching staff, but the offensive line has the potential to be an early strength. At the very least, it has more stability than other last year's starting five allowed too many tackles for loss and was just okay for the ground game. If the line is good, a slew of other things should fall into place. Bowling Green Falcons Key Player Drew Pyne, QB not big, and he's not much of a rusher, but he was good enough for a year at Notre Dame before the staff went big in the portal. He never clicked at Arizona State, and wasn't able to push for the Missouri gig. He has the big-time experience to be a leader, and he needs to make everyone around him better. Bowling Green Falcons Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss Top Transfer In: Gideon Lampron, LB only 5-11ish and 215ish pounds, but he plays big, and he plays fast. After getting his feet wet as a sophomore at Dayton, he was unstoppable last season with 119 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 26.5 tackles for loss, and he needs to be the same sort of game-wrecker for the Transfer Out: Alex Wollschaelger, OT the offensive line should be a plus, and the new staff can move some guys around, but the 6-7, 295-pound Wollschlaeger is a special blocker with NFL potential if he can crank up the weight. He'll get a chance to show off at Kentucky. Bowling Green Falcons Key Game Liberty, Sept. 13How fast can the program get up to speed? It should beat Lafayette to start the season, it'll get rocked by Cincinnati, and later at Louisville, and the opening two MAC games are against Ohio on the road followed up by a date with are other winnable games on the slate, so if the Falcons can get by Liberty, the dream of getting to six wins isn't crazy.- 2025 Bowling Green Schedule Breakdown Bowling Green Falcons Top 10 Players 1. Gideon Lampron, LB Sr.2. Drew Pyne, QB Sr.3. Arlis Boardingham TE Jr.4. Rahkeem Smith, WR Sr.5. Tunde Fatukasi, OT Sr.6. John Henderson, P Sr.7. Finn Hogan, WR Sr.8. Jake Burns, OG/C Sr.9. Alex Padgett, OG/C Sr.10. Collins Acheampong, DE Soph. Bowling Green Falcons 2024 Fun Stats - Fumbles: Bowling Green 18 (lost 5), Bowling Green 10 (lost 2)- 3rd Quarter Scoring: Bowling Green 73, Opponents 40- Punt Return Average: Opponents 10.4 yards, Bowling Green 4.5 yards Bowling Green Falcons 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen How fast can this all be put together?The starting 22 should be okay, but the depth will be a problem over the first half of the season. The Falcons will take plenty of lumps, but Akron, at Kent State, Lafayette, and at UMass all have to be wins. There should be another victory after that, but again, any injury blips will screw this bunch a true rebuild, but as these things go, it might not be too The Bowling Green Win Total At … 5Likely Wins: Lafayette50/50 Games: Akron, Buffalo, Central Michigan, at Eastern Michigan, at Kent State, at UMassLikely Losses: at Cincinnati, Liberty, at Louisville, at Ohio, Toledo © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Decision time for DC's Shannon Harris tops storylines from 2025 UFL season
Jordan Ta'amu had a simple request for the DC Defenders organization after an emphatic 58-34 win over the Michigan Panthers in the 2025 UFL Championship Game on Saturday — remove the interim tag for head coach Shannon Harris. "We're trying to take the tag off," Ta'amu said. That sentiment is certainly warranted, considering Harris led the Defenders to a UFL title in his first season after replacing then-head coach Reggie Barlow just a week before the season began. Barlow took the head coaching job at Tennessee State, and Defenders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams followed a week later; Williams' son Blake Williams took over as the defensive coordinator for the Defenders after his departure. Despite major changes to the Defenders' coaching staff, they still managed to finish the season on top, championship trophy in hand and with Harris earning UFL Coach of the Year honors. "He never blinked," tight end Briley Moore said about Harris. "He preached to really have us come together as one throughout the season, no matter what happened. It's because of that we were able to keep our poise last week and beat them (the St. Louis Battlehawks) at home. And this week not to flinch in a big game. Shout out to Coach (Harris)." Harris said it's "yet to be determined" whether he'll follow Barlow and Williams to Tennessee State or accept a potential offer to remain the head coach of the Defenders permanently and defend the UFL title. "We still have a lot of meetings to go, and we still have things to talk over … but these guys here, it would be hard to leave these guys," Harris said. Where Harris lands will be one of the top storylines to keep an eye on this offseason. Here's a look at the other big themes from Saturday's title game and the 2025 UFL season overall. Ta'amu's revenge game Moore said he texted Ta'amu on Friday after learning the UFL leader in passing touchdowns did not earn Offensive Player of the Year or MVP honors. "When you're holding up that trophy on that stage, I'm going to be chanting M-V-P," Moore said he texted Ta'amu. Moore's prediction became a reality, as Ta'amu let his play do the talking on Saturday, passing for 390 yards and four touchdowns in a runaway win over the Panthers. Ta'amu helped the Defenders score on their first 10 possessions. Over the postseason, the Defenders scored on a jaw-dropping 17 of their 21 possessions and averaged 47 points a game, winning by an average of 21 points per contest. The Defenders dominated on offense, scoring the most points in UFL history (58) against what had been a tough Panthers defense — and Ta'amu rightfully earned MVP honors for the championship game. "When playoff time hit, we told them, 'This is a different season,'" Harris said. "These guys were ready for that moment. The one thing we challenged each other on — from coaches to players and support staff — is that we are going to finish the drills. … We were not going to end this game and not be winners. That was the approach." Not earning UFL MVP or Offensive Player of the Year served as extra motivation for Ta'amu. "I told [my teammates] pregame that I [was] going to put my body on the line for them," Ta'amu said. "Bryce Perkins is a great quarterback and he deserved all the awards, but it just gave us a big chip on our shoulders to go out there and play even harder." Perkins puts up numbers in loss for Panthers While Michigan failed to earn a title, Perkins showed up for the Panthers. The Virginia product finished 60% of his passes (21 of 35) for 338 passing yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. His favorite target was Malik Turner, who totaled 10 receptions for 168 receiving yards and three scores. However, the one area Michigan struggled with was running the football, totaling just 104 yards on the ground. Perkins was limited by a balky ankle, rushing for just eight yards on four carries. It's all about the quarterback Scoring was up this postseason, with games averaging a combined score of 73.7 points during the playoffs this year compared to 38 combined points per game in the 2024 postseason. One of the reasons for improved production in the postseason was the play of Ta'amu and Perkins. Elsewhere, the Arlington Renegades had the UFL's regular-season passing leader in Luis Perez, but they still failed to make the playoffs for a second straight season. The Birmingham Stallions failed to defend their championship title because they had instability at the most important position on the field, using five different quarterbacks due to injury. Jalan McClendon emerging as the Houston Roughnecks' starter helped them improve from 1-9 in 2024 to 5-5 this season. He was helped by private QBs coach Jordan Palmer, who worked with various players during the offseason. "You've got to walk into Week 1 with your leading quarterback, having your guy in place," UFL head of football operations Daryl Johnston said. "Then, as you get into the season, if you want to get some reps for No. 2 or No. 3 with the way the [Collective Bargaining Agreement] is structured now, then that's an opportunity for you to develop that position. But you have to have your guy in place in Week 1, and I hope that's the lesson our teams learn this year." Travis Feeney named 2025 UFL Sportsman of the Year The Battlehawks' linebacker was awarded the first Sportsman of the Year award, which is given to a player who exemplifies exceptional leadership, integrity and commitment to making a difference both on the field and in the community. Feeney was selected by a panel of league and team executives, coaches and players from all eight teams. The Washington product donated his time participating in community events in the UFL's home base of Arlington, Texas and in St. Louis. Feeny volunteered his time as an advocate for CARE St. Louis Adoption Center, the Adaptive Training Foundation and is an ambassador for the American Cancer Society. "Over the last three years, no one embodies this award more than Travis," said Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht. "His commitment on and off the field has been tremendous." Building local support remains a work in progress Building more fan interest in local markets — a stated goal by the league entering this season — remains a work in progress as the UFL heads into a third season. "We are looking at every way to reengage and look at our marketplace in each separate silo as we move forward," said UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon. "We're a great product. We know it's affordable. We're trying to activate as much as possible in each of these local markets, and we have a great plan in place, I believe, to do that." UFL co-owner Danny Garcia said the league's vision for the future remains what is best to ensure long-term growth. "What I want to see is … this league clicking in with its consumer, it's audience … [and] this league continuing to … be that opportunity for its athletes, where their performance here matters," she said. "Where they know their expressing their love of football and their incredible skill at football, and it is being appreciated, … enjoyed and … celebrated. "We really have so many of our ingredients put down and planted, that it's just about letting it breathe and grow." Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him at @eric_d_williams . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League DC Defenders Michigan Panthers recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Eddie George's Bowling Green Falcons Among College Football Teams With Light 2025 Travel Schedules
Eddie George was hired at Bowling Green on March 9, 2025, a little more than one month prior to the ... More Falcons' spring game. With conference realignment altering travel schedules throughout most of Division-I athletics, and drastically so in some instances, it can be difficult to construct game schedules that include relatively light itineraries. There are a handful of football teams, though, that will have it pretty easy in 2025 when it comes to travel. That is especially the case with Bowling Green in what will be Eddie George's first season running the program. In fact, eight of the Falcons' first nine games are in the state of Ohio, which they leave only three times in 2025. The first trip is roughly 275 miles south to Louisville for a September 20 matchup. It will be another seven weeks before the Falcons again cross the state border, a short trip (75 miles) to Ypsilanti when they visit Eastern Michigan on November 8. Bowling Green concludes the regular season November 25 at UMass, the team's only trip outside the region, though like the other 11 games is in the Eastern Time Zone. Indeed, there will be no need to change wrist watches. In addition, each of the Falcons' in-state trips – Cincinnati, Ohio and Kent State -- is less than 200 miles one way. Here is a look at the Falcons' schedule in George's first season at the helm. The 1995 Heisman winner at Ohio State was hired March 9 after four seasons (24-22) as coach at Tennessee State, which he led to an FCS playoff berth last year. George, who will return to his alma mater when the Falcons kick off the 2027 season in Columbus, was hired after Scott Loeffler departed to become the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback coach. Philly, by the way, is George's hometown. Below are a few other teams that have rather favorable travel schedules, at least during this season's first half. Mario Cristobal's team does not leave the Sunshine State until November. Actually, October 31 when the 'Canes fly to Dallas to play SMU the following day. That is the only time in the season's first 10 games that Miami leaves the state. In fact, six of the first seven games are at Hard Rock Stadium with the lone road date in that stretch 500 miles to the north in Tallahassee against rival Florida State on October 4. The Hurricanes kick off their season in primetime Sunday, August 31 against Notre Dame. Bethune-Cookman, USF and Florida visit Hard Rock the next three weeks. Miami then has an open date prior to visiting the Seminoles, who will be the fourth straight in-state team the Hurricanes face. Following another open week, Louisville and Stanford make their way to Miami Gardens. The Bulldogs' first five games, played without an open date, are within the borders of the Magnolia state. Jeff Lebby's second season at the helm in Starkville opens at Southern Miss and is followed by four straight at Davis Wade Stadium: Arizona State, Alcorn State, Northern Illinois and Tennessee. MSU's first out-of-state game is at Texas A&M on October 4. The Tigers have eight home games this season, including the entire first half of the schedule. The run of six straight at Faurot Field commences August 30 versus Central Arkansas and is followed by visits from Kansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, UMass and, following an open date, Alabama on October 11. Mizzou finally hits the road for an October 18 encounter at Auburn. The Wolfpack left the Carolinas – note the plural – twice in their 12 regular season games last year. This season, NC State's first six games are in the state of North Carolina and four of them are in the friendly confines of Carter-Finley Stadium. The two road trips are just that: 100 miles west on I-40 to meet Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on September 11 for a Thursday night game, then 25 miles to Durham to face Duke the following Saturday. Dave Doeren's 12th season at the helm in Raleigh gets underway August 28 against visiting East Carolina in the second straight game against the Pirates after losing to them in last year's Military Bowl. Virginia arrives in town the following week and, after the aforementioned road trips, the Wolfpack hosts Virginia Tech and Campbell. The first out-of-state matchup is at Notre Dame on October 11. The schedule for Barry Odom's first season in West Lafayette includes the Boilermakers not leaving Indiana until an October 11 trip to Minnesota. Four of the first five games are at home with the lone trip 200 miles north to South Bend to face the Fighting Irish on September 20. The first three games are at Ross-Ade Stadium against Ball State, Southern Illinois and, for the first time in 49 years, USC. The trip to Notre Dame is followed by an open week prior to Illinois' visit October 4. The Bulls play their first five games within the state's borders. What a start to the season it will be as they host Boise State on a Thursday evening (August 28) before trips up to Gainesville to face Florida and then down to Miami the next two weeks. USF hosts South Carolina State on September 20 and, following an open week, opens American Conference play against visiting Charlotte. Their first trip outside the Sunshine State is October 10 for a Friday evening matchup at North Texas in what will be the Bulls' longest trip of the season.
Miami Herald
04-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
ACC quarterback headed to HBCU program
Former ACC quarterback Jack Brandon is headed to the HBCU ranks. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound passer spent the last four seasons at Boston College. He has now committed to Tennessee State University as the Tigers begin a new era under head coach Reggie Barlow. Brandon brings Power Five experience to an HBCU program fresh off a 9-4 season and a share of the OVC/Big South championship. Brandon never saw game action during his ACC career. Still, he showed promise at Cheshire Academy, where he threw for over 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also played basketball and baseball, showing his all-around athleticism. His move from the ACC to an HBCU highlights the talent shift happening across college football. Tennessee State is undergoing big changes. Former head coach Eddie George led the Tigers to the FCS playoffs before leaving for Bowling Green. Reggie Barlow now takes over after a strong run with Alabama State and the XFL's DC Defenders. Brandon gives the staff a quarterback with size, arm talent, and leadership. The addition of an ACC quarterback helps boost Tennessee State's HBCU resurgence. It also signals that HBCU football is attracting talent from top conferences. Brandon's presence could help stabilize the offense during the coaching transition. Tennessee State has an unknown outlook heading into 2025. As the team adjusts to a new system, Brandon will have the chance to lead the way. His move from the ACC to an HBCU is one many players are making these days, including a player for Tennessee State's first opponent. Fans and scouts will watch closely to see how he performs. Brandon's development could be key to another strong run in the OVC/Big South. The post ACC quarterback headed to HBCU program appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
