Eddie George’s first night at Bowling Green felt more like a homecoming than a debut. On Thursday, the former Heisman Trophy winner guided the Falcons to a 26–7 win over Lafayette, but his focus was on something bigger than the scoreboard.
“First and foremost, it’s a great opportunity to coach these guys,” George said. “The kids put the work in despite the injuries. It’s a blessing with my family here. I saw teammates that I hadn’t seen in years. My coach from Ohio State, Coach [John] Cooper, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer. It was a special day. I’m so full of gratitude for this sport and everything special about our kids and this university.”
Bowling Green wasted no time delivering for their new coach. Cameron Pettaway took the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, energizing the crowd and setting the tone. The ground game carried the offense with Kaderris Roberts rushing for 66 yards, Chris McMillian adding 45, and quarterback Drew Pyne completing 12 of 18 passes for 109 yards.
Defensively, the Falcons smothered Lafayette. Linebacker Dorian Pringle pointed to the trenches: “The success revolved mostly around the defensive line holding it down by pushing back the offensive line to allow the rest of the defense to make plays.”
Oh SOOO Sweet … Ay Ziggy Zoomba!!!
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) August 29, 2025
Win No. 1 @EddieGeorge2727 … let’s sing!#GUTS x #AyZiggy 🟠🟤 pic.twitter.com/xKK6rJGkOG
For George, the win was more about identity than execution. “We knew it was going to be a tough challenge…this is just the start. Offensively, we need to get the ball more in space, specifically in the passing attack. But I’m excited about where we can grow. It’s a great starting point.”
As the final whistle blew, George summed up the night with raw honesty: “I’m so full of gratitude for this sport and everything special about our kids and this university.”
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