Dome away from home

By Frank Gogola

Football will experience its first taste of playing in a dome this season when it takes on the Bowling Green Falcons in the Marathon MAC Championship game.

The Huskies will take on the Falcons at Ford Field, the home of the Detroit Lions, 6 p.m. Friday. This marks the fifth-straight season the Huskies will play at Ford Field in the MAC Championship game.

While the lack of elements indoors would make it more conducive to throwing the football, head coach Rod Carey said the offensive game plan and play calling will not change a lot. He anticipated some problems throwing the ball in the cold against the Toledo Rockets and the Ohio Bobcats but was pleased with the success the Huskies had through the air.

“I think we’re probably going to be what we always are,” Carey said. “You throw it, and we run it, try to be as balanced as we possibly can.”

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Drew Hare will start in his first career MAC Championship game Friday but said he’s not too nervous and is treating it just like any other game. He expects not having to worry about poor weather conditions and wind to help him settle in when the game begins.

“It’s the best,” Hare said. “With there being no elements you get excited as a quarterback.”

While being indoors can help the Huskies in establishing their offense, the lack of weather conditions may help Bowling Green’s high-flying, up-tempo offense more.

The Huskies stood helpless as quarterback Matt Johnson shredded their defense for 393 yards and five touchdowns in the 2013 title game.

With Dino Babers now the head coach at Bowling Green, the Falcons’ offense has been going even faster than last season’s and will keep the defense on its heels. That high-octane offense combined with optimal weather conditions may give the Huskies some problems slowing down the Falcons’ attack.

“That’s the biggest difference: getting used to playing inside again and the speed of the game,” said redshirt senior safety Dechane Durante. “Like I said, they’re a fast-tempo team, and the speed of the game will go a lot faster indoors than it would outside.”

Durante also said another factor will be staying hydrated in the humid, 70-degree weather indoors. Cramping up, especially on a key drive, can be devastating for either team.

Alex Huettel, Bowling Green redshirt junior right guard, said during Monday’s MAC Championship teleconference that it doesn’t matter whether the game is indoors or outdoors. With it being the MAC Championship game “this is a game you got to be ready to go, emotions take over and you got to execute on a high level.”