Celebrating the Spirit of 1985 as Part of the 2025 BGSU Decades Celebration
8/7/2025
BGSU football won the MAC in 1985 with a perfect 9-0 record. The Falcons also notched their first all-time win against the SEC when BGSU topped Kentucky, 30-26.
As Falcons return to Bowling Green for Homecoming 2025, we proudly turn the clock back 40 years to celebrate one of the most accomplished and spirited campaigns in BGSU Athletics history—1985. It was a year defined by record-breaking performances, championship moments, and a sense of pride that continues to resonate with every Orange and Brown faithful.
Football’s Perfect Run to a MAC Crown
In 1985, Bowling Green football stood atop the Mid-American Conference in dominant fashion. Under ninth-year head coach Denny Stolz, the Falcons stormed through the regular season with a perfect 11–0 record—marking the last time BGSU completed an undefeated regular season. The journey included a statement victory at Kentucky of the SEC, cementing the team’s national credibility.
BGSU outscored its opponents 355–223, averaging 29.6 points per game while allowing just 18.6. Quarterback Brian McClure led the aerial attack with 2,674 passing yards, while running back Bernard White powered the ground game with 949 rushing yards. Stan Hunter paced the receiving corps with 761 yards. The Falcons capped their season with a trip to the California Bowl, where they fell to Fresno State, but their 9–0 MAC record ensured their place in program history as one of the greatest teams ever to take the field at Doyt Perry Stadium.
Two years after making his MLB debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1983, BGSU alum Orel Hershiser was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Baseball’s Record-Breaking Bats
The 1985 baseball season will always be remembered for its offensive fireworks. On March 8, the Falcons unleashed a scoring onslaught against Nazareth, setting two program records that still stand—38 runs in a single game and a 35-run margin of victory.
BGSU also claimed bragging rights over two Big Ten foes, defeating Ohio State twice in Columbus and Michigan State twice at Steller Field. Carl Moraw drew a program-record 71 walks over the course of the season, a mark that has yet to be matched. Both John Maroli and Larry Arndt brought individual accolades and pro potential to the lineup—Maroli earned CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team honors for the second straight year, while Moraw was selected in the second round of the MLB Draft (29th overall) by Milwaukee. Arndt followed as a 26th-round pick by Oakland.
The year also saw a Falcon legend honored, as Orel Hershiser was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
The Falcon gymnastics program soared in 1985, capturing the MAC Championship and earning a trip to the NCAA Regionals in Pittsburgh, where they placed third.
Gymnastics Leaps to the Top
The Falcon gymnastics program soared in 1985, capturing the MAC Championship and earning a trip to the NCAA Regionals in Pittsburgh, where they placed third. Freshman standout Tiffany Kosmerl claimed the MAC title on beam with a score of 9.450, anchoring a squad that blended youth and experience to dominate the conference stage.
Women’s Basketball Makes a Statement in Voll’s First Season
The 1985 season marked the beginning of a new era for Falcon women’s basketball with the arrival of head coach Fran Voll. In his debut campaign, BGSU pulled off one of the year’s biggest upsets in the MAC, snapping Central Michigan’s 26-game conference winning streak with a decisive 58–41 victory. Dina Jerinic and Dawn Brown led the way with 12 points apiece in the milestone win.
Defensively, the Falcons set the tone for the league, finishing as the MAC’s best defensive team by allowing just 65.7 points per game. Voll’s first year laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most successful runs in program history.
Paul Ysebaert was named CCHA Rookie of the Year in 1985 after posting 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points.
Hockey Welcomes a Rising Star
On the ice, the Falcons saw the emergence of future NHL standout Paul Ysebaert, who earned CCHA Rookie of the Year honors for the 1984–85 season. His arrival signaled the next wave of BGSU hockey excellence, carrying forward the legacy of the 1984 national championship team.
We were a very close group, and we didn’t like to lose, and we stuck together. And I think if you asked anybody from that team, they would not have left BG for any reason. I’m not sure you would see that kind of loyalty today.
Brian McClure
Volleyball Topples Power Programs
BGSU volleyball made its mark in 1985 with a pair of signature home victories—defeating Notre Dame 3–1 on Sept. 17 and sweeping Michigan State 3–0 on Oct. 15. Those triumphs helped set the tone for a season of competitive grit and home-court dominance inside Anderson Arena.
Women’s Tennis Earns Coaching Honors
The Falcons also made waves on the courts, as head coach June Stack was named MAC Coach of the Year for guiding BGSU women’s tennis to a standout campaign, showcasing the program’s steady climb within the conference ranks.
Men’s Basketball Scoring Standout
On the hardwood, Keith Taylor closed out his BGSU career with 1,283 points, placing him 25th on the program’s all-time scoring list at the time. His consistency and offensive skill made him a key contributor through the mid-1980s.
From the roaring crowds at the Doyt to record-shattering days on the diamond, from the beam routines that wowed judges to the hockey debuts that hinted at future greatness, 1985 was a year that embodied Falcon pride.
So, as we gather this Homecoming to celebrate the past, we honor the teams and athletes who wore the Orange and Brown 40 years ago with grit, excellence, and heart.
Who’s Got it Better Than Us?
Nobody.
Greg Meehan scored on this 11-yard pass from Brian McClure to secure the final offensive points in a comeback win at Kentucky on Sept. 14, 1985. With 15 seconds left BGSU's defense forced a safety to make the game a 30-26 victory.
