BOWLING GREEN — Ben Hale grew up an Ohio State football fan, as did his family. But Hale, who grew up in Columbus, said his mom will make adjustment to her allegiances — at least for a week — as the junior safety and his teammates on the Bowling Green State University football team open the season Saturday at Ohio Stadium against the No. 6 Buckeyes. “My mom told me she’s not going to be a Buckeye fan until after the first game,” Hale said with a smile. Hale shares a common dilemma with a number of his Falcons teammates, and not just the ones who grew up in Columbus: When they dreamed of playing college football, those dreams probably involved wearing the scarlet and gray of Ohio State and playing at Ohio Stadium. Freshman wide receiver Deric Phouthavong admitted his dreams involved catching touchdown passes in front of screaming fans at the Horseshoe. He may get to live his dream in Saturday’s noon contest, but those fans probably will be screaming at him, not for him. “Those dreams are behind me now,” Phouthavong said. “I’m committed to Bowling Green, to making me and this team better.” Columbus-area natives on the BG roster…
Continue Reading: Some BGSU players hoped to play for OSU
