Magner bowling in Detroit

It is not just the holiday season, it is the college football bowl season.

While most will take a break from the holiday gift giving and turkey dinners to catch one of the numerous bowl games televised, one Valley native will be playing in a bowl game.

Cole Magner and his Bowling Green State Falcon squad take on Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl. The game is televised on ESPN today at 1 p.m.

The Falcons earned a trip to Detroit to play in the bowl after posting an 10-3 record this season. It is the first bowl bid for the Falcons since 1992.

Throughout the season the Falcons kept themselves in the headlines by pulling off upsets and putting up crazy numbers on offense. Bowling Green defeated Big 10 power Purdue and nearly knocked off the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. With its success BG was ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls for a good portion of the season.

As Magner and the Falcons rolled through the 2003 season, the team's expectations of playing in their first game in 11 year were high.

"Definately," Magner said. "We have the senior senior leadership and we know the offense better."

Bowling Green is in the third year of their sophisticated offense which features the arm of preseason Heisman trophy candidate Josh Harris and talented receivers such as Magner.

And just as important as Harris to BG's success was Magner, who posted a school record 87 catches for 1,041 yards and eight touchdowns during his junior campaign.

Robert Redd, the previous holder of the catches in a season record at BG, graduated and the Falcons needed a player to fill his shoes at wide receiver.

"Somebody had to step up and the coaches challenged me to do that," Magner said.

And step up is what Magner did. In many cases, Magner stepped up to the highest of competition. The 2001 Colony graduate and 2000 Alaska State Player of the Year caught 13 catches for 168 yards and a touchdown against Ohio State and eight catches for 127 yards and a score in the win over Purdue.

Magner had spent two years involved in the BG offense before his breakout campaign. Unlike many underclassmen in Division I programs, Magner got the opportunity to play immediately.

"It helped a lot being a coach's son, growing up around football," Magner said. "I understood the offense, had the smarts."

It was also his athletic ability that kept him on the field. The Falcon coaches have used Magner in countless situations. He has played in the slot and at flanker, catching the ball, has run the ball from the backfield and his wide receiver positions and has even been used to throw the ball.

Last season Magner threw a pair of touchdown passes and one this season in a win over Toledo.

Magner also returns kickoffs, is the team's holder on field goals and extra points and is the second-string punt returner.

It was athletic ability that attracted coaches to Magner during the recruiting process. After a stellar four-year career with the Knights, Magner was courted by several Division I schools including Colorado.

The Buffalos, who also signed former Service star and Alaska Player of the Year Brandon Drumm, originally wanted Magner to play in Boulder.

"I basically committed to Colorado," Magner said. "Then with a couple weeks to go, they started to back out."

After Colorado was not an option, Bowling Green came calling.

In a story that has been told by ESPN in each of the four Bowling Green games broadcasted this season, current Bowling Green mentor Greg Brandon told then-Falcon head coach Urban Meyer about this kid from Alaska. The Falcons basically drained their recruiting budget to pay to fly Magner to Ohio. After a workout, the coaches voted 6-5 in favor of signing Magner.

After Magner finishes his eligibility with the Falcons, he hopes his football career is not over.

"I would absolutely love to go to the next level," Magner said. "I have high expectations."

Magner said that he has discussed his possible football future with people in the business, who told Magner he needs to work on includes his 40-yard dash time and his size.

"Football is definitely something I love to do and want to do," Magner said.

Magner will have about 14 more collegiate games to improve his stock -- tonight's contest and his senior season.

He said that his role next season will be similar to this season. His role on special teams could increase.

Though his junior season of football is almost over, his athletic schedule will remain packed. Magner will soon trade in his pads and cleats for a Falcon basketball jersey.

Following tonight's game, Magner will board a plane to join the Bowling Green basketball team for a road trip in Hawaii.