You did not see a lot of celebrating and chest-bumping when the Falcons claimed a share of the MAC East Division title last season, because a piece of the championship was not what they had in mind. After several years of building and re-establishing the program as a power in the MAC, the expectations were for Bowling Green to win its first overall conference championship in more than 10 years and land a third straight bowl trip.

Ever since Urban Meyer arrived here in December of 2000, the Falcons seemed to be on a path back to the glory days of the early 1990s, when they won two MAC championships. Meyer ended a string of six straight losing seasons in his first year and had the program on solid footing when he left for Utah after his second season with the Falcons.

Gregg Brandon, the offensive coordinator under Meyer, starts his fourth season as head coach knowing he probably has his best shot at winning it all last year. An injury to quarterback Omar Jacobs, who now gets a paycheck from the Pittsburgh Steelers, derailed those plans, and Bowling Green enters 2006 with the most uncertainty it has faced in six years.

The team got cleaned out at the offensive skill positions -- the top two running backs, the quarterback and the top three wide receivers are all gone. Graduation also hit hard on defense at linebacker and along the line, so Brandon will send a number of unseasoned players out on the field in 2006.

"These kids haven't played a lot of football. I won't sugarcoat it," Brandon said. "We really have to rebuild this whole team. There's a lot of uncertainty on both sides of the ball."

Bowling Green needs instant maturity from quarterback Anthony Turner and tailback Dan Macon. The Falcons expect big production from senior Ruben Ruiz and redshirt freshman Marques Parks at receiver and help from Kenneth Brantley II and junior Matt Emans when they use their four- and five-receiver sets.

The offensive line is solid with all-MAC talents like center Kory Lichtensteiger and guard Derrick Markray. On defense the issues are many, but Brandon hopes a bigger and more athletic front can energize the unit.

KEY EARLY SEASON GAME: vs. Wisconsin, Sept. 2 -- The Falcons start the post-Omar Jacobs era with new starter Anthony Turner suspended. They have to hold on and emerge from this without a damaged psyche.

THE FALCONS WILL SUCCEED IF: QB Anthony Turner develops quickly. Turner follows two NFL caliber quarterbacks -- Omar Jacobs and Josh Harris -- and needs to demonstrate the same athleticism and ability as those two if he is to carry this team in the same manner they did.

THE FALCONS WILL FAIL IF: The defense has to give Turner time to grow, and if it can't give him a short field now and then and keep the Falcons within striking distance in conference games, this will be a trying time for the program.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We don't have Omar anymore. We know Omar can throw a lot of touchdown passes. We don't know that about our quarterbacks now." -- Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon on the loss of QB Omar Jacobs

HEAD COACH: Gregg Brandon, 4th year, 26-11

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: QB Anthony Turner -- The sophomore got pressed into service prematurely filling in for an injured Omar Jacobs midway through last season, and now he has to prove he can manage the complex spread offense and make it fly.

BREAKOUT STAR: CB Antonio Smith -- Could be the best sophomore defender in the conference. Smith was tied for the national lead last season with two interception returns for scores.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH: DT D.J. Young -- At the top of the wish list when the Falcons went recruiting was bulk with athleticism for the defensive front. Coach Gregg Brandon thinks the 6-5, 280-pound Young gives him just that.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: Offense -- QB Anthony Turner, RB Dan Macon, WR Ruben Ruiz, WR Marques Parks, WR Corey Partridge, LT Drew Nystrom, LG John Lanning, C Kory Lichtensteiger, RG Derrick Markray, RT Kevin Huelsman,

Defense -- DE Diyral Biggs, DT Nick Davis, DT Brad Williams, DE Devon Parks, OLB , MLB Erique Dozier, OLB Cody Basler, OLB Terrel White, CB Antonio Smith, CB Kenny Lewis, FS Deaudre Perry, SS Loren Hargrove.

ROSTER REPORT: QB Anthony Turner, the projected starter for the Falcons, will sit out the opener against Wisconsin at Cleveland Browns Stadium as part of his punishment for an on-campus incident during the offseason involving marijuana. Freshman Freddie Barnes is expected to step in and start the game.