Bowling Green is a flagship program in KY.  I love watching them play and admire the success they have.  That's why it looks so strange to see their current record sitting at 1-5.  They have played a tough schedule, which is normal for them, but they haven't been able to win many of those games.  I am not kicking them while they are down, I am just wondering if they have a shot at avoiding a below .500 record heading into the playoffs.

In order to do so, they would have to win out against Warren Central, Greenwood, Grayson County and then Franklin County (on the road),Tall task for this team, especially that Franklin County game.  

To finish above .500 overall they would have to do all the above AND win 2 playoff games, or if they lose one of their remaining games then they would have to win 3 playoff games.   

Here is some stats about how dominant they have been.  Going back to 1990 and all the way through the 2024 season, the Purples have a record of 394-75, which is an 84% winning percentage.  That is some rarified air they are breathing.  

They have won 9 State Championships, including the last 2 and 3 out of the last 5

Going back to 1990, they have had one losing season, where they were 5-6 in 2002, and 5-5 in the regular season.  The only other season they flirted with being below .500 was in 2021 where they finished 6-6 but were 5-5 in the regular season.  

Have the Purples EVER finished below .500 in the regular season?  I'm sure they have, but wondering how far back you have to go to find it?  

Short answer: yes, there is a good chance they finish below .500….and I think they can win the state championship. 

It's possible but I think they win the rest of their regular season games. They get Barber back which will make them tougher to beat.

It all comes down to the Franklin County game.  I agree with BillNye, they could finish with a losing record and they could win the state championship and they also could do both. 

14 minutes ago, Watusi said:

Have the Purples EVER finished below .500 in the regular season?  I'm sure they have, but wondering how far back you have to go to find it?  

I am counting on @Purple88 to answer this one... 

2 minutes ago, Watusi said:

I am counting on @Purple88 to answer this one... 

In a thousand words or less!

You can see BGHS's complete football history HERE. It is linked on their Football Page

I'll say this... while the Purples have struggled this year. I would not want to catch them in the playoffs if I were one of these teams looking to have that Cinderella season.

46 minutes ago, Watusi said:

I am counting on @Purple88 to answer this one... 

Watusi, interesting topic and thankful people care enough to put it out there.

As @BillNye said the short answer is definitely yes BG can be under .500 in the regular season.  BUT I'd be very surprised if it were anyone other than Franklin County who pushes them there.

Regarding has BG ever been below .500 in the regular season before, I offer the following:

1.  BG started playing football in the 1922 season and went 1-2 that year.  Only 3 games.

2. So that is roughly 103 seasons to now.

3.  In that time, they have been below .500 in the regular season 22 times or roughly 20% of seasons they have played.

4.  They were below .500 in 22, 37, 38, 41, 42, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 82, 83 and 2002.

5.  Many of the long runs here were a casualty of going from longer term coaches through shorter term coaches to longer term coaches again.  For example, Elvis Donaldson, who the former BG Stadium was named after coached 12 seasons ending in 55.  It was a tough road from there to Jim Pickens in 59 through 64.  Then a tough road until Wilson Sears arrived in 73 for 9 seasons righting the ship prior to the last dip in the 80s before the Great Dan Haley came on board in 1984 and changed a lot for his 12 years ending in BGs first State Championship in 95 and Kevin Wallace took over from there in 96 for 22 years, which takes us to Coach Spader in 2018.  

Fun times!  Go Purples!

Secret video of P88 forming that response. 

I believe they will finish the year 4-6 because I do think Franklin County gets them.  But I would be gobsmacked if anyone in their district gets within even 21 points of them.  IMO Greenwood is the only one with a real shot.  They'll roll over whoever they play in the first round, and then maybe they'll get pushed by their second round opponent, which will be whoever loses between Owensboro and Madisonville.  Owensboro does have a favorable comparison game with Owensboro Catholic, but they also were much more soundly beaten by St. X and CAL (running clocked by a CAL team BG nearly beat just last night).  Madisonville has the win over Paducah, and a solid-ish result against Hopkinsville.  Still, I'd favor Bowling Green over either.  

I'd love to go further but the KHSAA in their infinite wisdom and laziness has not gotten the RPI data in on time - something that should be easily done btw since it's just pulling results from a database.... - so I don't know what to project for the third round.  I suspect there is a chance they'll be on the road at a team like Atherton, perhaps even Madisonville.  Another game they'll be favored.  So it would really be that state semifinal game before I would expect they'd really face someone that we might not feel as strongly about them winning  If it plays out like all that, I expect them to be no worse than 7-7. 

1 hour ago, Purple88 said:

Watusi, interesting topic and thankful people care enough to put it out there.

As @BillNye said the short answer is definitely yes BG can be under .500 in the regular season.  BUT I'd be very surprised if it were anyone other than Franklin County who pushes them there.

Regarding has BG ever been below .500 in the regular season before, I offer the following:

1.  BG started playing football in the 1922 season and went 1-2 that year.  Only 3 games.

2. So that is roughly 103 seasons to now.

3.  In that time, they have been below .500 in the regular season 22 times or roughly 20% of seasons they have played.

4.  They were below .500 in 22, 37, 38, 41, 42, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 61, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 82, 83 and 2002.

5.  Many of the long runs here were a casualty of going from longer term coaches through shorter term coaches to longer term coaches again.  For example, Elvis Donaldson, who the former BG Stadium was named after coached 12 seasons ending in 55.  It was a tough road from there to Jim Pickens in 59 through 64.  Then a tough road until Wilson Sears arrived in 73 for 9 seasons righting the ship prior to the last dip in the 80s before the Great Dan Haley came on board in 1984 and changed a lot for his 12 years ending in BGs first State Championship in 95 and Kevin Wallace took over from there in 96 for 22 years, which takes us to Coach Spader in 2018.  

Fun times!  Go Purples!

When I read your number 4. I was already starting to type and ask when Dan Haley was hired, but you answered that later on down in your reply.   That was a turn-around for sure.  Wilson Sears had a lot of success and had BG in the winning column a lot, but left after the 81 season, then the team went 2-9 and 5-6 under another coach before hiring Dan Haley in 83.  And we all know now how that turned out in the long run. 

If I am reading the data correctly, 1983 was the last time BG had a regular season record below .500.  That's pretty impressive.  In 1983 the Purples were 5-6 according to the link provided by VF111 (thanks, I love that stuff).  Scheduling was different back then, and only 1 team from each district made the playoffs.  The note said they were co-district champion but lost the tie breaker to Franklin Simpson and did not make the playoffs.   

 

16 minutes ago, Watusi said:

When I read your number 4. I was already starting to type and ask when Dan Haley was hired, but you answered that later on down in your reply.   That was a turn-around for sure.  Wilson Sears had a lot of success and had BG in the winning column a lot, but left after the 81 season, then the team went 2-9 and 5-6 under another coach before hiring Dan Haley in 83.  And we all know now how that turned out in the long run. 

If I am reading the data correctly, 1983 was the last time BG had a regular season record below .500.  That's pretty impressive.  In 1983 the Purples were 5-6 according to the link provided by VF111 (thanks, I love that stuff).  Scheduling was different back then, and only 1 team from each district made the playoffs.  The note said they were co-district champion but lost the tie breaker to Franklin Simpson and did not make the playoffs.   

 

Tied with Owensboro Catholic and Franklin-Simpson at 3-1 in district (Bowling Green lost to Franklin-Simpson, Franklin-Simpson lost to Owensboro Catholic), but overall record was tiebreaker. 

Well they will win the next 3 so it comes down to Franklin Co to see if they finish the regular season at .500. And then they will probably have to face MNH or Owensboro in the second round of the playoffs so I think there’s a realistic chance they could finish the season with a losing record. However I wouldn’t be shocked in they won state however for whatever reason I have a gut feeling they won’t. I think they will win the next 4 and finish 5-5 in the regular season win the first playoff game and then lose in the second one to finish 6-6. I have nothing against BG I wouldn’t mind if they won state I just don’t think they’ve been dependable this year and that is what my gut is telling me.