ATHENS, Ohio — Teams in the Mid-American Conference are about to enter a portion of the season affectionately referred to as "MACtion." It's a time when Saturday takes a backseat, and the conference switches its schedule to include mid-week games in November. The games are nationally televised and are often held on cold, rainy nights.
Ohio University freshman and East Kentwood High School graduate Stellan Bowman knows those nights all too well.
"It's happened a couple times, especially last season. I think we were playing Caledonia and it was just like slushy rain, like frozen, so cold. But even then, I’m not putting sleeves on," Bowman said with a smile and a laugh.
Bowman is expected to get some playing time during those MACtion games. He's already made his mark in Athens, Ohio in just his first year with the Bobcats.
"They’ve got me on special teams a lot. At the beginning of the season they had me playing [middle] linebacker, running the defense, filling in for Shay Taylor because he was injured," Bowman said.
"Right now I’m doing a lot of special teams but I’ve been told I’ll rotate in at linebacker more as the season goes on."
Perhaps the biggest moment of the season, for Bowman as an individual, came during a Sept. 21 game against Kentucky. Bowman was in at linebacker and he stopped the Wildcats' quarterback short on 4th and 1. It was a play Bowman says the Bobcats had prepared for, and he saw it coming from a mile away. But what really made it great was what happened after the play.
"I got up and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I just did that.’ And I looked to the sideline and I saw my boys going crazy, and I saw Coach Faanes and Coach Hauser and the defensive staff. They were really fired up. It was a crazy experience," said Bowman, who also had a special cheering section in the crowd that day.
"My entire family was there, and my little brother was there too. I’m tight with him. I’d do anything for my little brother. So part of the reason why I’m so happy that I’ve gotten on the field early is because I love showing my little brother you can do anything that you put your mind to."
Bowman had to leave his little brother behind when he enrolled in college classes early, and he says he missed that quality time with his family. But at the same time, getting a head start has helped Bowman reach the level he's at, so early in his college career.
"It was 1,000% worth it to me. It just allowed me to get more one-on-one time with the coaching staff and allowed me to really learn the playbook and especially go through spring ball. It just helped me learn everything a ton," he said.
"High school football and college football, especially D1 football, there’s a huge difference. I’m going to be very honest, when I got here, I was a dummy when it came to knowing football. I had no idea how to play football. But what I did know how to do was run hard and hit. After learning the playbook and learning how to run a defense and everything like that, it really just helped me on the mental side of things."
Bowman told the coaches right away, he doesn't want to be treated any differently because he's a freshman.
"My coaches are really hard on me. I told them disregard my age. Disregard any of that. I want your best. I’m going to give you my best." he said.
"I just want to continue to try to be the best person I can possibly be. I wanted to try to help my team win as much as we can possibly win. I’d like to get on the defensive side of the ball as much as I possibly can."
Bowman says wherever his career takes him next, he's trusting the process, because his faith has helped him get this far.
"I’ve got to get all the glory to God, because I’m nothing without him. He’s really helped me and blessed me along this journey and I can’t thank him enough. I’ve got to give all the glory to Him and thank Him for giving me the confidence and ability to go against other grown men," he said.
Bowman and the Bobcats have four more games to wrap up the regular season:
- Wednesday, Nov.6 at Kent State (7 p.m. on ESPN U)
- Wednesday, Nov. 13 vs. Eastern Michigan (7 p.m. on ESPN2, ESPN U, or CBS Sports Net)
- Wednesday, Nov. 20 at Toledo (7 p.m. on ESPN 2 or ESPN U)
- Friday, Nov. 29 vs. Ball State (Noon an ESPN U or CBS Sports Net)
