BOWLING GREEN — Scot Loeffler’s first congratulatory hug as Bowling Green’s coach was eight months in the making.
As the seconds ticked away in the Falcons’ win against Morgan State, Loeffler embraced strength and conditioning coach Kevin Tolbert. With a victory, their players experienced a sense of validation after a grueling — albeit necessary — offseason that felt like a lifetime.
When Loeffler arrived to Bowling Green, the new coach was aghast at the state of the Falcons’ conditioning. Asked how many of his players he deemed to be in acceptable shape, Loeffler said, “None. Absolutely zero,” and termed their fitness level “gross.