Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler became the first coach to be ejected for multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a single game. Loeffler was flagged for penalties on back-to-back drives in the third quarter in a 56-44 win over Buffalo.
The penalties occurred as Buffalo mounted a major comeback in the second half. Loeffler's Falcons led 28-10 at the half against a conference foe that has won four straight matchups. On the first drive of the second half, Loeffler was called for a pair of unsportsmanlike conducts, with one helping set up a Buffalo touchdown.
The ultra-rare player holding coach back moment! Just #MACtion things. pic.twitter.com/c8l1JfM0Ed
— Hustle Belt (@HustleBelt) October 30, 2021
Loeffler is the offensive play-caller for Bowling Green, so the ejection created a significant issue for the Falcons. On their first drive after his ejection, Bowling Green went three-and-out. Buffalo capitalized with back-to-back touchdowns to cut into the lead, but Bowling Green threw a touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter to push its lead to 35-23.
Coaches have only been eligible to be ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct since before the 2016 college football season. However, it is not believed that any head coaches have been ejected as part of the rule at the FBS level to this point.
Despite missing Loeffler for the bulk of the second half, Bowling Green snapped a 12-game conference losing streak dating back to Nov. 2, 2019 against Akron. Quarterback Matt McDonald threw for a career-high four touchdowns in the win, while running back Terion Stewart rushed for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win, more than doubling his season statistics.
