By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
It’s easy for Ray Schneider to get a nod of approval when he’s in his Bowling Green State University office. The nod might come from Freddie or Frieda Falcon, 1972 Gold Medal Olympian and BGSU alumnus Dave Wottle, or any of the 100 bobbleheads that pack four shelves in his Eppler Center office.
Schneider, director of BGSU’s School of Human Movement, Sport, and Leisure Studies and a professor of sport management, is fortunate “to have a job that allows me to combine my interest of collecting memorabilia, teaching in the sport management program and conducting research-related to memorabilia.”
His interest in bobbleheads started before he knew what direction his career would take.
He picked up his first bobblehead as a youngster when he and his family visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He chose a 1975 Minnesota Vikings bobblehead, not necessarily because he liked the team but because he “seemed to like the purple color” of the uniform. Despite many repairs to the 45-year-old bobblehead, it still anchors his collection.
While he has been interested in bobbleheads and sport memorabilia for a long time, the number of wobblers on his shelves has expanded more in the past five to seven years. Initially, he had a few of the sport memorabilia on display in his office. Then, he received several bobbleheads that were distributed to fans at various sporting events.
As the number grew, students and colleagues saw them displayed and started giving him bobbleheads they didn’t want any more.
“At least a few times a semester, a bobblehead will appear in my mailbox. They seem to multiply,” Schneider said with a laugh.
He also has a few friends who secretly add a newbie to a shelf and wait for him to discover it.
With all the additions, he had to add shelves to hold them all. That’s when the interest in bobbleheads went from an interest to an actual collection.
He enjoys when students and co-workers stop by his office to talk and see the latest additions.
Except for a select few at home, the majority of the bobbleheads grace the shelves in his office.
“I would much more prefer that others are able to see them as opposed to sitting at home. The bobbleheads and other sport memorabilia in my office give students and colleagues something to look at while I am talking to them,” he said.
Most of the bobbleheads he collects are from the teams that he cheers for, such as BGSU and the Detroit teams–Lions, Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings. He also has done research related to the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey team.
“I collect for enjoyment as opposed to value or thinking how much something may be worth,” he said.
His current favorite item is a Title IX-themed Frieda Falcon that he helped create in 2022 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Title IX legislation. He worked with Taylor Jefferson in BGSU Athletics to create the piece.
“Taylor has created some unique BGSU bobbleheads over the last few years. It was enjoyable to go through the process from idea, to draft, to revisions, to final product. They were given away at select games this year, and it was fun to watch kids’ faces light up when they opened the box. It felt nice to have played a role in making people smile,” Schneider said.
In addition to the bobbleheads, Schneider collects memorabilia of all types. He has a locker from about 10 years ago when the BGSU hockey team renovated their locker room and a NASCAR tire that was on the car when Kasey Kahne crossed the finish line and won a race. For a while he had a race-used NASCAR car hood in his office but took it down when he needed the wall space for other items.
“I have made some great friends from conversations about collecting. I enjoy talking with othersabout their collections,” he said.
