After completing a record-setting career at Ball State this fall, running back Marcus Merriweather now has one more chance to strap on the pads and compete on the gridiron.
Merriweather, the Cardinals' all-time leading rusher with 4,002 yards, has been selected to participate in the fifth annual Rotary Gridiron Classic College All-Star Game. The Jan. 25 contest will be held at Orlando's Citrus Bowl and will be televised on ESPN.
"I got some information on being selected before Christmas break," Merriweather said. "We go down a week before the game for practice. It's just a game to showcase your skills to National Football League people, to let them get a feel for who you are."
Merriweather will play on Team Florida, which will be led by Iowa quarterback Brad Banks, a Heisman Trophy finalist. Central Florida's Mike Kruczek will coach Team Florida, while Maryland's Ralph Friedgen will head up Team USA. Assistants will be coaches from the NFL Europe ranks. The previous four years featured former NFL coaches, including Bud Carson, Wayne Fontes, Lindy Infante, Chuck Noll, Buddy Ryan and Barry Switzer.
The last Ball State football player selected for a post-college all-star game was Brent Lockliear, who took part in the 1997 Blue-Gray Game. The year before, Cory Gilliard was in the Blue-Gray and East-West Shrine games, while Brad Maynard participated in the Senior Bowl.
"This is something I was hoping for," said Merriweather on being selected for an all-star game. He also likes the chance to play against good players from around the nation.
"It's another opportunity to play," he said. "I feel that if you surround yourself with similar caliber players, you'll get different results than, say, throwing a MAC team against one from the Big 12."
In addition to becoming the school's career rushing leader in 2002, Merriweather also broke his own single-season mark by compiling 1,618 yards. He also holds Cardinal records for career rushing touchdowns (34), career rushing attempts (851), 1,000-yard seasons (three), 100-yard games (20) and 200-yard games (three). With 4,002 rushing yards, he is the ninth player in Mid-American Conference history to compile at least 4,000 in a career.
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