Head coach Brady Hoke has named senior Talmadge Hill as Ball State's starting quarterback for Saturday's home game against Toledo.
Hoke's decision came two days after senior Andy Roesch completed just one of ten passes and threw three interceptions in the Cardinals' worst defeat ever in Mid-American Conference play, a 49-3 blowout against Miami that dropped the team's record to 3-4 (2-1 MAC). Roesch was playing for the first time since suffering a separated shoulder in the second game of the season. Hill relieved Roesch late in the first quarter and again in the second, completing 11 of 20 for 147 yards and an interception.
Hoke said the decision was made Sunday evening and that he told both quarterbacks at the same time. He added that Roesch will see game action, too.
"We did that after evaluating where we're at and what we need to do and who gives us the best chance to win," he said. "Andy will play, just like we planned with Talmadge when Andy was the starter. It can help Andy a little bit as far as seeing the game, seeing what they're doing."
Roesch originally won the starting job in preseason and threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games before the injury. Hill finished the second game and started the next four. On the season he has completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 1,002 yards and ten TDs.
Hill said that while he and Roesch don't talk about the unique situation much, the two fifth-year seniors do help each other during the games.
"Whatever decision coach makes, he'll make for the best of the team," Hill said. "Me and Andy were roommates every year in fall camp except this past one, so we got a chance to know each other. There was never any bitterness or uncomfortable-type feeling between us as far as I've been here.
"We talk on the sidelines. He comes to me and tells me things that he sees -- things you can see on the sideline that you might not pick up on the field. The situation has never been personal between me and Andy."
"It is a unique situation," Roesch said. "We've been together all five years, and it's unfortunate we have to compete every year because only one quarterback can play.
"When he's in there, I don't feel bad or like I'm being cheated. I'm trying to help him out and he's done the same for me."
Roesch attributed his poor play to possibly being too excited about coming back and trying to do too much.
"I tried to make too many plays happen instead of letting the game come to me," he said. "I take pride in not forcing things, and in spite of that I forced some passes that resulted in some interceptions.
"Obviously I didn't come back as well as I should have. I had a horrible game and I'll take the blame for that. Talmadge has been doing well and he deserves to start this week."
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