As Ball State University quarterback Nate Davis knelt with the ball to cement his team's victory against Northern Illinois University Saturday, Cardinals' linebacker Cortlan Booker copied the move on the sideline.
Instead of ticking the clock down, however, the fifth-year senior knelt on a cold-steel bench in a silent prayer, letting his emotions go after Ball State's 27-21 win against the Huskies in his final regular season game.
"My first words were 'Thank you, Jesus,'" Booker said after the game. "That's all I said over and over -¡- 'Thank you, Jesus.' It was nerve racking [in the final minutes]. It doesn't make any sense to me that we always have to be that team that has a flare for the dramatic, but it represents a lot of good things for us."
Saturday's six-point victory secured the Cardinals' first winning record since 1996, and increased Ball State's win total to seven, its most in the last 11 years. The win also clinched a share of the Mid-American Conference West Division championship, even though Central Michigan University will represent the west in the MAC Championship game due to the Chippewas' head-to-head win earlier this season.
With its seventh win, Ball State took a major step toward making the program's first bowl appearance since 1996. However, Hoke said Northern Illinois provides a good example to show that nothing is certain with bowls.
In 2005, the Huskies finished with a 7-5 record after suffering a one-point defeat to Akron in the MAC Championship Game. Last season, Northern Illinois again finished the regular season 7-5, but did not qualify for a spot in the MAC Championship Game. Instead, the Huskies received an invitation to the Poinsettia Bowl.
Hoke said his team is focusing on a possible bowl appearance, but said he has no idea where his team might end up.
"I don't make those decisions and who knows?" Hoke said. "I don't know why they're made sometimes. I can't do anything besides getting a team ready to play and have fun together playing the greatest game that there is."
Finally able to talk about a possible bowl appearance, Ball State's players didn't hold their opinions back on why this year's team is worthy of a bowl berth.
Davis said the Cardinals were as good as any team it might compete against for the spot. Booker said the Cardinals' offense was the best in the MAC and their defense was the most under rated in the conference. Junior receiver Louis Johnson said it would be a blessing to add a 13th game to the team's schedule.
Sophomore defensive end Brandon Crawford simply said his team's resume speaks for itself.
"I think if they followed us through the season and followed the games that we played they'll see the Navy game and how we played against teams that are ranked in the BCS standings," Crawford said. "I think they should be able to make a decision from that. We've played well."
Though Booker talked about the postseason ramifications Saturday's game held, he said his postgame message to his team in the locker room didn't focus on what may be looming in the near future. Instead, he told his teammates to stay in the moment and enjoy their many accomplishments.
"This feels great because it's what I've been working for during the past five years -¡- to have some success on the football field as a team," Booker said. "Gosh, it just feels so good to be on a winning team. I mean, that was win No. 7. It's been too long."
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