Coach Stan Parrish left it up to the observers of the Ball State University football team's spring game to determine if freshman Kelly Page would be the starting quarterback Sept. 3 when the Cardinals open the season at home against the University of North Texas.
It sure looked like it.
Page started the game with the first-team offense and looked impressive. No stats were kept, but he made good use of an offense that was without its primary weapons.
"In my eyes he was [the favorite] when we started," Parrish said. "I had him for a whole year and I got to practice him up. He thinks he can make all the throws and he's a very good runner that we haven't really had before."
Parrish, in his first season as head coach, said he was happy with how the team played as a whole. For the former offensive coordinator, it was a bit strange to be rooting for the defense, but that side of the ball appeared improved.
"They were my enemy," Parrish said. "Now I'm thrilled when I see that."
Seven starters return for the defense this season, including Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year Sean Baker. The safety returned to his hard-hitting ways, even in the controlled-scrimmage environment. The the defensive line pushed around the inexperienced offensive front.
Key on the defensive line was right end Robert Eddins.
"Rob Eddins had a sensational spring," Parrish said. "We can't block him right now."
The defense was not allowed to tackle Page, but he did show the ability to escape would-be tacklers with his feet. Parrish said he wasn't concerned with Page trying to keep the play alive, instead of throwing the ball away.
"I never wanted to take that away from Nate [Davis] even when I thought it was wrong and I don't want to take that away from [Page]," Parrish said. "Some guys look down at the ground and everyone's covered, some see everyone open."
Freshman Seth White was the target of Page's first pass and was best weapon in a depleted offense. Davis, tight end Darius Hill and wide receiver Louis Johnson were all lost from last year's team. In addition, MAC first-team running back MiQuael Lewis, running back Cory Sykes and tight end Madaris Grant did not play.
Sykes missed the Spring with pneumonia. Grant and wide receiver Briggs Orsmond were held back because of nagging injuries. Parrish said he is using a bit of an NFL mentality with Lewis.
"The biggest task is to keep a guy fast and sharp," Parrish said. "People don't know that he didn't get hit last fall. The first time he got tackled was against Northeastern."
Even without most of the team's top players on display, a good crowd watched the Cardinals for about an hour.
There were no stats kept and the scoreboard was left blank, but Parrish said as long as the players hustled they were winners.
"Everybody that hustled will be eat steak and ribs [Saturday]," Parrish said. "I just wanted high-level play."
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