After a miraculous year in 2008, in which the Cardinals went undefeated in the regular season, Ball State University will begin another glorious season of football Thursday.
The Cardinals will open the 2009 season against the University of North Texas at Scheumann Stadium on Thursday. The 7:30 p.m. kickoff will be nationally televised on ESPNU, so I hope to see all the Ball State faithful cheering and chirping in the stands.
Please bring all of your friends because the first home game always has one of the biggest crowds of the season. Plus, if you are a freshman, it's a great way to meet new people and begin to feel like a part of the Ball State community.
So, with game time approaching, I will try to explain what to expect Thursday night from a fan's perspective.
Whether you are new to Ball State or not, you probably have heard of quarterback Nate Davis. You know, the dude wholeft Ball State with career school records for passing yards (9,233), passing attempts (1,124), pass completions (678) and touchdown passes (74)?
Even though Ball State lost Davis to the NFL, the Cardinals still have impact players like co-captains and fifth-year seniors Brandon Crawford and Madaris Grant.
While previous head coach Brady Hoke fled to San Diego State University, our new fearless leader, Stan Parrish, brings a plethora of experience to help guide redshirt freshman quarterback Kelly Page. Parrish, who was an assistant football coach for Ball State from 2005-08, also has coached in the NFL. In 2002, he spent the season helping Brad Johnson lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to its first Super Bowl Championship in franchise history.
The question concerning Cardinal nation, however, is not at coach but quarterback. Page, who sat on the bench last season behind Davis, now becomes the cornerstone of Ball State football. Page was ranked as the 12th best high school quarterback recruit in the country in 2008. He has shown promise during training camp, but talent alone has a hard time making up for a lack of experience.
Page may make mistakes (interceptions, fumbles, etc.), but I think in the course of the season he will develop into a reliable and productive player.
Besides, Parrish has coached football for 39 years. I think he'll have no trouble tutoring Page in becoming a successful quarterback.
Furthermore, Page will have senior halfback MiQuale Lewis in the backfield to relieve some of the stress. A 2008 All-Mid-American Conference First Team selection, Lewis rushed for a Ball State single-season record 1,736 yards last season. In addition, he was fifth in the nation with 124 rushing yards per game.
On defense, Ball State returns nine starters. Over the last three years, the offense has taken the spotlight by racking up yards and outscoring opponents by multiple touchdowns. However, because of the young offense, defensive players will have more pressure and greater expectations than in previous seasons.If the defense can manage the football game and put the offense in good field position, the Cardinals will create plenty of opportunities to put points on the scoreboard and smiles on fans' faces.
Thursday night should be no different. North Texas was 1-11 last season. Its only victory came against Western Kentucky, which Ball State beat last year 24-7.
ESPN.com recently published their first "Bottom Ten" of the year, which comprises the ten worst college football programs. North Texas edged out Western Kentucky for this honor, being ranked number one and two, respectively.
At the end of the game, I expect a Ball State victory. It may not be pretty, as Page starts his first collegiate game, but the Cardinals will get the job done.
So, be in the stands screaming and ready to chirp it up!
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