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2009 Ball State Football Preview

Ball State Offense:

With all-everything Nate Davis leaving early for the NFL, hotshot Kelly Page steps into the starting QB role. Page was one of the MAC’s top overall recruits two years ago out of the state of Texas and chose the ‘Cards over offers from Tulsa and Oregon. One thing the Page can count on is RB MiQuade Lewis. Lewis had a phenomenal season in 2008 rushing for 1,736 yards and 22 touchdowns. Briggs Orsbon leads a talented receiving along with proven commodities Myles Trempe and Dan Ifft. Madaris Grant and Kevin Steinhaus are two of the better tight-ends in the league. How good was BSU’s line last season? Consider this; with thirteen teams in this league, three of the five first team all-conference linemen were Cardinals. That area of strength now becomes a concern as Michael Swtizer is the lone returning starter.

Ball State Defense:

All four of the Cardinals defensive front return including second team all-MAC DE Brandon Crawford, a former U.S. Marine. The linebackers will have one returning starter in junior Davyd Jones, the teams 4 th leading tackler a year ago. The secondary is led by reigning MAC Freshman of the year SS Sean Baker who had 94 tackles and six interceptions last season. With the return of hard-hitting FS Alex Knipp, the secondary should be solid this fall even with two new corners.

BSU's Intangibles:

Ball State always seems to have excellent kickers and 2009 should be no different with PK Ian McGarvey and punter Scott Kovanda. The return units are very good too as BSU ranked 2 nd in the MAC in punt returns and 3 rd in the league in kickoffs. Coach Brady Hoke has left for San Diego State leaving this vacancy to 62-year old Stan Parrish, the former O-coordinator. Ball State opens the season with four non-conference games with three of these looking like sure wins (North Texas, New Hampshire and Army).

Ball State's 2009 Outlook:

If Ball State was in the east they would probably contend for a divisional title but that seems highly unlikely given the strength and talent of Central and Western Michigan in the west. The ‘Cards recruited extremely well under Hoke so there is definitely talent to keep this program on top but what was disheartening was the play of this team after Hoke left. Ball State looked terrible under his guidance in the MAC Championship Game (42-24 loss to Buffalo) and in the GMAC Bowl (45-13 loss to Tulsa). Parrish has an abysmal 2-31-1 record as a DI-A head coach. Of all of the MAC teams, Ball State will be the hardest to figure considering their talent level is as good if not better than almost everyone in the league but until this new coaching staff can prove they can make them execute in the same manner as Coach Hoke did, this could be a very frustrating year for the Cardinal faithful.

The Big Game for Ball State:

October 3 hosting Toledo. The Cards crushed the Rockets a year ago 31-0 at the Glass Bowl and have won three straight in this series by an average score of 31-12. If Ball State would lose this game at home, that could be the beginning of a tidal wave of losses as east division upstarts Temple and BGSU await.

Team Article by Evan Meyer of Sports Vault - Especially for VanDelaySports.com
Predictions, Stats, Key Game & Outlook by Nick Gerogosian of VanDelaySports.com

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