For four months the football team has endured countless drills, film sessions, and meetings in preparation for the upcoming season.
And even though the players practice, lift, and watch film, the work begins with the ten men who make up the coaching staff.
"Our day starts at 7 a.m.," said head coach Bill Lynch, "and we pretty much try to knock it off and be back home by ten at night."
Lynch admits that it is a long day, but says there is not much slow time. All morning the staff watches film, evaluates personel, and sets the day's practice schedule. According to Offensive Coordinator Rich Spisak, people are often surprised at how much planning is needed to organize one two-hour practice.
"It is amazing how much organization goes into one practice," Spisak said. "When you are dealing with 105 guys, you've got to be organized."
Lynch said there is only one secret to precise practices.
"You need a great staff," Lynch, who has been the Ball State head coach since 1995, said. "Everything is down to the minute and every play is scripted."
Senior running back Marcus Merriweather said the coaches close relationship is apparent on the practice field.
"They've been together for a long time," Merriweather said of the staff. "They've been to the top, they've been through the rough spurts, but now we're on the rise again, so you can see they work well together."
Merriweather says he has developed a good relationship with the coaches in his Ball State career, but chances are no player has a better relationship with Bill Lynch than his son, Joey Lynch. The freshman quarterback says the coaching staff has already impressed him.
"All day at work they are preparing for the next game," Lynch said. "I know personally how long they've known each other, and as a player, you like to see that. You know that they are close, and we are close."
The coaches do not work together in the fall season exclusively. They also spend the year recruiting, they practice and evaluate players in the spring, and in the summer, they run camps.
"We spend a lot of time together over the course of the year," said Bill Lynch, "and we enjoy each other's company, and our family's company when we leave here."
Spisak, who is entering his 18th season with the Cardinals, concurs. "There's no bickering. We know each other pretty well, so anytime a guy needs help with something, we're all there to help him out."
The ten-man staff is also aided by graduate assistants Chad Ludwig and Kurt Mattix, Video Coordinator Jason Spencer, and Equipment Manager Tex Ritter.
Although the coaching staff spends an entire week preparing for practices and games, the NCAA allows only 20 hours of interaction with the players. Joey Lynch says that is not a problem.
"They are going to take those 20 hours," Lynch said, "and get as much done as possible."
"They are a great staff with the players' interests at heart," Bill Lynch said. "They want to see the kids succeed both academically and in football."
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