Bill Lynch doesn't want his football players to forget.
The last time Ball State faced Northern Illinois, the 2001 Mid-American Conference West title was on the line. The Cardinals came up short, though, and Lynch reminded his players of that Monday.
In attempt to motivate his players, the Ball State head coach showed the last 10 minutes of last year's 33-29 loss to NIU.
"We look at it as, there must have been something we didn't do right last year," linebacker Lorenzo Scott said. "Whether it was team, personnel, or lack of effort, it all points back to us as a defense."
In last year's contest, the Huskies scored a touchdown on their second to last drive, giving them the lead. Ball State then failed to scored on its final two possessions before the end of the contest.
"We stop them one drive, we win," said Scott, who is leading the team in tackles this season.
With the loss, the Cardinals finished the year in a three-way tie for the MAC West crown. Ball State's goal this whole season, though, has been to win the West title by itself.
"If we want to compete for the west title," Lynch said, "it would certainly help us to win this first one."
This is the Cardinals' first conference game of the year. The Huskies are 1-0 in the MAC after defeating Kent State last week 13-6.
To win their conference opener, the Cardinals must stop the Huskies' sophomore tailback Michael Turner, Lynch said.
"You have to stop Turner," Lynch said. "That's where their offense starts. They are over there saying the same thing about Merriweather."
Turner exploded onto the national scene early this season by rushing for 282 yards against No. 22 Wisconsin. Turner is fourth in the nation in rushing, averaging 148.4 yards per game. Turner, who also returns punts and kickoffs, is the best in the country in all-purpose yards with 198 per game.
"You just have to tackle," Lynch said. "Often the great backs make the bulk of their yardage after the first hit."
Although they have one of the nation's premier backs, Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak is worried about his offense. Last week, NIU's offense was 2-4 kicking field goals and did not score a touchdown.
"I'm very concerned," Novak said. "We haven't put the ball in the end zone consistently all year."
Because of this inconsistency, Novak said, he does not know what kind of game to expect.
"Last year, we lost to Kent 44-34," Novak said. "This year it was 13-6. I don't know if it will be low scoring."
While Lynch reminds players that NIU took away Ball State's shot at a MAC title, he is careful not to base his whole conference season on this contest.
"You can't throw everything into the first game," Lynch said. "the only thing you can throw everything into is the last game of the year."
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