A fan poll at the University of Toledo's Web site ranks Ball State as the second easiest game remaining on the Rockets' schedule. Toledo head coach Tom Amstutz does not necessarily agree with the fans.
"There's a lot of wackos on that Web site," Amstutz said, only half kidding. "A third grade girl probably posted that."
Ball State head coach Bill Lynch was also quick to dismiss the online survey.
"That's alright," Lynch said when he was told of the poll. "They probably had us as the easiest team on the schedule last year."
-áLast year a top-25 Toledo team came to Muncie and left with its only MAC loss of the season. The game was won in dramatic fashion as senior Corey Parchman's kickoff return for a touchdown in front of a Homecoming crowd gave Ball State the lead for good.
Now the Cardinals will Travel to Toledo for the Rockets' Homecoming, and Amstutz says his players have not forgotten last season's upset.
"I haven't even mentioned the (Ball State) game to our players," the second-year head coach said. "But our players remember the game."
Lynch said what happened last year won't matter come game time, Saturday.
"After the first two hits of the game, it's back to reality," Lynch said. "It's who plays best on that given day."
A lot has changed since last season's affair, though. Toledo lost a number of starters from last year's 10-2 team, including tailback Chester Taylor and quarterback Tavares Bolden. The two stars are gone, but the Rocket offense is still marching along. The team averages 207.4 yards per game on the ground and quarterback Brian Jones throws for 196 more.
"They lost some outstanding players from a year ago," Lynch said. "But they reloaded. They didn't rebuild."
Ball State will also see some changes this week, but not because of graduation.
On Tuesday, Lynch elected to bench junior quarterback Talmadge Hill in favor of another junior, Andy Roesch. Roesch says he understands the importance of Saturday's game. The Cardinals are 0-1 in the Mid-American Conference West and could possibly be eliminated from the division championship race with a loss to West rival Toledo.
"There are no easy games in the MAC, especially against Toledo," Roesch said. "I like it like that."
Amstutz said he was surprised by the move, but knew Lynch must have had good reasons for mixing up the lineup.
"When a coach makes a change like that, there's usually reasons for it," he said.-á"We are going to stick with the basic game plan."
Lynch said his reasons had less to do with Hill's game performance and more to do with Roesch's performance in practice.
"This is not a reflection on Talmadge," he said.
Also on the offensive side of the ball, sophomore tight end Mark Franklin will fill in for injured senior Jon Eckert.
The Rockets will be trying to improve upon a 16-game win streak at their home stadium. Toledo's last loss there came in October of 1999. Roesch doesn't want to see that streak continued.
"I would love to come in and have people rally around me for a win," Roesch said.-á"That would be the perfect story-book start."-á332/+â-Ç+â-ë'-¦Ifootballpreview 10.11DNEditorial332SORTF+â-ä2AUDT
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