For the first time Sunday, Ball State scrimmaged under thenewly-installed stadium lights, and head coach Brady Hoke liked thenervous energy his team displayed.
"I think it was fun," he said after the two-hour session infront of about 150 people. "We enjoyed the atmosphere; it was goodfor us.
"I liked our attitude, how we came out. We were verybusiness-like. In some ways we were a little nervous, but I thinkthat's good. I'd like to make all the mistakes we can right now, aslong as they're not on game day."
Ball State opens the 2004 season Sept. 2 when Big East powerBoston College visits Muncie for a 7 p.m. contest. Last year, undertemporary lights, the Cardinals opened the season with thefirst-ever night game in stadium history, smashing Indiana State31-7.
Among the mistakes Hoke mentioned were three fumbles, severalfalse starts and offside penalties, and an interception thrown bystarting quarterback Joey Lynch.
Despite that pick, the coaching staff has been happy with thethird-year sophomore's performance, both Sunday and through fallpractice. Lynch, the son of former head coach Bill Lynch, is inline to replace the graduated quarterback tandem of Talmadge Hilland Andy Roesch.
"Joey showed good poise and composure, and he was assertive inthe huddle," Hoke said of Lynch. "He's done a good job of gettingus in the right play."
The second-year coach has named Lynch the starter for the seasonopener "because of his work ethic, and his decision-making has beenvery positive."
While Lynch has shown enough to clearly earn the starting job,he's far from satisfied with himself.
"Definitely I've got something to prove," he said. "I've onlyplayed 10 snaps, so basically I haven't proven anything. I can'twait to get out there and prove to the teammates I can do it andlead the team."
Hoke added that redshirt freshman Casey Gillen has secured thebackup spot behind Lynch, with true freshman Cole Stinson beatingout classmate Warren Suess for the No. 3 slot.
While Suess is likely to redshirt, Hoke said that Stinson couldalso sit out the year.
"It depends on how the season progresses and if we stay awayfrom injuries."
Sunday, Lynch tossed a pass over the middle that Dante Ridgewayturned into a 25-yard touchdown, the scrimmage's first score. Healso lofted a seven-yard score to Ryan Hahaj.
Even the interception drew some positive reviews, as Hoke saidthat outside linebacker Jason Sieman made a good play on the pass.Sieman, another third-year sophomore, is being counted on to fillthe weak side until the projected starter Brad Seiss recovers froma broken wrist.
Seiss broke his left wrist earlier in the month and could missthe first four games of the season.
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