After a disappointing performance against Auburn and an 0-3 start to its season, the Ball State University football team's bye week comes at a good time, head football coach Brady Hoke said.
"We'll look forward to this week being off," he said. "For this schedule right now, it's probably a pretty good place for it. (I'd) rather probably have it after the Boston College game, but I think it probably falls in pretty good with where we're at, and as young as we are as a team."
Besides recovering from the 63-3 loss to Auburn, Hoke said some of his players will use the time to heal injuries, some of which were sustained last weekend.
"We've gotta get some people back healthy," senior safety Erik Keys said. "We have got a lot of people hurt, a lot of people worn down and get our focus back on football."
Senior defensive tackle Tom Keller went down against Auburn in the third quarter and stayed down for several minutes before he was carried off the field on a stretcher. Hoke said Keller injured his lower leg after the game and later clarified that it was an ankle sprain and a dislocated patella that was later put back in place. There was no fracture, Hoke said.
"Hopefully he'll be ready in two weeks," Hoke said.
Brad Salyer sat out the Bowling Green and Auburn games with a leg injury.
"We're getting closer to getting him back which will be a big plus because of Brad's leadership and what he does on special teams," Hoke said.
Eddie Burk is also recovering from injuries, and Hoke said Burk will be out for a while, although he didn't know how long exactly. Burk has a dislocated wrist and a broken bone in his hand. Even if healthy, Burk would still be absent from Ball State's depth chart against Boston College. He is suspended for the game for violating the textbook policy, along with four other defensive players - linebackers Cortlan Booker and Donta Smith, defensive end Amara Koroma and cornerback Lavell Mosley.
An ankle injury has also slowed down freshman B.J. Hill. Hill tweaked his ankle at Iowa and only returned punts and kickoffs against Bowling Green the following weekend. He returned to the Ball State backfield against Auburn, carrying twice for 16 yards. Before his injury at Iowa, Hill carried 10 times for 23 yards against the Hawkeyes.
Linebacker Brad Seiss also went down with a rolled ankle against Auburn, but the injury was not serious, Hoke said.
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