When Ball State University and the University of Toledo has met each other on the football field during the past 30 years, there has been one constant theme.
The underdog always has a chance.
It was never more evident than in 2001, when No. 92 Ball State shook up the Mid-American Conference standings by upsetting the 25th ranked (by the Associated Press) team in the nation 24-20 during Ball homecoming weekend. Fifth-year senior running back Larry Bostic remembered the defining moment of the game as amazing.
"Watching [Corey] Parchman explode down that sideline and getting the touchdown off the kickoff return was absolutely amazing and incredible to watch," Bostic said.
Parchman's 100-yard kick return clinched the upset for the Cardinals and it was the last time Ball State has beaten a nationally ranked team. It also sealed the deal on historic meetings between Toledo and Ball State. The series record between the two teams is nearly equal. Toledo leads 15-14-1, with the home team winning every game but one since 1995.
Ball State has knocked off an undefeated Toledo team twice (in 1997 and 2001) and the Cardinals will be forced to play this year's homecoming match-up as the underdog yet again. Ball State coach Brady Hoke said the team has an opportunity to make some noise this year too.
Toledo's senior quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski, has played in the past two meetings between the teams. In Toledo's 52-14 win last season, he unloaded on the Cardinals for 455 passing yards and six touchdowns. Gradkowski said the fact that the home team has won the past five meetings does not faze him or his teammates.
"You hear about it all the time," Gradkowski said. "People say we can't play on grass, but I actually like it. I'm looking forward to playing [at Ball State]."
Gradkowski started in Toledo's loss to Ball State in 2003. The Cardinals were coming off of their worst loss in MAC history in a 49-3 defeat to Miami (Ohio).
Ball State's offense rebounded from the loss and dominated Toledo, rolling for 505 yards and racking up 38 points. Then-sophomore Bostic, who scored a career-high two receiving touchdowns in the game, said the game was one of the best he has played in at Ball State.
"We went out there and just played the best we've played in a long while," Bostic said. "It was great to see because everyone went out there doing everything right. The guys never gave up, and it gave us so much confidence."
Ball State produced one of its greatest games in team history against Toledo in 1993, also held during the Cardinals' homecoming weekend. After trailing 30-3 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Ball State sparked its biggest comeback in school history to win 31-30. The Cardinals scored 28 unanswered points, including a 6-yard pass from Mike Neu to Erin McCray as time expired.
This year's squad will be put in a similar position of the Ball State teams of the past five years. They will face a superior Toledo (4-1 overall, 2-0 MAC) team and will have to pull more magic out of the homecoming hat. Bostic said all the team needs to do is put itself in a good position.
"We have to go out and excel at doing the little things and match whatever Toledo does," Bostic said. "If we do that, then we've put ourselves in a good position to pull off another exciting win."
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