The Ball State University football team has a chance at a winning conference season this year.
The Cardinals have been in their current position only once since 1996, when they shared the MAC West title in 2001.
A win at Eastern Michigan this season would put Ball State (3-6 overall, 3-3 MAC) in position to finish the season with its first winning record in the conference in four years. That streak could end in the near future if the Cardinals can win their final two games of the season, starting this weekend at Eastern Michigan. To finish the season with a winning MAC record, the Cardinals would then have to beat Central Michigan in the final game of the season at Scheumann Stadium.
Ball State has won two in a row +â-óGé¼" a 31-17 win at Northern Illinois and a 23-17 win against Akron - to get where it is today.
"It just comes down to everyone clicking at the same time, especially on defense," linebacker Brad Seiss said. "If one person doesn't do their job, there's going to be a breakdown. We've done a good job lately of everyone doing their job and there hasn't been as many breakdowns."
Coach Brady Hoke said the fourth and fifth-year seniors have been key in the turnaround.
"I think those guys are all key components as far as playing time, leadership, productivity," Hoke said.
Leadership-wise, Hoke said the attention to detail has been a big part of the consecutive wins.
"To do anything well in life, you better take care of the little things and be detailed," Hoke said. "I think we've done a much better job as a football team making sure we're covering the details."
Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan is on a four-game losing streak after winning three of its first five games.
The Eagles started MAC play with two wins against Central Michigan and Kent State, but have since lost to Toledo, Northern Illinois, Miami and Western Michigan. Their first win came against Louisiana-Lafayette a week after narrowly being defeated, 28-26, by Cincinnati in the season opener.
Eric Deslauriers leads the Eagles with 667 receiving yards which puts him among the MAC's best. Deslauriers caught 10 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinals during Ball State's Homecoming game last season. The Eagles won that game, 31-24, and have won the last two meetings with the Cardinals.
"We haven't stopped Eastern Michigan in two years," Hoke said. "Offensively we had opportunities to make plays [last season] - we didn't make any plays."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
