There's Darius Hill, reaching over a defensive back to haul in a touchdown pass. Dante Love dances around hapless Eastern Michigan defenders on his way to the end zone. Louis Johnson glides under a tight-spiraled ball in the end zone. Nate Davis effortlessly flicks his wrist to send the ball on its merry way. Joey Lynch, the field general, commands his troops as he marches the Cardinals down the field.
What is this mine eyes haveth seen?
Something unprecedented appears to have happened to the Ball State University football team. An offense that moves the ball? A bevy of playmakers that can score anytime they have the ball?
This is something brand new to most Ball State football fans, which were forced to sit through nine years of mediocrity. Fans and students who had to sit through the Brian Conn years at quarterback, see Ball State lose to Western Illinois University (WHO?) at home, nearly lose to Indiana State sat through years of complacency.
This year's team has more playmakers than any Ball State team in recent memory. Start with Dante Love. Although he did not line up at quarterback, he played the roles of wide receiver and running back fairly well, tallying 132 yards of total offense and two touchdowns.
While Ball State's top two wide receivers - Love and Terry Moss - are on the small side, 6-foot-6 tight end Darius Hill creates all sorts of match-up problems. That was evident on Thursday as he used his height to go up-and-over one of Eastern Michigan's defensive backs. If Ball State plans to make any noise during the Mid-American Conference season, Hill's red zone abilities will be a big part of it.
For the time being, the Cardinals will use a two-quarterback system. Luckily for coach Brady Hoke, both are capable of leading the offense down the field. Lynch, the fifth-year senior, knows the offense better than anyone. He's trusted and respected by teammates and is one of the top quarterbacks in the MAC.
Davis, however, has a certain sizzle that can't be taught. Every time he was behind center last week the Cardinals scored. He's proving he has a much stronger arm than Lynch.
But Davis made a few mistakes last week. Two examples include calling the wrong formation in the huddle and forgetting to send a guy in motion on one play. Typical freshman mistakes.
So for the time being, there shouldn't be any talk of a quarterback controversy.
Expect Saturday's matchup with Indiana University to be a high scoring affair. There's plenty of offense on both sides of the field and two very questionable defenses. For Ball State, the key will be shutting down IU's excellent receiving corps, especially 6-foot-7 James Hardy. He could have a field day against the Cardinal's smaller defensive backs.
Even if Ball State gives up a lot of points, the Cardinals have an offense that is capable of answering right back. For once.
Phil Friend is a journalism graduate student and writes ''Phil'osophy' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Phil at prfriend@bsu.edu
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