Michigan Stadium is a place that can swallow you up.
110,000 screaming fans in a small, compact area. Fans, ranging from very old to very young, covered from top to bottom in maize and blue. Nearly every single one of them singing "Hail to the Victors."
The fact the Wolverines are ranked No. 2 in the country isn't going to make things any easier for Ball State University: That's what's in store for the Cardinals when they travel to the "Big House" to take on the University of Michigan.
"The crowd can get to some people," Ball State coach Brady Hoke said. "There's no question about it."
It's also a place where Mid-American Conference teams don't stand a chance.
The Wolverines are 21-0 all-time against MAC teams, with every single one of those games played at Michigan Stadium. This will be the second time this year they've played a MAC foe, defeating Central Michigan 41-17 on Sept. 9.
In order to simulate the crowd noise, the Cardinals will put loud speakers on a cart and place them directly behind the offensive line of scrimmage.
Hoke said he was confident freshman Nate Davis could handle the raucous crowd.
"We'll try and put as much pressure on him as we can," Hoke said. "And we'll simulate the speed and the crowd noise as much as possible. I think he'll see it as a great challenge and a great opportunity."
Davis' backup, Joey Lynch, has some experience playing in a similar environment. He has started in games against Purdue, Iowa, Auburn and Boston College throughout his collegiate career. Lynch said the quarterback needs to prepare to use hand signals and silent counts to overcome the crowd.
"It's a unique opportunity," Lynch said. "Not everyone gets a chance to play in that environment and atmosphere. You prepare the same way. You got to go over in your mind how much more prepared you got to be."
Having been an assistant coach at Michigan from 1995 to 2002, Hoke is very familiar with Michigan's tradition. When the team arrives in Ann Arbor Friday, Hoke will take his players on a tour through the stadium.
"We'll talk about the stadium," Hoke said. "I've got to get them past it and educate them on it. They got to get past it themselves."
Starting running back Larry Bostic said the Cardinals would treat Saturday's game just like every other one.
"There's no intimidation factor," Bostic said. "You can't go in there playing against the crowd. We have to play to the best of our abilities."
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