When Larry Bostic graduates in May, he plans on being a professional party planner for the rest of his life.
But before the senior running back gets to that point, he and the other 20 seniors have one more bash to put together on the football field. That event occurs Friday when Ball State University (4-7, 4-3 Mid-American Conference) hosts Kent State University (6-5, 5-2 MAC) on Senior Day.
Bostic is coming off a career performance in which he ran for 143 yards on 31 carries - both career highs - in the Cardinals' 20-17 victory Nov. 14 against the University of Toledo. Bostic toppled his previous career high of 85 yards two games before against Miami University on Nov. 4.
"It has been a long road," Bostic said. "I can't believe it's finally coming to an end, but it's a part of life and I guess I'll soak it all in when the last game comes. But I'm going to enjoy my last game."
Ball State coach Brady Hoke said the offensive line's maturity has been the biggest improvement in the past few games.
"I think Larry Bostic, the last three weeks, has really ran downhill and ran physical and hasn't tried to make that extra cut," Hoke said. "[Bostic] seemed to get better the more carries he got. I think there's some realization that you have two more college games to play."
Another player who has matured since the 41-27 homecoming loss to Western Michigan University on Oct. 21 is freshman quarterback Nate Davis. In the three games since throwing three interceptions, in a little more than a quarter against the Broncos, Davis has thrown two interceptions and tossed five touchdown passes.
Davis is currently 21st among Division I-A quarterbacks with a 147.9 passing efficiency rating.
Kent State University was on its way to a possible MAC East Division title before losing back-to-back games to Ohio University (17-7) and the University at Buffalo (41-14). Leading the way for the Golden Flashes is sophomore quarterback Julian Edelman. On the year, Edelman has thrown for 1,678 yards and run for 563.
"He's really a catalyst for them offensively," Hoke said. "You look at the statistics and yardage, rushing and throwing, he has been pretty successful. He's a guy who's a creator. That's why he drives you nuts as a defensive coach because if a play's not there, he's going to [take off]."
Edelman's dual-threat ability is in the mold of Indiana University's Kellen Lewis and Eastern Michigan's Tyler Jones, two mobile quarterbacks the Ball State defense struggled against. Lewis accounted for 316 total yards (88 rushing) and Jones ran for 164 yards. Senior defensive end Riley Larimore said the defense needs to keep improving its gap responsibility to contain Edelman.
"Once you give one crease, he's gone," Larimore said. "The biggest advantage those guys have is they can run. If you get out of your pass rush lanes, he can scramble and he can run. We have to play gap sound defense and stop him."
With 21 players putting on the Ball State jersey for the final time, Hoke stressed the importance of sending them out with a victory and using the game as a springboard for the 2007 season.
"You play for your seniors," Hoke said. "That's how we start every game. Our number one goal is to play as hard as we can for our seniors. Those guys are our leaders and hopefully every guy in this program has an opportunity to be a senior. That's special and significant."
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