Following a heartbreaking loss to Miami University, Ball State University knows it can't afford losing to Eastern Michigan University, a team that spent last year in the basement of the Mid-American Conference.
"This is a situation that I don't think anybody was prepared for," senior captain Cortlan Booker said of coming into week two with an 0-1 record. "But Eastern Michigan is in our division and this is a must win for us."
The Eagles finished at the bottom of the MAC West Division last season with a record of 1-11 (1-7 MAC). Their first game of the 2006 season was at Scheumann Stadium, where they lost to Ball State 38-20.
Although the Cardinals face the bleak possibility of beginning the year 0-2, coach Brady Hoke said a win against Eastern Michigan could place his team back on track.
"We lost the battle the other night but we haven't lost the war," Hoke said. "Our goals are still there, and they are still intact."
One glaring weakness in the season opener against Miami University was the Cardinals' inability to score points. Last year, Ball State's offense was second in the Mid-American Conference in scoring with 27.2 points per game. However, the offense posted 13 points on a single touchdown against the RedHawks, fewer than the team had in all but one game last season.
Hoke said his offense will again have its work cut out against the Eagles.
"I think the strength of their team is their defense," Hoke said. "Defensively they are going to be a salty team. They are going to be an aggressive football team."
Though Ball State's scoring defense ranked eighth of 12 in the MAC last season with 25.8 points per game, the Cardinals held Miami to 14 points in their loss. After a 27-3 loss at Pittsburgh University last week, the Eagles' offense has yet to score a touchdown in the new season.
Although the defense got off to a good start and appears to have the chance to continue that success, Booker, who starts at outside linebacker, said the players can't rest on the positives they achieved.
"We can't look at it that we had a defensive win or a good game on defense," Booker said. "It obviously wasn't good enough if we lost. We're going to go pedal to the metal for 60 minutes against Eastern Michigan. Stay tuned for an even better defensive performance than last week."
Even with the disappointment of Ball State's season-opening loss, Booker said the players realize a win against division-rival Eastern Michigan would point the team in the right direction.
"It would be a stepping stone for us to the rest of the season," Booker said. "A win against Eastern Michigan would be stage one for us."
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