One of the signs that exemplify the transformation Ball State University's football program has undergone during the past couple seasons is, the way the Cardinals have competed against opponents from power conferences.
Against its last two opponents from power conferences - the University of Nebraska and the University of Michigan - Ball State has lost by less than 10 points and both contests have gone down to the final minutes. Despite the close games, the Cardinals remain 0-39 all-time against teams from one of the six top conferences in the nation - a group that combines to compile the Bowl Championship Series. It's a mark the players said they take personally.
"I don't even want to know that stat," junior punter Chris Miller said. "A lot of fans see that we've been in close games, but it doesn't matter because it wasn't a win. It doesn't matter if we win by one or 50, as long as we come out with a win."
The Cardinals travel to Champaign, Ill., this weekend to play their 36th opponent from a BCS school - the University of Illinois. Ball State senior captain and outside linebacker Cortlan Booker said it's time for his team to finally beat a nationally-renowned program.
"We've been talking about it all year - this season is the start of something brand new," Booker said. "I would like to be a part of the senior class and team that changes that. And if there's any team I've been on that's capable of that, it's this one because we have a lot of character and we have a lot of tough football players."
The Cardinals' five victories this season leaves the program one win short of becoming bowl eligible with four games to play. Though Ball State finished last season 5-7, it's the first time since 1993 the Cardinals' football program has had five victories with four games to play.
Ball State has the best record among the 13 teams in the Mid-American Conference, but Booker said his team isn't satisfied with the success its experienced this season.
"With five wins we're really not where we need to be yet," Booker said. "We have to win at least one more to become bowl eligible, but that's not the point. The point is to win out and leave no doubt that this is a special Ball State football team."
Before the University of Akron's 20-17 win against North Carolina State University last season, the last MAC team to beat an opponent from one of the power conferences was Miami University in 2003. While Ball State is playing for its first ticket to a bowl game since 1996, 31-year-old sophomore defensive end Brandon Crawford said his team has an even bigger purpose this weekend.
"I don't believe a lot of teams [in power conferences] give MAC teams the respect that they should," Crawford said. "We have a lot of great players throughout the MAC that get looked over a lot. I think people around the country would have to stand up and recognize the MAC does have good players and the MAC does have good teams."
Perhaps more significant than the competitiveness Ball State has displayed against power-conference opponents is the new perspective Cardinals' players use to view such opponents.
"We don't focus on the hype of the team; we focus on what we need to do as a team to beat our opponent," Crawford said. "As far as that record - that 0-35 - I believe if we go out there and play to the best of our abilities as a team in all three phases of the game we will be successful."
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