When Brady Hoke accepted his position as Ball State University's football coach five years ago, he made it his mission to pay credence to the Cardinals' tradition by establishing more history.
After accepting its first bowl invitation in 11 years Saturday, Hoke said his team took a big step toward having the success he's envisioned for Ball State's football program.
"We want to represent the tradition of this program, and that's awfully important to us," Hoke said. "I think participating in a bowl is a real feather in everybody's cap. We're trying to lay a foundation and do things the right way, and this shows us we're on the right path to do that."
The Cardinals will play Big East opponent Rutgers University Jan. 5, 2008, in the International Bowl, one of the three bowl games that have ties with the Mid-American Conference. Ball State athletics director Tom Collins said the Cardinals' bowl bid shows the fruit of Hoke's hard labor.
"This has been the culmination of five years of work," Collins said. "Brady and his coaching staff have built this program the right way without taking any short cuts. I couldn't be any more happy for them right now."
The International Bowl is in its second year and executive director Ken Hoffman said it's his goal to help the bowl grow. Hoffman, who is also the executive director of the Motor City Bowl, said the best way to build a young bowl event is to invite teams like Ball State.
"The number one thing is they're bowl hungry," Hoffman said. "A characteristic that we have built the Motor City Bowl on for its first decade was inviting bowl-hungry programs. I think both the campus and community wants to participate in postseason and that should draw a good crowd to the game."
Due to an NCAA rule that forces bowl selection committees to select seven-win teams before six-win teams, Ball State's players have known for some time that they would probably be playing in a postseason game. Cardinals' punter Chris Miller, who became the seventh first team All-American in Ball State's history earlier last week, said he and his teammates are ready to make some more history.
"I can't even explain the level of excitement there is," Miller said. "I mean, I don't even know what a bowl trip is and how it feels. As a player, you want to get something tangible for your hard work. This just feels really good right now."
About the International BowlFounded: 20072007 result: Cincinnati 27Western Michigan 242008: Noon Jan. 5Location: Rogers Centre, TorontoTicket Price: $15-$40Television: ESPN2
Ball State vs. Rutgers
Ball StateLocation: MuncieEnrollment: 20,030Original Name: Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division (renamed Ball Teachers College in 1922, renamed Ball State Teachers College in 1929, renamed Ball State University in 1965)Named for the Ball brothers who founded the Ball Corporation that created packaging for food and beverage productsBall State lost its first football game 47-0 to Indiana State on Oct. 18, 1924
RutgersLocation: Camden, Newark and New Brunswick, N.J.Enrollment: 50,516Chartered: 1766Original Name: Queen's College (renamed Rutgers College in 1825, renamed Rutgers University in 1924)Eighth college in United State's historyNamed for Revolutionary War veteran Col. Henry RutgersRutgers played host to and defeated Princeton in the first intercollegiate football game on Nov. 6, 1869
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