Stan Parrish was finished with his interview Monday, but Ball State University's offensive coordinator had one more thing he wanted to say before he ventured back into his office.
"They're the best team we've faced so far," he said.
Parrish wasn't alluding to the Navy team that went 8-5 last season and lost to the Cardinals on Friday. He was referring to the University of Akron, the opponent Ball State plays at 1 p.m. Saturday.
After a 4-8 record last season, the Zips opened 2008 with a 1-1 record against two BCS opponents. Akron beat Syracuse University 48-24 on the road at the Courier Dome on Saturday, a victory that impressed Cardinals' coach Brady Hoke.
"It's a hard place to play," Hoke said of the Courier Dome. "When you look at Akron, and you look at their skill players offensively and how active they are defensively - they're going to blitz you, they're going to bring people, they're going to bring man coverage - it's going to be a big challenge. They're a dag-gone good football team, and we've got our work cut out for us."
Ball State's first Mid-American Conference game of the season might be even more dangerous because it follows the statement victory it had Sept. 5. The Cardinals' 35-23 victory against Navy improved their record to 2-0, marking the first time since 1995 that Ball State has won its first two games of the season.
Hoke said he allowed his players to celebrate the victory that night before focusing on Akron the next day in practice.
Defensive captain Brandon Crawford said moving on past his team's big win wasn't difficult for the players because they know Akron is a quality opponent.
"Our conference is always a tough conference, no matter who you play," Crawford said. "Anyone can beat anyone, and if you don't come out to play, you get beat. You have to have that mind-set. You can't just think, 'Oh, we're playing so and so, so it'll be OK,' because that's not the case."
Along with being the team's conference opener, Saturday's game is also the first road trip of the season. Hoke's common tradition for away games is to practice at Scheumann Stadium the day before and travel later that night.
However, Hoke will change his weekly routine and practice at the Rubber Bowl - the Zips' home stadium - today because the Cardinals haven't played at Akron since 2004.
"This is one of the few places we'll practice because we haven't been there in [four] years," Hoke said. "... I think it's important [to be familiar with a stadium's surroundings], especially when you haven't been there in a while."
Playing in the team's first hostile environment of the season, a week after Scheumann Stadium was filled to capacity, Hoke said, he hopes to see plenty of Cardinal red in the stands when the game kicks off.
"Hopefully we'll get a good group of people coming up to Akron," Hoke said. "People who really care about what's going on football-wise. Hopefully we'll have a nice crowd there."
Top 10 things to know about the game10. Ball State's 35-23 win Friday should be a good omen for the Cardinals, who lost 35-23 the last time they played at Akron.
9. Ball State has a 7-10-1 all-time record in 18 games against Akron.
8. Nate Davis' journey into the Heisman Trophy conversation will begin Saturday.
7. Dante Love will be even better.
6. Contrary to the opinion of the rest of The Ball State Daily News sports section, Zippy is a horrible name for a kangaroo mascot.
5. Having a kangaroo as the mascot is even worse.
4. Akron's football team feels left out after the men's basketball program received uniforms from LeBron James this summer.
3. Brandon Crawford is going to find the fountain of youth, turn back his clock 10 years and be selected in the NFL Draft after this season.
2. Rubber Bowl is the name of Akron's football stadium, not the name of a the university's orgy house.
1. Ball State will be 3-0 for the first time since 1988.
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