Ball State University's football team's first victory against a BCS opponent in 43 games - a 42-20 victory at Indiana University - was overshadowed by a harrowing hit on star receiver Dante Love.
Immediately after the win, coach Brady Hoke rushed into a packed media room, addressed the throng for 30 seconds and jetted away to check the status of his senior receiver.
"I'm going to make this brief because I want to go see how Dante Love is doing," Hoke said. "It was obviously a tremendous win. ... I appreciate your understanding, but I'm going to go to the hospital."
Love caught a pass from Cardinals quarterback Nate Davis in the second quarter and was tackled by cornerback Christopher Adkins. Love was unconscious on the field for several moments before his family joined him.
Love fumbled the ball, which Hoosiers safety Nick Polk returned for a 31-yard touchdown. The score cut Ball State's lead to 14-13 with 10:45 left in the first half.
The senior was initially taken to Bloomington Hospital before being transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Love's condition was unknown late Saturday night, but the team released a statement at halftime:
"Dante Love suffered an injury during the first half of Ball State's football game at Indiana. He experienced numbness and tingling on the field and was transported to Bloomington Hospital and has since been taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for further evaluation."
Redshirt sophomore running back MiQuale Lewis carried the ball 29 times for 166 yards and four touchdowns. Davis completed 16 of 25 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown.
Ball State's defense allowed Hoosiers' quarterback Kellen Lewis to rush for 148 yards on 25 carries, including one for touchdown. But the Cardinals' defense held the redshirt junior to 159 passing yards and an 11-of-25-completion clip.
Indiana receiver Andrew Means caught four balls for 101 yards.
For more football coverage, read Monday's issue of The Ball State Daily News.
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