Stan Parrish skimmed through his play sheet, searching for the perfect offensive formation.
"Bunch right," Parrish shouted into his headset, as the fourth-quarter clock dwindled against the University of Michigan two years ago.
The formation was relayed to quarterback Nate Davis, who lined the Cardinals' offense into the formation its offensive coordinator called. Just before Davis took the snap, Parrish realized he had misspoke.
"It should've been bunch left," Parrish said, reliving the moment Monday in the Alumni Center. "I had all our players on the short side of the field. And I didn't want that, because I had all those big Michigan guys over there, too."
Trailing eight points midway through the fourth quarter, Parrish knew it was the worst time to call the wrong formation. He felt sick as Davis took the snap, knowing the Wolverines' defense should blow up the play.
But the inevitable did not happen.
"We tossed the ball to Larry Bostic, and I'm going, 'Oh gosh, no, no, no,'" Parrish said. "Then Larry ran for about 25 yards. That goes to show you, good players are more important than good coaches."
The play also shows, even on the rare occasion when Parrish doesn't get it right, good things still tend to happen.
When Parrish took the reins of Ball State's offense three years ago, he walked into a mess of a unit in need of a major face-lift.
The Cardinals had no running game. They weren't a viable threat throwing the football. There was no explosiveness that has become the hallmark of this year's group.
"When I first got here, I said, 'Gosh, I don't know if we can do this," Parrish said. "Offensively, we were as bad as bad can be. But it was a matter of good recruiting, putting the system in place and some good luck along the way."
Before coming to Ball State, Parrish held three head coaching positions. He was an offensive coordinator at Michigan and served two years as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a part of the Wolverines 1997 Rose Bowl team, which won the NCAA national championship that season. He also helped the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl title in 2002.
Parrish put the finishing touches on his offensive philosophy during his time with the Buccaneers. His spread offense system stems off the West Coast offense his former boss, John Gruden, runs in Tampa Bay.
"It's a system that looks real complicated," Parrish said. "Everybody thinks we have a really complicated offense. We have a lot of different looks but just a few concepts. Once the kids understand the concepts, and they really buy into it, the sky is the limit."
When Ball State coach Brady Hoke called before the 2005 season, Parrish had been retired for a couple years and wasn't looking to get back into coaching. Then he had a conversation with his wife, Ruth Parrish, and his mind changed.
"Really, the real reason I came is because my wife told me to come," Parrish said. "I've spent most of my life giving the orders. She just thought I had a lot of energy left, and she's a big advocate of, 'Do it for the kids.'"
Hoke and Parrish met in 1996 when the two were assistant coaches at Michigan. The two routinely roomed together on road games, and their families have become friends with each other.
But when Hoke and Parrish come to work each morning, the two become coaches and left their friendship at the office door.
"It's like anything else in life," Hoke said. "There's got to be one head coach. There's some decisions I make that aren't always the most welcoming all the time. But I ask for Stan's advice as often as possible."
Hoke trusts his offensive coordinator enough to grant him free reign over the Cardinals' offense. While Hoke oversees the defense and special teams, Parrish is able to plug his philosophies into his side of the ball.
"Coach Hoke has given me total control of this offense," Parrish said. "He works with the defense and special teams. It's hard to find a job with no micromanagement in this world, and I've got one."
Parrish has a pessimistic nature, he said, which is the perfect compliment to Hoke's optimistic approach. Every offensive player has spent time in his doghouse.
Running back MiQuale Lewis, who ranks fourth in the nation with 529 rushing yards, remembers Parrish telling him he'd have to find another offense to play for if he didn't improve his receiving abilities. Lewis said Parrish's tough words made him focus on being a more complete running back.
Tight end Darius Hill said Parrish is always talking offense. Even at football functions away from the practice field, Hill said, it's impossible to avoid a conversation with Parrish regarding new plays the offensive coordinator is creating.
It's his obsession to the Cardinals' offense, along with the constructive criticism he provides, that has earned him respect from his players.
"Coach P. is like our mastermind," Hill said. "He comes up with a lot of the plays, and I know he works hard day-in and day-out to watch film and look for some of our opponents' weak spots."
Despite the titles and accolades Parrish has accumulated during his 38 years as a football coach, he said, building Ball State's offense is among the most rewarding things he has ever done.
"I've told a lot of people this over the last year: It might be the best job I've ever had," Parrish said. "What we've done makes us very, very proud because it's been tough. But we preach to the kids, 'You've got to be tough.' If the coaches aren't tough-minded and don't have a plan, the players won't either."
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