MOBILE, Ala. - Nate Davis started Tuesday's game at the GMAC Bowl hoping for an impressive, bounce-back performance to improve his draft stock for the upcoming NFL Draft.
As the final seconds ticked off in a 45-13 loss to the University of Tulsa, it was apparent Davis might have played himself into staying at Ball State University for his senior season.
Davis was expected to be a first-day draft selection before the GMAC Bowl, even after turning the ball more than five times in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game. The junior had three turnovers against the Golden Hurricane in the first half and didn't complete a pass in the second half as he finished with a season-low 145 passing yards.
"He plays his best ball totally focused and not distracted," coach Stan Parrish said. "Obviously, he didn't play his best ball the last two weeks. It's my job to get him to play his best ball."
Davis didn't attend the postgame press conference because he was taken to a local hospital to get X-rays on his throwing hand. Parrish was unaware of the injury's extent during the press conference, but he said it occurred in the third quarter.
Parrish did not try to hide what he thought was distracting the third-year quarterback.
"I think all these young guys who have 8,000 people asking if they're coming back to school, let's just talk about it like it is folks," Parrish said. "I don't talk about it, but he's away from me 20 hours a day. That's why, and it distracts."
Parrish incorporated a new offense for the GMAC Bowl that featured more bunch formations and pre-snap motion. One of the most-used formations had the Cardinals two tight ends line up in the backfield and running back MiQuale Lewis line up as a wide receiver. Before the snap, Lewis motioned to the backfield and the tight ends moved to their regular spots at the end of the offensive line.
The updated offense was more complicated than the former spread formation that had little pre-snap motion. However, Lewis said the change wasn't too complex.
"We tried to do some things that threw them off defensively," Lewis said. "But we allowed ourselves to be slowed down by not executing the plays well."
Parrish didn't blame the changes in his offense for Davis' poor performance. Instead, he hinted that the media should be blamed for the junior's lack of production.
"I know that the wave of questioning that has gone on the last month in our camp certainly makes it difficult on a young man," Parrish said. "Make no bones about it, he is a great quarterback, and he will be a great quarterback."
Parrish also decided to reveal where he hopes Davis will play next year.
"Hopefully he'll be a great quarterback for me next fall," Parrish said. "And then we won't have these distractions."
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