AUBURN, Ala. - The crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium roared as Auburn University took the field before Saturday's game against Ball State University.
It wouldn't stop for hours.
The announced crowd of 83,118 cheered every good play by the Tigers and the marginal ones too. There was rarely a quiet moment in the Cardinals' 54-30 loss.
The magnitude of the stage has rattled many visiting players over the years as Auburn is 266-67-7 all-time in Jordan-Hare Stadium. But the stage seemed to bring out the best in quarterback Kelly Page.
"I've never seen [83,000] people at one time," Page said. "I've never heard [83,000] people scream either. That's a pretty amazing experience."
After an unsettling start to his college career that led coach Stan Parrish to use backup Tanner Justice part time, Page directed Ball State to its best offensive performance of the year. The Cardinals set a season-high for points scored and scored 10 times as many points as their previous two meetings with the Tigers. In 2001, Ball State was shut out 30-0 and in 2005, it lost 63-3.
Page played the cleanest game of his young college career. The freshman completed 16 of his 28 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. For the first time, he did not throw an interception. But Page wasn't impressed by his stat line.
"I don't really care about stats," Page said. "I care about the W and we didn't win."
Briggs Orsbon led the team with seven receptions for 35 yards. Tight end Zane Fakes had two receptions, including his first career touchdown.
The 101 passing yards were the fewest in Page's career, but Parrish was pleased with his pupil's play.
"I gave him more balls that he could throw," Parrish said. "Just like that easy one to Fakes. I think earlier in the year he might have thrown a rocket out the back of the end zone."
Wide receiver Jeremy Hill pulled his hamstring in the first half and didn't play in the second half. Without the big-play threat, Parrish had to call for more quick throws underneath.
"It's hard when you can't throw up the field," Parrish said. "I don't know if we would have had enough time to throw it up the field."
Page credited his offensive line for making him feel more comfortable.
"Our offensive line showed a lot of people what they can be tonight," Page said. "With the help of the offensive line, I knew I had three or four seconds in the pocket. That just gives you the confidence to go out and make the throws you need to make."
Playing against the toughest defense he's likely to face this season, Page was only sacked twice. One was costly, however, as Page fumbled.
"He said he didn't see the guy hit him," Parrish said. "He looked like he was a lot more under control."
Overall, Page was pleased by the way the offense performed.
"The first few games we didn't really do anything good on offense, we made a couple plays here and there," Page said. "We showed people that we can compete with everyone."
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