Looking over Ball State University's Mid-American Conference West Division rivals at the start of conference play, coach Stan Parrish sees plenty of talented teams.
So much in fact, that he compared the MAC West to the American League East. There the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have left the World Series runner-up Tampa Bay Rays in the dust, 19 games out of first place.
"It's the best division I've seen since I've been here," Parrish said. "It'd be like the Baltimore Orioles playing in the East, looking up at teams like that."
Unfortunately for Cardinals fans, the Orioles entered Friday 40 games behind the Yankees.
Ball State will get their first crack at division play Saturday when the University of Toledo comes to Muncie for Homecoming. Quarterback Aaron Opelt and safety Barry Church have led the Rockets to a 2-2 record, including a win against the University of Colorado.
Parrish said the teams at the top of the division have plenty of seniors on their rosters, like the Rockets.
"There are three or four knockout teams," Parrish said. "There are a lot of seniors on those teams and a lot of leadership on those teams."
Central Michigan University, the preseason favorite, has lived up to their billing so far. Central Michigan upset Michigan State University on the road and is 3-1. Western Michigan University and Northern Illinois University both opened the year at .500.
"The way Central is playing right now, they could probably play in the Big Ten," Parrish said. "I don't know where we'll fit in. We'll find out."
With new coach Tim Beckman at the helm, Toledo is trying to make its own case in the conference. Running a dynamic spread offense, the Rockets are averaging 31.5 points per game, despite being shut out by then-No. 11 Ohio State University.
The Cardinals have had trouble stopping spread offenses in the past. The University of North Texas ran up more than 500 yards on Opening Night this year and Central Michigan has played Ball State tough in previous years.
Toledo's offense looks familiar to Parrish.
"I think it's very similar [to Central's]," Parrish said. "I hope not real close [to North Texas]. They don't run as much option as North Texas did. They're more of a spread team; they throw it."
Linebacker Davyd Jones said he watched Toledo beat Colorado.
"I saw a really good offense," Jones said. "I think it's the same players, same scheme basically, just a different type of energy to it."
Opelt is directing the offense for the fourth year. He is fifth in the country with 320.5 passing yards per game, but has yet to beat Ball State in his career.
"I don't remember him doing anything special," Jones said. "He's a great quarterback, but he's just another person, another quarterback to me."
One of the three losses to the Cardinals for the Rockets' seniors was a 31-0 drubbing on their Homecoming last year. That will likely be in Toledo's mind as they try to spoil Ball State's Homecoming this year.
Left guard Michael Switzer said Homecoming was important for the school.
"You want to get that win for our school," Switzer said. "But really I think we just treat it like another week, another football game."
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