One game remains in Ball State University's football season and coach Stan Parrish has put some thought into the impending off-season.
Parrish said he is especially disappointed with the poor start the Cardinals got off to this year, and wants to fix that next year. But Parrish won't be limiting his off-season to improving his team's start.
"I'm going to be reevaluating everything, starting with me down through the entire program," Parrish said. "I'll do the most thorough evaluation I think this football program has probably ever been done."
A look at the program makes plenty of sense for a team with a 1-10 record. What changes Parrish will make remain to be seen, but he's determined to do it right.
"I'm going to seek help from professionals," Parrish said. "I don't mean professional football, but professionals and the way they evaluate their entire corporations. If we're going to move forward, we've got to do that."
Senior star: Jordan Applegate made his senior night dream come true before Wednesday's game against Central Michigan University.
Applegate, an offensive lineman, sang the national anthem after he and the eight other seniors were honored at Scheumann Stadium.
"It's something I've always wanted to do," Applegate said. "In high school I sang the national anthem at my senior game, and it was always something that was in the back of my mind to do it in college. But with how serious pregame is, I never really thought it would happen."
Applegate's musical skills are no surprise to his teammates. He said he often sings on the Cardinals' road trips and in the locker room. Quarterback Tanner Justice said he even has some of Applegate's songs on his iPod.
"He plays the piano with the best of them," Justice said. "He's really talented."
Applegate said he has about 15 to 20 original songs, four to eight of which are "really good."
"One of my buddies has a recording studio back in Fort Wayne," Applegate said. "Whenever I get back there, I try and record music as much as I can."
The songs are what Applegate calls the "soulful arts," including gospel, jazz and R&B. He said he enjoys performing John Legend's work on the piano.
Applegate is a business and human resources major, but wants to pursue a career in the music industry.
"I wanted to go the music track," Applegate said. "But with football and as much time as both the music track and football take, it's kind of hard. Plus, I don't really know how to read music, so that would have made it harder."
Tight end shortage: Ever since Madaris Grant tore his ACL on opening night against the University of North Texas, Ball State has been trying to work around their lack of experience at tight end.
Parrish would have liked to redshirt Zane Fakes, but he was forced into service and has performed well. But against the Chippewas, Fakes left the game with an ankle injury. That opened the door for defensive end-turned fullback Andy Putoff to catch his first career pass.
"I called his number a couple weeks ago and he didn't go out [for the pass]," Parrish said. "So we teased him. He's done a really good job for us as a fullback and an H-back this year."
Fakes returned to practice Friday and is expected to be available at Western Michigan University on Tuesday night.
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