Don't look now. Keep holding your breath, crossing your fingers. Lord knows what we just saw could've been a fluke.
But there's a chance our football team just grew up. Ball State beat Central Michigan 31-17 Saturday in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The game wasn't even that close.
The Cardinals' offensive line dominated the Chippewas' defensive front, much like it was manhandled the previous week at Iowa. Ball State's defense was stout until the end.
The Cardinals are 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference after finishing MAC play 2-6 last season. You're lying if you claim to have seen this coming.
Logic gave Ball State no chance against Central Michigan, who won three of the past four Mid-American Conference titles. The Cardinals were three-touchdown underdogs.
Chippewas fans talked their smack on message boards, as many of them like to do. Given Ball State's recent ineptness, they were hard to argue against.
Now, who knows what to expect?
The Cardinals season has a rejuvenated feel, if only for a week. There's a fresh sense of confidence. Falling to 1-4 would've been Ball State's death sentence. The Cardinals could have recovered mathematically, not mentally.
I'm approaching Saturday's win carefully. I'm cautiously optimistic. For an eternal pessimist, that's saying a lot.
This was a win the program desperately needed, no one more than Stan Parrish.
Since inheriting the team in December 2008, Parrish has needed a signature win. After leading the Cardinals to their worst loss since 2005 last week, he desperately needed a bounce-back game.
Beating the Chippewas in their building accomplishes both. But the process mattered almost as much as the result.
I'm optimistic because Ball State won the way Ball State needs to win. Everyone knows the recipe is defense and running backs. The Cardinals just aren't getting much out of their quarterback play this season.
Ball State's running backs, the best group of ball carriers in the MAC, rushed for 306 yards. They helped the Cardinals control tempo, pushing them to an eight-minute advantage in time of possession during the final three quarters. They frequently served as a security blanket for freshman Keith Wenning, who played well enough to end the quarterback debate but still has training wheels.
The defense was even better. Ball State allowed only three points through the first three quarters. By the time the Chippewas scored their first touchdown, the Cardinals led 28-3. Game over.
I've been waiting for this defense to take ownership of Ball State's season. With players like Sean Baker, Robert Eddins, Travis Freeman and Tony Martin, we should expect nothing less.
In context, this win could represent a turning point for a program quickly headed in the wrong direction.
Championship teams have a championship attitude. You have to know how to win. That includes avoiding mistakes, being consistent, playing with energy from the opening kickoff, making plays at crucial times — all the things Ball State lacked in the season's first month.
Not now.
For one game, the Cardinals maximized their talent. For one game, it beat a serious team in a serious environment. For one game, Ball State played like winners.
Just keep your fingers crossed.
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