With a couple extra days before the Cardinals take on Western Michigan, several of the coaches hit the road early this week for recruiting. Since the team doesn't have a true bye week, head coach Mike Neu said this is the biggest week they've had to connect with recruits.
A total of 15 Ball State student-athletes entered the concussion protocol during the 2015-16 athletic season, a lower number than the three years preceding it. Football, which is the sport most commonly identified with concussions, accounted the largest portion of that total with seven.
Ball State has a few extra days to prepare before the No. 20 Broncos come to town Nov. 1. The game will be shown on ESPN2 from Scheumann Stadium at 8 p.m.
Ball State's offense built a big lead against Akron Oct. 22, but couldn't sustain a drive in the second half as the Zips came back to win 35-25. After Neal threw for just 187 yards and an interception in the loss, head coach Mike Neu was asked about the notion that he has regressed this season.
At halftime of the Homecoming game, Ball State led 17-7 over Akron. The Cardinals had more yards, more possession and a habit of coming out strong in the second half. But the Zips came back to win 35-25. “We’re all disappointed, me included,” head coach Mike Neu said.
But some missed chances caught up to Ball State (4-4, 1-3 MAC) in the final two quarters, as the Zips (4-4, 3-1) scored 21 unanswered on their way to a 35-25 road win Oct. 22.
Quarter updates from Scheumann Stadium as Ball State (4-3) takes on Mid-American Conference opponent Akron (4-3) on Oct. 22.
Jake Fox, the Daily News football reporter, is covering the game and offered up some key insights on the key positional matchups.
On a gray, unseasonably warm Tuesday afternoon in October, the only glob of color at Muncie Central’s football practice is the red facade of Muncie Liquors across the river. The Bearcats are running through seven-on-seven drills when senior defensive back Gino Taylor is blocked by a receiver, the ball carrier bursting past him. Head coach Adam Morris’s sharp whistle pierced the air, but where other coaches might yell and shriek, his voice was calm — yet still firm.
Scheumann Stadium holds 22,500 people. The team it houses is 4-3 this year, already more wins than last year, and looks like it will become bowl eligible for the first time since 2013. And the stadium is rarely even half full.
There have been a number of close Homecoming football games in Ball State's past, but the 1993 game set a number of records that still stand to this day. To say the Cardinals fell in an early hole is an understatement. Toledo scored on five of its first eight possessions and jumped out to a 30-3 lead at Scheumann Stadium. But behind a quarterback by the name of Mike Neu, Ball State stormed back with 28 straight points and scored a touchdown as time expired for a 31-30 victory — still the largest comeback in Ball State history.
Media reports from Mid-American Conference schools Eastern Michigan University and Kent State University show that universities are experimenting with a new marketing strategy: selling beer at stadiums. Will Ball State see beer at Scheumann Stadium anytime soon? Shawn Sullivan, Ball State’s assistant athletic director for marketing and fan engagement, says there have been discussions but nothing anywhere close to final decisions. “I think it’s always a discussion point, and we’ve certainly had internal discussions about it,” Sullivan said. “But there are several discussion points that may increase revenue and attendance and that’s just one of many options that we talk about.” While there are no plans to sell alcohol in the immediate future, one thing is clear — attendance at Cardinals football games was one of the lowest in the country in 2015.
And with Bell dealing with a foot injury, Booker has started the last two games for the Cardinals — and hasn't skipped a beat doing it.
Ball State (4-3, 1-2) will look to build on its latest win as it returns home this weekend to take on Akron (4-3, 2-1).
The Cardinals had three turnovers and punted four times in the first two quarters, leading to a 14-7 halftime deficit. It was the fifth time in seven games this season that they have been behind coming out of the locker room.
It didn’t really matter who was at quarterback in the second half for Ball State. As long as they could turn it around and hand it off to running back James Gilbert, they were OK. The sophomore ran 34 times for 264 yards and two touchdowns to lift Ball State (4-3, 1-2 MAC) to a 31-21 win at Buffalo (1-5, 0-2 MAC) on Saturday.
Quarter updates from University at Buffalo Stadium in Buffalo, New York as Ball State (3-3) takes on Mid-American Conference opponent Buffalo (1-4) on Oct. 15.
Jake Fox, the Daily News football reporter, is traveling to the game and offered up some insight on the key positional matchups:
After back-to-back losses to start Mid-American Conference play, Ball State (3-3) is looking to get back on track at Buffalo (1-4) this weekend.
Hepp finished the game with three catches and 54 receiving yards, a career high. More importantly, he showed he's capable of stepping up when needed for a thin Ball State receiver group.
