This year, Hester is tasked with leading a new-look secondary that has nowhere to go but up after last season. The difference? The fifth-year senior and team captain is looking to his teammates for motivation.
The Cardinals' offensive line only allowed .92 sacks per game last year, good enough for fifth in the nation. But after losing three starters to graduation and their starting center to an injury in the spring, Ball State has a new look on the front line.
A new red helmet was unveiled to the team at a team meeting on Tuesday, which will make its debut during Ball State's home opener against Eastern Kentucky on Sept.
Ten days separate Ball State from the 2016 season opener against Georgia State, but that didn't stop Riley Neal from getting some extra work in after practice on Aug. 23.
Ball State football and Penn State have agreed to play in Beaver Stadium in 2021. Located in University Park, Pennsylvania, Beaver Stadium is the second-largest stadium in the country with a capacity of 106,572.
Ball State football coach Mike Neu had a simple message for the local middle and high school students at the Boys and Girls Club Youth Leadership Boot Camp. “Our world needs difference-makers, and young people like you need to do something about it,” he said. “This right here is doing something about it.”
This week, Ball State released schedules for soccer, women's volleyball and field hockey, while also finalizing the start times for most of its football games. Here are a few games to watch out for: Football Saturday, Sept.
Four seniors have been selected to be Ball State football's captains in 2016 — linebacker Sean Wiggins, wide receiver KeVonn Mabon, defensive back Martez Hester and running back Teddy Williamson.
Former Ball State football player Eric Patterson has signed with the Cleveland Browns. In his first year in the National Football League, the 5-foot-9-inch, 200-pound defensive back played two games with the Indianapolis Colts and one with the St.
Hours after being passed over in the NFL Draft, former Ball State wide receiver Jordan Williams signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.
In 2008, Ball State football went a perfect 12-0 in the regular season, launching itself into the conversation for a spot in one of the most coveted bowl games in college football: the Bowl Championship Series. At the time, no Mid-American Conference school had ever played in a BCS game, and Ball State was riding high at No. 12 in the country, entering the conference championship game against a 7-5 Buffalo team. While Ball State was the favorite entering the game, a single 42-24 loss dropped the Cardinals down 10 spots in the NCAA rankings and landed them a spot in the GMAC Bowl, where it lost to Tulsa by 32 points. It is hard for mid-major schools to compare themselves with these Power Five goliaths, but reaching national prominence remains their goal. “Most of what we enjoy most about Division I athletics is that we’re playing at the highest level,” Ball State Athletic Director Mark Sandy said.
In January, Ball State linebacker coach Johnny Curtis was the football team's defensive coordinator and baseball team's head coach at John Curtis Christian School in River Ridge, Louisiana.
After former Ball State wide receiver Jordan Williams graduated in the fall, a lot of pressure was put on the receiving core to see who would step up as the next leader.
Ball State football’s annual Spring Game had eight touchdowns and no score on a cloudless afternoon in Scheumann Stadium. The 0-0 finish was the result of contest between the offensive and defensive units.
Ball State football will take the field in a game situation for the first time since November 24, 2015.
Each year, Ball State football announces two honorary captains for its annual Spring Football Game.
Ryan Diem leans against the fence along the visitor's sideline at Scheumann Stadium April 19. He holds a bag of Bigs Sea Salt & Black Pepper sunflower seeds in one hand and an empty Dasani water bottle for the shells in the other, spitting occasionally.
When the Ball State football team went into the locker room after practice, junior transfer defensive lineman John Swisher stayed outside, practicing on the tackling dummy. Swisher and sophomore Kevin Thurmon, two of the nine defensive linemen on the roster, were getting extra reps. “There’s a lot of good defensive tackles here. ... I’m just trying to get my stride in the spring,” Swisher said.
Ball State football players each had the opportunity to impress 17 different talent scouts from the NFL and Canadian Football League during their Pro Day March 24.
Ball State football's second spring practice has been moved to March 25 after forecasts of afternoon thunderstorms. Originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on March 24, Friday's practice will start at the same time.
