Division West Offensive coordinator Stan Parrish | 2008 record 12–2 (8–0 MAC West) Defensive coordinator Mark Smith | |
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Conference Mid-American Conference Head coach Brady Hoke/Stan Parrish | ||
The 2008 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Brady Hoke, in his sixth season at Ball State, was the head coach until December 15, when he resigned to become the head coach at San Diego State. He was succeeded by offensive coordinator Stan Parrish, who coached the team during the GMAC Bowl and beyond. The Cardinals' home games were played at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.
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With a 12–0 record during the regular season, the Cardinals completed their first perfect regular season since 1949 and their first undefeated season in Mid-American Conference play since 1978. The Cardinals earned their first Mid-American Conference West Championship in program history. The Cardinals chance at perfection ended after an upset loss to Buffalo in the 2008 MAC Championship Game. Ball State concluded the season with a 45–13 loss to Tulsa in the 2009 GMAC Bowl. The game marked the first time in school history Ball State has played in a bowl game in back-to-back seasons.
Outlook
The Cardinals ended the 2007 season with a 7–6 overall record, the Mid-American Conference West Division Co-Championship and the program’s first bowl game in 11 seasons, losing to Rutgers 52–30 in the 2008 International Bowl. Ball State ranked in the top 35 nationally in 2007 in five different categories; turnover margin (4th), passing offense (22nd), passing efficiency (24th), net punting (29th) and total offense (31st). The quarterback of the Ball State offense was Nate Davis who threw for 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions in his 478 pass attempts. The Cardinals returned their starting receiving corps, which helped lead Ball State to be the #1 ranked passing offense in the Mid-American Conference. Wide receiver Dante Love produced nearly 1,400 receiving yards while adding 203 more rushing with eleven touchdowns in 2007. Love also led the Mid-American Conference in three categories; receptions per game (7.7), receiving yards per game (107.5) and all-purpose yards (207). Punter Chris Miller was third in the country in 2007 averaging 45.4 yards per punt last season and was considered to be an All-American candidate. The Cardinals also returned tight end Darius Hill. Considered to be the premier tight end in the Mid-American Conference, Hill averaged 71 yards per game and scored 11 touchdowns last season. Regarding the offensive line, Andre Ramsey, Dan Gerberry and Robert Brewster were each three-year starters that form a solid nucleus along the offensive line. Defensively, the Cardinals ranked just 106th in the nation in rush defense, and allowed 432 yards and 28.3 points per game. The Cardinals did, however, returned eight defensive starters, including six letterman. Returning for the 2008 season were cornerbacks B.J. Hill and Trey Lewis, who both recorded five interceptions in 2007. Defensive end Brandon Crawford had eight sacks in the previous season and linebacker Bryant Haines recorded 125 tackles.
At the Mid-American Conference Football Media Preview in Detroit, the Ball State Cardinals were picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference West Division behind Central Michigan. Central Michigan grabbed 29 of the 36 first-place votes with Ball State receiving five first-place votes and Western Michigan receiving two. Central Michigan totaled 207 points in the preseason poll, while the Cardinals tallied 168.
Roster
70 Applegate, Jordan C 6-5 301 Jr. Sr. Fort Wayne, Ind. (Snider)
67 Arnold, Travis OT 6-8 284 So. Jr. Fort Wayne, Ind. (Snider)
25 Baker, Sean SS 6-1 205 Fr. So. Canfield, Ohio (Canfield)
16 Barajas, Blake DB 6-0 195 Fr. Fr. Upland, Ind. (Eastbrook)
56 Barinaga, Gonzalo DT 6-2 256 Sr. 5Sr. 4L Milwaukee, Wis. (Marquette)
34 Barker, Jeff DE 6-5 215 Fr. Fr. Lowell, Ind. (Lowell)
27 Beane, Trent WR 6-0 195 Fr. Fr. Bloomington, Ind. (North)
59 Beasley, Antonio SLB 6-0 219 Sr. 5Sr. 3L Fort Wayne, Ind. (Northrop)
71 Brewster, Robert OT 6-5 310 Sr. Sr. 4L Cincinnati, Ohio (Wyoming)
11 Brown, Wendell MLB 6-0 214 Sr. 5Sr. 4L Detroit, Mich. (Martin Luther King)
30 Buckingham, John DE 6-1 221 So. Jr. Greenwood, Ind. (Center Grove)
8 Buice, Trey CB 5-10 175 Sr. Sr. 4L Stone Mountain, Ga. (Tucker)
19 Burch, Koreen CB 5-9 162 So. So. 1L Broxton, Ga. (Coffee)
20 Carnegie, Brandon CB 5-11 183 So. So. 1L Novi, Mich. (Novi)
47 Choy, Brendan TE 6-4 247 Fr. So. HS Bradenton, Fla. (Lakewood Ranch)
58 Cole, Adam OT 6-6 278 Sr. 5Sr. 2L Eden Prairie, Minn. (Academy of Holy Angels)
31 Cook, Dane FS 6-0 186 So. Jr. Eaton, Ind. (Delta)
51 Cornwell, Kyle OG 6-4 272 Sr. Sr. 4L New Lenox, Ill. (Providence Catholic)
48 Cosby, Spain MLB 5-11 212 Jr. Jr. 2L Carrollton, Ga. (Villa Rica)
24 Cravens, James HB 5-11 210 Fr. Fr. HS Centerville, Ohio (Centerville)
90 Crawford, Brandon DE 6-3 260 Jr. Sr. 2L Fort Wayne, Ind. (South)
69 Davis, Chad OL 6-3 263 Jr. Sr. HS Pendleton, Ind. (Pendleton Heights)
13 Davis, Nate QB 6-2 217 Jr. Jr. 2L Bellaire, Ohio (Bellaire)
28 Dawson, Andre WR 6-0 172 Fr. Fr. Lewis Center, Ohio (Olentangy)
65 Duffin, Drew DT 6-3 255 Jr. Sr. 2L Avon, Ind. (Avon)
91 Eddins, Robert DE 6-3 224 So. Jr. 1L Detroit, Mich. (Crockett)
2 Edmonds, Frank HB 5-8 181 So. So. 1L Cleveland, Ohio (St. Edward)
78 Gall, Kevin OT 6-5 245 Fr. So. Granger, Ind. (Penn)
14 Garner, Perci QB 6-1 222 So. So. HS Dover, Ohio (Dover)
52 Gerberry, Dan C 6-3 292 Sr. 5Sr. 3L Austintown, Ohio (Austintown Fitch)
80 Gibson, Torieal WR 5-9 165 Fr. Fr. HS Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville)
82 Grant, Madaris TE 6-5 222 Jr. Sr. 2L Cincinnati, Ohio (Mount Healthy)
54 Gray, Jerrod NT 6-3 253 Fr. So. HS Bradley, Ill. (Bourbonnais)
15 Gregory, Jakeem CB 5-9 170 So. Jr. Fort Wayne, Ind. (Snider)
49 Haines, Bryant WLB 6-5 223 Sr. 5Sr. 4L Piqua, Ohio (Piqua)
44 Hartke, Ryan SLB 6-4 200 Fr. So. St. Henry, Ohio (St. Henry)
15 Hemm, Justin QB 5-11 185 Fr. Fr. HS Piqua, Ohio (Piqua)
6 Henry, Derrick FS 6-1 189 So. So. 1L Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Kilbourne)
3 Hill, B.J. CB 5-7 180 Sr. Sr. 4L Lanham, Md. (Riverdale Baptist)
88 Hill, Darius TE 6-6 236 Sr. 5Sr. 4L Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs)
83 Hill, Jeremy WR 6-2 175 Fr. Fr. Marietta, Ga (Marietta)
29 Hogue, Jake PK 5-9 195 So. Jr. 1L Plainfield, Ind. (Plainfield)
23 Hoke, Kyle S 5-11 190 Fr. Fr. HS Sugar Land, Texas (Clements)
77 Holtz, Austin OL 6-5 290 Fr. Fr. Holt, Mich. (Holt)
97 Houston, Jermaine DE 6-4 241 Sr. 5Sr. Newberry, S.C. (Newberry)
46 Howard, Joshua FS 6-1 190 Fr. Fr. Inkster, Mich. (Inkster)
18 Hunt, Michael HB 5-6 170 So. Jr. South Bend, Ind. (Riley)
66 Hunter, Kreg OL 6-3 284 Fr. So. Lebanon, Ind. (Lebanon)
4 Ifft, Daniel WR 6-3 181 So. So. 2L Dover, Ohio (Dover)
57 Jacoby, Ben C 6-2 263 Fr. So. Lawrenceville, Ga. (Buford)
96 Jankowski, Jason DT 6-2 262 So. Jr. Heartland, Wis. (Arrowhead)
81 Johnson, Louis WR 6-1 177 Sr. 5Sr. 4L Muncie, Ind. (Central)
42 Jones, Davyd MLB 6-1 200 So. So. 2L Muncie, Ind. (Central)
18 Jordan, Zac FS 5-10 196 Fr. So. Cincinnati, Ohio (Elder)
17 Justice, Tanner QB 6-3 196 Jr. Sr. Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral)
41 Keller, Sean DB 5-10 185 So. Jr. Malnerville, Ohio (Kings)
76 Kennedy, Rayondon OL 6-2 259 Fr. So. Dolton, Ill. (Mount Carmel)
43 Kilburn, Tad FS 6-0 182 So. Jr. Middletown, Ohio (Monroe)
28 King, Aaron HB 5-10 200 Fr. Fr. HS Saratoga Springs, NY (Carmel)
38 Knipp, Alex SS 6-0 194 Jr. Jr. 2L Amherst, Ohio (Steele)
18 Kovanda, Scott P 6-3 190 Fr. Fr. HS Hartland, Mich. (Detroit Catholic Central)
9 Kuntz, Kyle SS 5-10 193 Jr. Sr. Vandalia, Ohio (Butler)
33 Lewis, MiQuale HB 5-6 184 Jr. Jr. 2L Fort Wayne, Ind. (Snider)
12 Lewis, Trey CB 6-0 190 Sr. 5Sr. 4L Raleigh, N.C. (Ravenscroft)
72 Lowry, Cameron OT 6-6 255 Fr. Fr. HS Indianapolis, Ind. (Pike)
94 Manick, Dan DL 6-4 265 Fr. Fr. HS Dyer, Ind. (Lake Central)
26 McGarvey, Ian PK/P 5-9 210 So. So. 2L Greenwood, Ind. (Center Grove)
99 Meeks, Kenny SLB 6-2 230 Sr. 5Sr. 4L Muncie, Ind. (Central)
35 Miller, Chris P 6-2 211 Sr. 5Sr. 4L Liberty, Ill. (Carmel)
93 Morris, Adam OL 6-0 305 Fr. Fr. HS Dublin, Ohio (Scioto)
53 Muhlenkamp, Cody LS 5-11 203 So. Jr. 2L Coldwater, Ohio (Coldwater)
68 Myers, Devin OT 6-5 260 Fr. Fr. HS Westfield, Ind. (Westfield)
16 Orsbon, Briggs WR 6-0 185 Fr. Fr. HS Convoy, Ohio (Crestview)
21 Overton, Wade WR 6-3 200 Sr. 5Sr. 1L Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence North)
5 Page, Kelly QB 6-3 210 Fr. Fr. HS Sunnyvale, Texas (Mesquite)
95 Perry, Rene NT 5-11 271 So. So. 2L Lake City, Fla. (Columbia)
44 Pettit, Kyle CB 6-2 180 Fr. Fr. HS Sunman, Ind. (East Central)
92 Pitcock, Jafe NT 6-2 262 Fr. So. Piqua, Ohio (Piqua)
41 Puthoff, Andrew DT 6-3 254 Fr. So. St. Henry, Ohio (St. Henry)
79 Ramsey, Andre OT 6-5 304 Sr. Sr. 4L Cordele, Ga. (Crisp County)
36 Rolf, Pete DE 6-4 246 Fr. So. HS Salt Lake City, Utah (Piqua)
15 Scheidt, Reid SS 6-2 195 So. Jr. Lake Village, Ind. (North Newton)
14 Schott, Steven PK 6-1 165 Fr. Fr. HS Massillon, Ohio (Washington)
84 Sharick, Drew TE 6-6 230 Fr. So. Champaign, Ill. (Central)
74 Switzer, Michael OL 6-5 277 So. So. 2L Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence North)
7 Sykes, Cory HB 5-7 155 Fr. Fr. HS Harvey, Ill. (Thornton)
87 Trempe, Myles WR 6-4 202 So. Jr. 1L Springfield, Ohio (St. Paris Graham)
98 Warmoth, Ryan DB 6-1 205 Fr. Fr. HS Mishawaka, Ind. (Mishawaka)
37 White, Rashaad HB 5-9 205 Fr. Fr. HS Rex, Ga. (Stockbridge)
28 Winkler, Ray HB 5-9 182 So. So. South Bend, Ind. (St. Joseph's)
32 Womack, Lorren WLB 6-0 221 Fr. So. Huber Heights, Ohio (Wayne)
85 Woodard, Justin DE 6-3 222 So. Jr. 1L LaGrange, Ga. (Troup County)
64 Woods, Kaylon DT 6-2 254 So. Jr. Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast)
55 Woodworth, Sam WLB 6-2 202 Jr. Sr. Elkhart, Ind. (Central)
63 Yoder, Steve OL 6-3 300 Fr. Fr. HS Canal Fulton, Ohio (Massillon Washington)