2008 Woodie Awards
FOOTBALL: BSU gets 97 votes in AP Poll and moves to No. 25
Cards improve record to 6-0 for first time since 1965
Ryan Wood
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That milestone was reached Sunday when the Cardinals received 97 votes to jump to No. 25 in The Associated Press Poll. Hoke called the ranking flattering, but his tone didn't change in regards to its significance.
"It never even entered my mind," Hoke said of being ranked this week. "We're just trying to be a team that cares about each other, plays hard and leans on each other when we have to. [We want] to be successful and win this conference."
Following a 31-0 victory at the University of Toledo on Saturday, Ball State received one more vote than University of Wisconsin when the poll was released Sunday. The Cardinals are also ranked ahead of such teams as the University of Notre Dame, Florida State University and the University of Illinois, which played in the Rose Bowl last season.
The Cardinals have the fourth-highest rank among the nation's mid-major programs, behind No. 9 Brigham Young University, No. 14 University of Utah and No. 15 Boise State University. Ball State leaped in front of Western Athletic Conference member Fresno State University after the Bulldogs lost 32-29 in overtime to the University of Hawai'i on Saturday.
"I think it really speaks on our guys playing as a team right now," Hoke said. "They've been preparing very well every week, and we've been fortunate enough to be on the right side of the win-loss column."
J.P. Giglio, who covers the Atlantic Coast Conference for the News and Observer, was the first AP voter to vote for Ball State this season. Giglio was the only person to vote the Cardinals into the top 25 three weeks ago, and he ranked them No. 19 this week.
"It's a question of do you vote for two-loss Wisconsin or unbeaten Ball State," Giglio said. "People try to reward teams for being undefeated."
Hoke hadn't met with his players when he talked with media members during a 4:15 p.m. conference call Sunday. He said his primary goal was to keep his players focused on Saturday's opponent, Western Kentucky University.
"This is a long football season, and we've got six more football games to play," Hoke said. "We've got a lot of work to do, and we've got the real teeth of our schedule starting this week."
Weekend milestones
- First national ranking
- Best start to season since 1965
- Best start to the MAC since 1993
- Back to back six-win seasons for the first time since 1995-96
- Bowl eligible
- First shutout since 2000
All-time rankings
The football team became the seventh Ball State sport to be nationally ranked. Below are the highest rankings for the seven teams.
No. 5 Men's volleyball: 1995, 1987
No. 6 Field hockey: 1992
No. 15 Men's basketball: 2001
No. 20 Men's tennis: 1990
No. 25 Football: 2008
No. 66 Women's tennis: 2002
No. 98 Women's golf: 2008
AP Poll
The Associated Press Poll has 65 voters, who each release a weekly top 25 poll. These polls are combined to form the AP Poll. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, while a 25th-place vote is worth one point.
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Missouri
4. LSU
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Texas Tech
8. USC
9. BYU
10. Georgia
11. Florida
12. Ohio State
13. Vanderbilt
14. Utah
15. Boise State
16. Kansas
17. Oklahoma St.
18. Virginia Tech
19. S. Florida
20. Auburn
21. Wake Forest
22. N. Carolina
23. Michigan St.
24. Pittsburgh
25. Ball State
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 14
Tolu Olowomeye
posted 10/06/08 @ 7:45 AM EST
Great job, Cardinals! As an `03 alumnus and committed fan of BSU sports, I am glad these hardworking young men are receiving their due on the national stage!!!
Hold on
posted 10/06/08 @ 11:34 AM EST
Too bad the BCS rankings don't use the AP Top 25. BSU is still 29 in the Coaches' poll.
jplescher
posted 10/06/08 @ 2:56 PM EST
hey jerry,
Piss on the GMAC bowel!
WE WANT MORE! BIGGER BOWEL!
TC dont settle for the GMAC bowel this year DO NOT DO IT!
Thom Cook
posted 10/06/08 @ 3:14 PM EST
Congratulations to Coach Hoke and the BSU team on their first-ever AP Poll ranking. You've got the entire Los Angeles-area alumni behind you. Perhaps now that biased, yellow-journalism rag of a paper called the Indianapolis Star will finally begin to pay attention to a team and university that deserves more than a forth-page mention. (Continued…)
David Knott
posted 10/06/08 @ 3:42 PM EST
Great front page today, DN. Congratulations to you and to our top 25 Cardinals.
kyle
posted 10/06/08 @ 4:04 PM EST
if we win the MAC, we won't go to the GMAC bowl. we should go to the Motor City Bowl, if not a better one.
G
posted 10/06/08 @ 5:13 PM EST
Isn't the GMAC Bowl of a higher significance than the Motor City bowl anyway? Dear God, just please don't make us play in Detroit. I'll go to the game no matter where it is, but hopefully it will be someplace fun and warm. (Continued…)
kyle
posted 10/07/08 @ 1:10 AM EST
if they are of equal importance and they alternate each year...how did central michigan win the conference 2 years straight and go to the Motor City Bowl 2 years straight? cause they are closer. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 10/07/08 @ 9:36 AM EST
As an '02 Grad and student during the infamous 21 game losing streak. I am excited and proud of what the Cardinal football team as accomplished the last couple years. (Continued…)
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