The Ball State Daily News Online

Section: SPORTS
Originally published: 11/19/08 at 12:51 AM EST
Last update: 11/19/08 at 12:49 AM EST

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Everything they did, every place they went, every second last offseason, Ball State University's football players had two words etched in their minds.

Central Michigan.

The Cardinals' 58-38 loss to the Chippewas last year left a bitter taste. It pushed the players in the weight room. It was the motivation behind each wind sprint they ran in summer conditioning.

"It was embarrassing the way they came out and just dominated us," fifth-year senior center and offensive captain Dan Gerberry said. "That's something I've had to live with the last year. It's something I'm not proud of. It's something I won't forget."

More than a year after that 20-point defeat, Ball State's players will see if their hard work will come to fruition. The No. 17 Cardinals kick off against Central Michigan University at 7 p.m. tonight in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Both teams are 6-0 in the Mid-American Conference, and the winner will have the inside track to represent the West Division in the conference's title game.

"This will be the biggest game I've ever played in," Gerberry said. "You can't make it any less than it is."

Ball State coach Brady Hoke is no stranger to big games. Hoke was an assistant coach for eight seasons at the University of Michigan, which participates in perhaps college football's greatest rivalry against Ohio State University.

Hoke said coaches often have to decrease their players' intensity in practices during the week before a rivalry game.

"You don't have to coach quite as hard," Hoke said. "It usually takes care of itself, and that's what we'll find out with this team. We've got a lot of guys who have played a lot of football, so I think they understand that."

The Chippewas are two-time defending champions in the MAC. They have a 19-2 conference record dating to the 2006 season.

This year half of the Chippewas' conference wins have come by a combined six points. They had a 30-6 lead midway through the third quarter against Northern Illinois University in their last game, only to have the Huskies come back and force overtime.

Even though Central Michigan has shown signs of weakness throughout the season, Gerberry said, he isn't taking his opponent lightly.

"They're not vulnerable at all," Gerberry said. "They've beat the crap out of us the last four years I've been here. All that matters is if you win or lose the game. They've had some tough games, but what team hasn't?"

Gerberry could look within to find the answer to his question.

Ball State won every game this season by at least 12 points on its way to a perfect 10-0 record and national ranking. It's had the lead after 38 of the 40 quarters it's played. The other two quarters have ended in 0-0 ties.

But Gerberry insists the Cardinals are the underdogs tonight.

"To put us in their category is not fair to them," Gerberry said. "They should be ranked [16th] if we're [17th] in the nation. They've proven that they're better than us over the last four or five years. This is a game where we need to go out and try to change that."

In action
Ball State atCentral Michigan
Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Broadcast:
ESPN2 (Ch. 24)
WCRD (91.3 FM)

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