All things considered, 2005 wasn't really that bad.
Ball State finished the season near the bottom in every meaningful statistical category imaginable with the defense allowing a MAC-worst 459 yards and 37.8 points per game and the offense, hurt mostly by a young offensive line that tied with Buffalo for the most sacks allowed in America, was never consistent and averaged a mere 288 yards and 21.18 points per game.
The lack of production on both sides of the ball can be blamed on one thing: a textbook. While the program never made excuses, the season wasn't anywhere what it could've been after 16 players were suspended for several games throughout the first part of the season because of a book loan program that turned out to be a violation of NCAA rules.
Even with all of last year's issues, the team was competitive in MAC play beating title game participants Northern Illinois and Akron and coming within an overtime loss of Central Michigan of finishing a very respectable 5-6. There aren't any excuses this season for not having a big year with 17 returning starters including ten on offense led by potential All-MAC QB Joey Lynch.
For a program that hasn't had a winning season since 1996 and has only ten wins in the three-year Brady Hoke era, it's not exactly the time to get greedy and start shooting for the MAC title, but there's no reason this can't be one of the league's sleeper teams as it does some damage throughout the season like Central Michigan and Western Michigan did last year. Can Ball State be this year's Akron? No, it's still too young a team to make that kind of leap in a division with Northern Illinois and Toledo, but expect this to be a fun season with a lot more scoring and plenty of close, competitive games leading the way to what should be a fantastic 2007.
The Schedule: It's good early and nasty late with four of the first five games at home and then a brutal run of five road games in six before finishing up against Kent State. The Cardinals get a huge break getting Buffalo and Kent State from the MAC East and get top West teams Northern Illinois and Western Michigan at home. However, they'd better count on a late season swoon playing at Miami University, at Michigan and at Toledo over a three game span.
What you need to know on offense ... Early suspension, no stability on the line, and too many young, inexperienced players contributed to a disastrous season finishing 106th in the nation in total offense averaging 299 yards and 21 points per game. Fortunately, ten starters return helped immensely by a line that should be night-and-day better now that tackles Andre Ramsey and Robert Brewster aren't true freshmen anymore. Joey Lynch has the potential to be one of the MAC's better quarterbacks with a good receiving corps to throw to. There's no power in the backfield, but speed backs B.J. Hill and Larry Bostic can be effective if they get room to run.
Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Joey Lynch. He was running for his life behind a porous offensive line and still managed to come up with an effective year. He's an ultra-efficient passer who doesn't make mistakes with only nine interceptions in 25 career games. He's not going to run for any significant yards, but he's a perfect veteran to lead this experienced, but still young, offense to a better season.
What you need to know on defense ... This was one of the nation's worst defenses last year unable to do any one thing particularly well. There's hope for improvement with a good, deep linebacking corps returning and two excellent safeties in Erik Keys and Trey Lewis. The big problems are on the line and at corner. It's a big front four, but it has to generate some semblance of a pass rush to help out the average pass defense. Corners Trey Buice and Ricky Rakestraw can move, but they still have to prove they can cover.
Best Defensive Player: Senior SS Erik Keys. He's limited in pass coverage and might not be the best playmaker around, but he's a solid veteran against the run and a tone-setting hitter when he gets someone in his sights. He'll combine with Trey Lewis to form one of the MAC's better safety tandems.
Key player to a successful season: Senior NT Tom Kellar. The run defense got shoved all over the place last season allowing 202 yards per game. Kellar is a 303-pound strong senior who hasn't done anything yet for a variety of reasons. He was one of the suspended players last year, but now he'll be expected to grow into a rock on the nose providing an anchor the defense desperately needs.
The season will be a success if ... Ball State comes up with six wins. If the team can go 4-7 last year with all the problems, then an extra two victories this year with so many returning veterans is a more-than-attainable goal. To get there, there needs to be a few upsets along the way and a huge start with all the top home games over the first half of the season.
Key game: August 31st vs. Eastern Michigan. The Cardinals didn't win their first game last season until mid-October and didn't win their second game until almost November. Getting off to a great start with a win over a West Division foe like Eastern Michigan is a must; they can't afford to give away any home games.
2005 Fun Stats:
- Second quarter scoring: Opponents 144 - Ball State 44
- Sacks: Opponents 43 for 245 yards - Ball State 16 for 99 yards
- Yards per carry: Opponents 5.0 - Ball State 2.9
The Last Time Ball State …
…played in a bowl game…1996 (Las Vegas Bowl vs. Nevada)
…missed a bowl game…2005
…pitched a shutout…2000 (UConn)
…was shutout…2005 (Boston College)
…scored 50 points…2005 (Western Michigan)
…went undefeated…1965
…won a conference title…1996 (MAC)
…had a 3,000-yard passer…Never
…had a 1,000-yard rusher…2002 (Marcus Merriweather)
…had a 1,000-yard receiver…2004 (Dante Ridgeway)
…had a first-round draft choice…Never
