FOOTBALL: Cardinals ready for upset against No. 24 Nebraska
Players want to show nation they can play with top schools
Ryan Wood
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When Ball State University travels to Lincoln, Neb., Saturday to play one of the most historical programs in college football, most fans won't be giving the Cardinals a legitimate chance of winning.
Perhaps the ones who will believe Ball State can win will be the players on the Ball State roster. However, Cardinals junior captain and starting center Dan Gerberry said that's all the people his team needs to believe.
"It's not so much who you're playing, it's how you believe you're going to do," Gerberry said. "If you feel like you're going to go up to Nebraska and get your butts kicked, you're going to. But if you feel like you can go out there and compete with them and play to the best of your ability - no matter if it's Nebraska or anybody - you're going to do better."
The Cardinals' morale is already higher than usual after a 34-31 overtime victory at the Naval Academy last Saturday. The win improved Ball State's record to 2-1 for the first time since 1995, the first year Bill Lynch was the coach at Ball State.
For a program that hasn't had a winning record since 1996, sophomore receiver Dante Love said last week's win made his team even hungrier for success.
"Coming off the big win last week gives us a big confidence boost," Love said. "But we're not going to rest on that. Us beating Navy makes us want to come out and play even harder."
The Cardinals have also been able to compete with bigger programs last season. Ball State lost to Indiana University by one point at home and dropped a 34-26 decision at then-No. 2 University of Michigan last season.
Love said one of the reasons the Cardinals have been able to compete well against programs in power conferences is because the players have risen to the challenge.
"I just want to show everybody that I want to play with the best," Love said. "And I think that's the way the other players on this team feel. We're not going to go in and be frightened about a big crowd. I'm really looking forward to this game. I pray I bring my A game."
Perhaps the ones who will believe Ball State can win will be the players on the Ball State roster. However, Cardinals junior captain and starting center Dan Gerberry said that's all the people his team needs to believe.
"It's not so much who you're playing, it's how you believe you're going to do," Gerberry said. "If you feel like you're going to go up to Nebraska and get your butts kicked, you're going to. But if you feel like you can go out there and compete with them and play to the best of your ability - no matter if it's Nebraska or anybody - you're going to do better."
The Cardinals' morale is already higher than usual after a 34-31 overtime victory at the Naval Academy last Saturday. The win improved Ball State's record to 2-1 for the first time since 1995, the first year Bill Lynch was the coach at Ball State.
For a program that hasn't had a winning record since 1996, sophomore receiver Dante Love said last week's win made his team even hungrier for success.
"Coming off the big win last week gives us a big confidence boost," Love said. "But we're not going to rest on that. Us beating Navy makes us want to come out and play even harder."
The Cardinals have also been able to compete with bigger programs last season. Ball State lost to Indiana University by one point at home and dropped a 34-26 decision at then-No. 2 University of Michigan last season.
Love said one of the reasons the Cardinals have been able to compete well against programs in power conferences is because the players have risen to the challenge.
"I just want to show everybody that I want to play with the best," Love said. "And I think that's the way the other players on this team feel. We're not going to go in and be frightened about a big crowd. I'm really looking forward to this game. I pray I bring my A game."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
kyle
posted 9/21/07 @ 3:08 PM EST
I think Husker fans are looking at this game as being a similar game to the game earlier this year against Nevada, and I think that's a mistake on our part. (Continued…)
Don Neburn
posted 9/21/07 @ 4:04 PM EST
Hi Folks:
As a native Nebraskan I would consider it a blessing for Ball State to upset the Huskers. New (4 years ago) Athletic Director Steve Pederson has been a tremendously polarizing individual in the disrespectful treatment of former coach Frank Solich and his disdain for fan consideration that anything that might hasten his departure from the state of Nebraska would be welcome news to many of us. (Continued…)
Tim
posted 9/21/07 @ 4:31 PM EST
Don Newburn
Please do us a favor and never metion your name and the state of Nebraska in the same breath ever again. You are entitled to your opinions about the AD and Solich and anything else you may have a problem with, but to carry that over to hoping the team fails is horrible and shows that you sir, are no fan of Nebraska. (Continued…)
Ross
posted 9/21/07 @ 4:36 PM EST
Don-
Did you really have to list Oregon as your home state on this post?
As a Nebraska fan (that is also an Oregonian)I'm embarrassed of you and your comments on a few different levels. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 9/21/07 @ 8:07 PM EST
Tim and Ross... thank you for your voices of reason.
Don Neburn... I agree with Tim completely. To voice your dislike for an administrator is one thing, but as a FAN, to actually hope the team you root for loses is just insane. (Continued…)
Bill
posted 9/21/07 @ 11:05 PM EST
I hope we come out and just try to improve every week. Yes we had a very bad game against USC but I have been a Husker fan since birth and just because we have had a down five years is not going to change me to root for anything but a dominant Husker victory. (Continued…)
Randy
posted 9/22/07 @ 6:21 AM EST
Upset ain't going to happen. Ball St is going to get run out of town. This is a good Nebraska team. USC just had too much firepower. We were ahead half-way through
the 2nd quarter. (Continued…)
Bret Van Arsdale
posted 9/22/07 @ 10:04 AM EST
Don Neburn , you my friend are a Jack-ass, So you are a Native of Nebraska? I doubt it, Ive never in all my 48 years heard a true native Husker fan wish for an embarassing upset to try and settle a score, However I do agree with a New Coaching staff. (Continued…)
Rhonda
posted 9/22/07 @ 11:38 AM EST
Yikes!!
Only Husker fans posting on the Ball State University web site.
That poor man from Oregon being disparaged for his comments. I was surprised that Oregon used gas and not some other ecologially friendly stuff. (Continued…)
Nicole
posted 9/23/07 @ 6:47 PM EST
I am a Nebraska native (well, if living there for 20 years counts) AND a Ball State alum. I personally would have liked to have seen BSU whip up on NU. (Continued…)
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