FOOTBALL: Painful and ugly
Chippewas obliterate Cards' defense in humiliating fashion
Ryan Wood
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Through the first five games of the 2007 season, it appeared the Ball State University football team was headed toward its most successful season in more than a decade.
After a 58-38 loss to the Mid-American Conference West Division defending champions Central Michigan University on Saturday - a defeat that left the Cardinals with a 3-3 record through the first half of the year - it's unclear where the program is headed. Following the game, Ball State coach Brady Hoke said he took full responsibility for the loss.
"I feel very discouraged, and that's my fault," Hoke said. "I've got to do a better job, as the head coach of this program, in making sure the team is better prepared. I don't think we played with aggression, and they did. We've got to execute better when we get the opportunities."
Though Hoke was critical of all aspects of the team, he said he was most concerned about the play of the defense.
"[Thirty-eight points] should be enough to win," Hoke said.
The Chippewas' 58 points were the most ever scored against Ball State at Scheumann Stadium, eclipsing the previous mark of 49 points allowed to Miami University in 2003. Central Michigan also had 659 offensive yards, the most yards Ball State has ever allowed an opponent at home.
Hoke, who calls the majority of the defensive plays, said it was time for the defense to get back to the basics.
"We've got to get back to work with some fundamentals," Hoke said.
Hoke said the most concerning aspect of his team's play was the mental mistakes it continually made. The Cardinals' defense was called for an illegal substitution penalty, a roughing the passer penalty on a third-down incompletion and a personal foul for a late hit out of bounds.
Most troubling for Hoke was the constant confusion in the defensive secondary. Multiple times the defensive backs were late getting into their coverage, resulting in big plays for the Chippewas' offense.
The most blatant breakdown came on Central Michigan's first touchdown of the third quarter, when no one lined up against Chippewas' receiver Bryan Anderson. Anderson ran down the left sidelines uncovered and caught a 39-yard touchdown pass.
"On that play we were all looking to the sideline trying to get our defense in," cornerback B.J. Hill said. "They just caught us not ready, and they got a touchdown on it."
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 9
Bah
posted 10/08/07 @ 12:29 AM EST
The BSU defense was a disgrace on Saturday they gave up big plays and were slacking the whole game. Towards the end of the game you could see they just didn't care anymore ! Absolutely despicable play and attitude from the BSU defense!
Also Brady Hoke must have some weird fetish with field goals because when BSU was down by 20 with 21 mins still left in the game he was playing for field goals not TDs. (Continued…)
BSU Football
posted 10/08/07 @ 8:45 AM EST
It wasn't that the defense was slacking as much as they were physically fatigued. At the end of the 1Q, Central is sprinting to the other end of the field to huddle up and BSU is just walking. (Continued…)
Um Ok
posted 10/08/07 @ 9:33 AM EST
Excuses don't win football games this lose lays on the BSU defense and coach Hoke's terrible calls.
cedarpointer
posted 10/08/07 @ 10:27 AM EST
This is just a bad loss, we will rebound and get back to winning on Saturday!
Ball State was not the only team upset this weekend!!
BSU will come back and beat WKU!! for a nice 40+ point put up for our homecomming crowd!
Levin T. Black
posted 10/08/07 @ 11:32 AM EST
Just to clarify Hoke does call the defenses plays, so who ever said he doesn't isn't informed. Now its quuestionable whether a head coach should be running around trying to signal in plays rather than just managing the game. (Continued…)
Marooned
posted 10/08/07 @ 9:31 PM EST
At least the defense is better than last season. Central is a good team and will probably win the MAC. Hoke should call the defensive plays because he is the best defensive coach. (Continued…)
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