FOOTBALL: No more 'almost'
Cardinals attempt to snap winless BCS streak
Ryan Wood
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One of the signs that exemplify the transformation Ball State University's football program has undergone during the past couple seasons is, the way the Cardinals have competed against opponents from power conferences.
Against its last two opponents from power conferences - the University of Nebraska and the University of Michigan - Ball State has lost by less than 10 points and both contests have gone down to the final minutes. Despite the close games, the Cardinals remain 0-39 all-time against teams from one of the six top conferences in the nation - a group that combines to compile the Bowl Championship Series. It's a mark the players said they take personally.
"I don't even want to know that stat," junior punter Chris Miller said. "A lot of fans see that we've been in close games, but it doesn't matter because it wasn't a win. It doesn't matter if we win by one or 50, as long as we come out with a win."
The Cardinals travel to Champaign, Ill., this weekend to play their 36th opponent from a BCS school - the University of Illinois. Ball State senior captain and outside linebacker Cortlan Booker said it's time for his team to finally beat a nationally-renowned program.
"We've been talking about it all year - this season is the start of something brand new," Booker said. "I would like to be a part of the senior class and team that changes that. And if there's any team I've been on that's capable of that, it's this one because we have a lot of character and we have a lot of tough football players."
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Greg Peck
posted 10/26/07 @ 8:13 PM EST
Miami beat Syracuse this year and Toledo beat Iowas State this year. I believe those are both BCS conference schools.
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