Final Football Release and Statistics
January 10, 2007 | Football
Ball State Cardinals (5-7; MAC 5-3)
Final Football Release
***** Scheumann Stadium *****
Ball State's game vs. Kent State was the Cardinals final game in Scheumann Stadium prior to renovations scheduled to be completed prior to the 2007 season. The renovations will include:
? Enclosing of the North End with a Grass Seating Area
? Larger and Improved Communications Center
? Club Level Seating with Access to Restrooms & Concessions
? 16 Individual Entertainment Suites
? New Restroom Facilities
? New Concessions Areas
? New Ticket Office
? Improved Disabled Accessibility
? Brick & Wrought Iron Fencing to Match Existing Facilities
? A new synthetic grass playing surface
Television:
Ball State had seven games televised this season, while an eighth game could be seen on the internet via ESPN 360 . . . The Cardinals played in front of national television audiences at Michigan on ESPNU and at Toledo on ESPN2 . . . In addition, Ball State had four games televised on Comcast Local in Muncie, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and parts of Michigan, while the Cardinals game at Miami University was televised by Ohio Sports News.
Radio: All of Ball State's football games were broadcast on the Ball State Radio Network . . . WLBC FM 104.1 was in its 51st year as the flagship station for the Cardinals . . . In addition, the games in 2006 could be heard on ESPN 950 in Indianapolis and ESPN 1380 in Fort Wayne . . . Morry Mannies completed his 51st year as the "Voice of the Cardinals" . . . Former Ball State quarterback and punter Mark O'Connell provided the color commentary . . . Jaime Lemna handled the sideline duties at all Ball State home games . . . The games could also be heard on BSU's student radio station WCRD-FM 91.3.
Ball State Head Coach Brady Hoke: Brady Hoke (Ball State ?82) completed his fourth season as the head coach at Ball State and his fourth year as a collegiate head coach in 2006 . . . Hoke was one of 18 NCAA Division IA head coaches coaching at their alma mater in 2006 . . . Hoke signed a contract extension during the 2006 season, and is signed to be the head coach at Ball State through the 2010 season . . . Hoke guided the 2006 team to a 5-3 Mid-American Conference mark, the Cardinals best record in his four seasons . . . The five wins overall were also a season best in Hoke's four campaigns at Ball State.
Academically Speaking: In the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR), Ball State's football team scored a 945 out of 1,000 points, which ranked as the best score among the NCAA Division IA public institutions in the state . . . In addition, the 945 score was the second best of the 12 Mid-American Conference schools . . . Ball State had 16 of its 19 intercollegiate programs score a 980 or better, which was the most of any MAC school . . . The 16 was also better than any other NCAA Division IA institutions in the state of Indiana.
Among the MAC's Finest: Since Ball State joined the MAC and played its first football season in 1975, no MAC school has won more outright conference titles than Ball State . . . The Cardinals have won five MAC Championships -- 1976, 1978, 1989, 1993 and 1996 -- since joining the league . . . Toledo has won five MAC titles since 1975, while Miami University and Bowling Green have won four apiece.
* Ball State posted five Mid-American Conference wins in a season for the first time since the 1996 campaign.
* Ball State posted a winning record in Mid-American Conference action for the first time since the 2001 season.
* Ball State finished tied for third in the MAC's West Division, which is the best finish for the Cardinals since the 2001 campaign when Ball State tied for first in the West.
* Ball State ended the season with a two-game winning streak for the first time since the 1997 season.
* Ball State ended its season with three wins in its final four games for the second straight season.
* Ball State lost to three teams from the Big Ten Conference by a combined 19 points.
* Ball State won at Toledo for the first time since 1991, and posted the victory in front of a nationally televised ESPN2 audience.
* Ball State came within eight points of defeating the nation's No. 2 Michigan Wolverines, and led 9-7 after the first quarter in front of a school-record crowd of 109,359 fans.
* Ball State played seven games on television -- including two on national television on ESPNU and ESPN2 -- and an eighth game that was shown on ESPN 360.
* Ball State posted a 3-1 record in Mid-American Conference road games, including wins at Miami University, at Toledo and at Buffalo.
* Ball State set single-season school records for most yards passing, most passes completed, most touchdown passes thrown and most first downs passing.