Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Eastern Kentucky
Game Day Central: Ball State Hosts Eastern Kentucky in Home Opener
September 14, 2016 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State football team is eager to get back on the field after a disappointing loss at Indiana last weekend. The Cardinals welcome Eastern Kentucky to Scheumann Stadium Saturday afternoon as part of Ball State's Family Weekend.
Saturday's game will be broadcast digitally on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app. Radio coverage will be on the flagship station, WLBC 104.1 FM, as well as WXNT 1430 AM. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
Ball State has won six consecutive home openers by an average of 14.3 points. This is the first time the Cardinals and EKU have met on the gridiron since 1970. The two teams also met in the 1967 Grantland Rice Bowl in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Ball State will debut a new red helmet in the home opener. This will be the first time the Cardinals have worn red helmets since 1970. From 1971 through 2013, the Cardinals exclusively wore a white helmet adorned with a Cardinal head logo. A black helmet was introduced in 2014.
Turnovers will be a big point of emphasis for Ball State this week. Overall, Ball State has turned the ball over five times in two games. However the Ball State defense has held the opposition to just 13 points off those five turnovers. Ball State's top three tacklers through two games are the three starting linebackers. Senior LB Aaron Taylor tied his career high with 13 tackles last week at Indiana.
Eastern Kentucky is coming off a 55-14 win over Pikeville, an NAIA program. The Colonels returned three interceptions for touchdowns against Pikeville. EKU, an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team, has a win over Miami as well as close losses to Indiana, Louisville and Kansas State in recent years.
For the most up-to-date news on the football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
