Ball State University Athletics
2017 Senior Class /
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Football Season Preview: Time to #TBTM
August 26, 2017 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State football team has one goal in mind for the 2017 season and it is shown in its social media hash tag – #TBTM, short for 'Take Back the MAC.'
Mike Neu, a Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame quarterback in the early 1990s, is now in his second year at the helm of the Cardinals. He definitely believes Ball State is headed in the right direction.
"I've said it many times, I'm very optimistic because we were in five close games last year during conference play," Neu said. "I know we can correct our own problems and mistakes that we had. We ran the ball really well and we return three offensive linemen, which is exciting. Defensively, we return our top sack production guy."
Headlining the offensive attack is junior running back James Gilbert, who also happens to have his name on the initial watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is given annually to America's College Player of the Year. Gilbert piled up 1,332 rushing yards last fall, the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player.
Expect Gilbert to have another solid season thanks to a veteran offensive line. Returning in the trenches are senior captain Vinnie Palazeti, junior guard Alex Joss and junior tackle Kadin Booker. The Cardinals averaged 220 rushing yards per game in 2016, their highest average since 1978.
The key to Ball State's offense taking the step from good to explosive will be the play from quarterback Riley Neal. Now in his third year at quarterback, Neal tossed 16 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions in 2015, but only 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last year. A local product from Yorktown High School, Neal had to sit out the spring practice season while recovering from an injury.
"I expect that position to play at a high level all of the time," Neu said. "[Riley's] worked his tail off all off-season. It's good to see him back out here at full speed and taking on more of a leadership role. I think he has embraced that and worked hard at it."
On the other side of the ball, expect the defensive line to be one of the better units in the MAC. Senior end Anthony Winbush was an all-conference honoree in 2016 after ranking third in the league in sacks (8.5). Fellow senior and team captain Kevin Willis is now in his third year anchoring the interior of the line.
There are lots of holes to fill in the linebacker and defensive backfield units as all five of Ball State's top tacklers from 2016 have graduated. However, the coaching staff brought in nearly 40 freshmen to preseason camp to compete for those positions. Ball State's 2017 signing class was rated second highest in the MAC by 247Sports.
"Yes, we are putting some high hopes and high expectations on those young players, but it will be interesting here in training camp to see how those position battles sort out," Neu said. "What excites me is just the confidence level, the swagger, the belief these young men have that they are going to be on the field. That creates competition for all positions and competition makes everybody better."
Special teams has been one of Ball State's areas of strength the last several years and should be rock solid again this fall. Junior placekicker Morgan Hagee is one of the more accurate kickers in the league. He ranked fourth in the MAC in field goal percentage (78.9) a year ago, highlighted by making eight of his final nine attempts in 2016.
The punting role should be filled by true freshman Nathan Snyder whose father played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts in the late 1980s.
Ball State has six home games on the 2017 schedule. City of Muncie Day is slated for the home opener on Sept. 9 against UAB. Homecoming on Oct. 21 should be an exciting contest against MAC foe Central Michigan. Last year's game between the two teams went down to the final minute before CMU pulled out a 24-21 victory.
Preseason MAC favorite Toledo will visit Scheumann Stadium on Thursday night, Oct. 26. The Cardinals wrap up the regular season at home right before Thanksgiving on Nov. 21 against Miami. The two teams will be playing for a newly created 'Red Bird Rivalry' trophy, as mascots of both teams are red birds.
Coach Neu believes this could be a magical year for the Cardinals. Who knows? Maybe the Red Bird Rivalry trophy will be the first of three trophy games for Ball State. The MAC Championship game is set for Dec. 2 and several bowl bids are up for grabs in late December.
"I'm an optimistic guy," Neu said. "I love our football team. It's amazing what can be accomplished when you put your nose down and go to work each and every week to put the best game plan together to give your guys a chance to have success on game day."
In other words, it's time for Ball State to #TBTM.
Mike Neu, a Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame quarterback in the early 1990s, is now in his second year at the helm of the Cardinals. He definitely believes Ball State is headed in the right direction.
"I've said it many times, I'm very optimistic because we were in five close games last year during conference play," Neu said. "I know we can correct our own problems and mistakes that we had. We ran the ball really well and we return three offensive linemen, which is exciting. Defensively, we return our top sack production guy."
Headlining the offensive attack is junior running back James Gilbert, who also happens to have his name on the initial watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is given annually to America's College Player of the Year. Gilbert piled up 1,332 rushing yards last fall, the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player.
Expect Gilbert to have another solid season thanks to a veteran offensive line. Returning in the trenches are senior captain Vinnie Palazeti, junior guard Alex Joss and junior tackle Kadin Booker. The Cardinals averaged 220 rushing yards per game in 2016, their highest average since 1978.
The key to Ball State's offense taking the step from good to explosive will be the play from quarterback Riley Neal. Now in his third year at quarterback, Neal tossed 16 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions in 2015, but only 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last year. A local product from Yorktown High School, Neal had to sit out the spring practice season while recovering from an injury.
"I expect that position to play at a high level all of the time," Neu said. "[Riley's] worked his tail off all off-season. It's good to see him back out here at full speed and taking on more of a leadership role. I think he has embraced that and worked hard at it."
On the other side of the ball, expect the defensive line to be one of the better units in the MAC. Senior end Anthony Winbush was an all-conference honoree in 2016 after ranking third in the league in sacks (8.5). Fellow senior and team captain Kevin Willis is now in his third year anchoring the interior of the line.
There are lots of holes to fill in the linebacker and defensive backfield units as all five of Ball State's top tacklers from 2016 have graduated. However, the coaching staff brought in nearly 40 freshmen to preseason camp to compete for those positions. Ball State's 2017 signing class was rated second highest in the MAC by 247Sports.
"Yes, we are putting some high hopes and high expectations on those young players, but it will be interesting here in training camp to see how those position battles sort out," Neu said. "What excites me is just the confidence level, the swagger, the belief these young men have that they are going to be on the field. That creates competition for all positions and competition makes everybody better."
Special teams has been one of Ball State's areas of strength the last several years and should be rock solid again this fall. Junior placekicker Morgan Hagee is one of the more accurate kickers in the league. He ranked fourth in the MAC in field goal percentage (78.9) a year ago, highlighted by making eight of his final nine attempts in 2016.
The punting role should be filled by true freshman Nathan Snyder whose father played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts in the late 1980s.
Ball State has six home games on the 2017 schedule. City of Muncie Day is slated for the home opener on Sept. 9 against UAB. Homecoming on Oct. 21 should be an exciting contest against MAC foe Central Michigan. Last year's game between the two teams went down to the final minute before CMU pulled out a 24-21 victory.
Preseason MAC favorite Toledo will visit Scheumann Stadium on Thursday night, Oct. 26. The Cardinals wrap up the regular season at home right before Thanksgiving on Nov. 21 against Miami. The two teams will be playing for a newly created 'Red Bird Rivalry' trophy, as mascots of both teams are red birds.
Coach Neu believes this could be a magical year for the Cardinals. Who knows? Maybe the Red Bird Rivalry trophy will be the first of three trophy games for Ball State. The MAC Championship game is set for Dec. 2 and several bowl bids are up for grabs in late December.
"I'm an optimistic guy," Neu said. "I love our football team. It's amazing what can be accomplished when you put your nose down and go to work each and every week to put the best game plan together to give your guys a chance to have success on game day."
In other words, it's time for Ball State to #TBTM.
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