Ball State University
Missouri State
Cardinals Prep For Saturday's Season Opener At Scheumann Stadium
September 02, 2024 | Football
| Ball State (0-0, 0-0 MAC) vs. Missouri State (0-1, 0-0 MVFC) | |
| Game 1 - vs. Missouri State | Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2:00 p.m. |
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MUNCIE, Ind. -- Opening the college football season at home for the first time since 2021, the Ball State football program prepares this week to begin its 100th season while hosting Missouri State at Scheumann Stadium, in a home opener sponsored by the Army ROTC. The first 1,000 fans receive free t-shirts to celebrate the Cardinals 100th season.
The 100th anniversary of Ball State's first season in 1924 coincides with the 100th season on the field, given that the Cardinals didn't field a team in 1943 due to World War II. Season-long celebrations of the 100th season will be displayed at Scheumann Stadium this season.
While the 2023 Cardinals had a revolving QB rotation and a midseason shift in schemes, the 2024 Cardinals look to be more explosive behind redshirt freshman QB Kadin Semonza and a deep receiving unit behind standouts Justin Bowick, Qian Magwood and Ty Robinson; and tight end Tanner Koziol. Added to the mix behind new offensive coordinator Jared Elliott are FCS All-America running back Braedon Sloan, returning RB Vaughn Pemberton and the most experienced offensive line in the Mid-American Conference. The offense hopes to sustain drives and score points under the leadership of coordinator and tight ends coach Jared Elliott, who was elevated from co-offensive coordinator last season.
Ball State's calling card while splitting its last six games last year was its defense, allowing just 15.2 points per game down the stretch. Top tackler Keionte Newson returns to lead the charge, though he is joined by a host of new faces under coordinator Jeff Knowles.
Special teams units are led by sophomore placekicker Jackson Courville, whose consistency won him the job as a true freshman last season. Experienced long-snapper Tucker Dunn also returns and grad transfer Brian Cooey Jr., is expected to handle punt duties.
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WHAT A WIN MEANS:
The Cardinals will begin the season 1-0, while winning their home opener for the 14th time in the past 15 tries. The only blemish in that stretch was a 2022 loss to Western Michigan.
Ball State will have defeated a team from the Missouri Valley Football Conference in each of the past four seasons.Â
Mike Neu will capture his 38th victory as head coach of his alma mater to move past Ray Louthen (1962-67) and Bill Lynch (1995-02) with the fifth-most career coaching wins at Ball State. Neu was Lynch's QB during the 1990-92 seasons as QB coach and offensive coordinator.
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BY THE NUMBERS:
9 -Â Kadin Semonza made his college debut at Kentucky & Georgia last year. Ball State ran at least nine plays in 5 of his first 6 series vs UK/UGA.
81 -Â Keionte Newson paced the Cardinals with 81 tackles over 12 games last year. He averaged 7.3 stops over Ball State's final 11 games.
100 -Â The 100th year of Ball State football coincides with the 100th anniversary of its first season in 1924. The all-time record: 476-456-32.
117 -Â An experienced offensive line boasts 117 career starts which ranks 12th among all FBS teams.
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