Brian Manzullo

The CMU football team knows how tumultuous and gut-wrenching the journey is to a division championship.

In 2006, it overcame a freezing November rainstorm at Kelly/Shorts Stadium to beat rival Western Michigan 31-7 and clinch its first Mid-American Conference West Division title.

The following year, it took receiver Bryan Anderson’s over-the-shoulder catch at the 1-yard line and a frenzied push into the end zone to overcome a furious WMU comeback at Kalamazoo’s Waldo Stadium.

Although the Chippewas are 8-2 overall and 6-0 in the conference, no MAC win came easy this year. They endured games that came down to a fumble in their end zone (Sept. 13 vs. Ohio), a field goal kick off their right goal post (Sept. 27 vs. Buffalo) and an overtime boot that sailed 40 yards through the uprights in the foggy night (Nov. 12 at NIU).

Now, CMU is one win away from a third consecutive MAC West title. And at 7 p.m. today, in front of a national audience on ESPN2 and in the arctic Kelly/Shorts Stadium atmosphere, it faces its toughest challenge yet.

The division, this year, will go through No. 14 Ball State, the highest-ranked football team to enter Mount Pleasant. The Cardinals (10-0 overall, 6-0 MAC), under the direction of sixth-year coach Brady Hoke and seasoned quarterback Nate Davis, are beating opponents by an average of more than 22 points per game.

And they are bringing vivid memories of last season’s 58-38 home loss to CMU with them.

“It goes without saying,” said senior quarterback Brian Brunner. “We have the highest ranked team in Kelly/Shorts history coming in here. (Ball State) has had a phenomenal year; there’s no way around that.

“We know what the stakes are. We know what level of play we have to rise to stay with that team.”

‘GREAT LEADERSHIP’

Ball State has faced very few challenges thus far this season.

Of its first 10 opponents, only Navy, which BSU beat 35-23 on Sept. 5, came within two touchdowns. The Cardinals handily earned their first-ever Big Ten victory on Sept. 20, when they beat Indiana 42-20.

But that game did not come without blemishes. Senior wide receiver Dante Love, the nation’s leading receiver heading into the game, suffered a neck injury that would end his football career.

“He was the heartbeat of that team,” Brunner said. “That was just a tragic injury for anyone to have. You could tell by his presence when he was on the field.”

Dedicating the rest of the season to Love, the Cardinals kept winning beyond his injury. They earned their first-ever Top 25 ranking after beating Toledo 31-0 on Oct. 4.

They rank 13th among the Football Bowl Subdivision’s 120 teams in total offense, tallying 461 yards per game, and hold opposing offenses to 341 yards per game, second in the MAC.

Davis is eighth in the country in passing efficiency (168), while running back MiQuale Lewis is 7th with 127.3 rushing yards per game.

“They have a great quarterback, a great running game, great (offensive line), good skill players, a good defense … just about everything,” said sophomore linebacker Nick Bellore.

Ball State also is the least-penalized team in the nation with 26 penalties, none of which came in the last three games, and second in the MAC with a turnover margin of 1.6 (18 takeaways compared to 10 giveaways).

CMU coach Butch Jones said leadership and discipline is what separates Ball State from many other teams in the country.

“It stems from Brady Hoke,” Jones said. “He’s done a great, great job there. And you look at all the older kids, the fifth-year players they have playing – that stems from great leadership, and they have great leadership amongst their team. They’ve been goal-driven each and every week.”

A NEW ATTITUDE

Jones believes his team’s personality week by week is much different from last year’s CMU squad that repeated as MAC Champions.

Last year, he said, the team experienced the highs and lows over the course of a season and perhaps acted more emotional. This year, it has stayed focused on each of its tasks and wavered little at its challenges.

“We’re not a very big ‘rah-rah’ emotional football team like we were last year,” Jones said. “Anybody understands, I think, the ramifications of this football game. I think the kids, as probably Ball State’s kids are, they are just excited to play in this type of game.

“Anytime you can be in November and have all your goals in front of you, still intact, makes it very special.”

Today also marks the final home games for several seniors, including Brunner, tailback Ontario Sneed, left tackle Andrew Hartline and nose guard Casey Droscha.

Brunner said he is expecting an atmosphere close to that of a Central/Western game for his final appearance at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

“There’s something to be said about that Central/Western rivalry, but if there’s anything that could ever come close, you’re going to see it (today),” Brunner said. “The student body’s responded so well this year, and I expect this place to be rocking. Everyone knows what’s at stake.”

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