01.21.2021
COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
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01.21.21
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CONGRATS TO OUR
2020 MAC
CHAMPIONS!
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2020:
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The year of Ball State Football
Cardinals end the season on a victorious note and make history following an unpredictable year. Connor Smith Assistant Sports Editor “I’m still standing better than I ever did, looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid.” Elton John once sang those lyrics in his 1983 hit. They echo how Ball State Football finished 2020, following years of adversity dating to the team’s 2-10 finish in 2017 — when many of its 22 senior players were freshmen. After losing three of its final four games in 2019 by less than one touchdown, Ball State flipped the script in 2020. The Cardinals won the Mid-American Conference West Division and MAC Title and defeated No. 19 San Jose State 34-13 in the Arizona Bowl on New Year’s Eve, capping off a historic season and year. “This has been a process — a long process [of] high-character young men that just bought in and tried to do things the right way,” head coach Mike Neu said. “We got here because of hard work.” Back in August 2020, the Cardinals’ mantra, “Detroit or bust,” came to a halt when the MAC postponed its football season due to COVID-19 concerns. After the conference reversed course in late September, the Cardinals not only showed this season wouldn’t end up a “bust” by winning the MAC Championship, but went the extra mile in Tucson, Arizona, giving the program its first-ever bowl victory in a year full of uncertainty, surprise and hardship. Empty stadiums, artificial crowd noise, weekly COVID-19 tests, social distancing while off the field — the Cardinals didn’t let any of that get in their way this season and ended 2020 on a high note. Never wanting to wear a face mask again, Neu said, he couldn’t think of a better way to end 2020 than defeating the Spartans in upset fashion — just like the Cardinals did against Buffalo in the MAC Championship game.
“What a great way for us to ring in the new year,” Neu said. “I cannot wait for [COVID-19] to be behind us. I hope that’s sometime in the very near future. I’m just so proud of our guys.” Senior safety Bryce Cosby was one of the driving forces behind Ball State’s “Detroit or bust” mantra, one the Cardinals went above and beyond with over a shortened, six-game season. Cosby, who has experienced his share of adversity dating back to his freshman season, expressed how special winning the 2020 Arizona Bowl was to him. “[2020] started off on a pretty rough note to say the least,” Cosby said. “While we still wish we could have some type of normalcy, it’s safe to say the end of 2020 didn’t finish too bad for the Cardinals.” Recording nine tackles and one interception against the Spartans, Cosby earned a spot on The Associated Press All-Bowl Team. Collectively, Ball State’s defense came away with a total of four interceptions off San Jose State, an Arizona Bowl record. Heading into the game, Cosby said, he viewed his team as the underdog against the nationally ranked Spartans — a type of mindset he’s followed all season. He said sticking to the fundamentals of quality leadership and teamwork heading into Arizona paid off in Ball State’s win. “Being a senior here, I take it upon myself to make sure the guys are preparing the right way,” Cosby said. “We’re locked in every week, and we know the situation at hand. Obviously, I was able to make some great plays, but all the credit goes to the whole defense. Without those guys, none of those would be possible.” Cosby said he felt the win meant a greater deal for Neu — finishing his fifth season at the helm — than it did for his teammates. Even after the team finished 2-10 in 2017, Cosby said, he knew it was a matter of when, not if, Neu would reach greater heights. “He has dealt with so much slander, and it was harder for him than it was for us just because of the expectations,” Cosby said. “[The
win] just speaks volumes to him. He never brought any negativity into the locker room. He was always positive, preaching family and reassuring us that we were going to get this thing going.” Of the team’s 22 senior players, 16 of them have confirmed they will return in 2021 for the chance to win a second consecutive MAC Title as a result of the NCAA’s vote to give fall Division I athletes an extra year of eligibility. Neu praised Cosby and his senior players for battling adversities and ending 2020 with both a championship and bowl win. “It’s a special, special, special class that I’ll be forever indebted to,” Neu said. “They did not have to stay here when things were really tough and rocky a couple years ago, but they did because they believed in one another and they saw something in each other.” Ending their 2020 campaign with back-to-back wins over nationally ranked opponents for the first time in program history, the Cardinals finished No. 23 in The Associated Press Top 25 rankings, marking the first time they have been nationally ranked since 2008. Contact Connor Smith with comments at cnsmith@bsu.edu or on Twitter @cnsmith_19.
AGAINST ALL ODDS Ball State was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division and only received one vote to win the division in the 2020 preseason coaches poll. Over the next six games, the Cardinals went on to prove their worth, defeating every team in their path en route to a MAC Championship and a bowl game victory. Aug. 8 - MAC postpones fall season Sept. 25 - MAC announces six-game, conference-only season Nov. 4 @ Miami (Ohio) - L 38-31 Nov. 11 vs. Eastern Michigan - W 38-31 Nov. 18 vs. Northern Illinois - W 31-25 Nov. 28 @ Toledo - W 27-24 Dec. 5 @ Central Michigan - W 45-20 Dec. 12 vs. Western Michigan - W 30-27 Dec. 18 vs. No. 23 Buffalo - W 38-28 (MAC Championship)
The Ball State Cardinals hold up the Mid American Conference championship trophy after beating the Buffalo Bulls Dec. 18, 2020, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The Cardinals beat the Bulls 38-28. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN
Dec. 31 vs. No. 19 San Jose State - W 34-13 (Arizona Bowl)
Source: Ball State Athletics
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‘Ball State against the world’ The Cardinals’ season-long mentality helped them stamp their names in the history books.
Connor Smith Assistant Sports Editor When senior safety Bryce Cosby took the field for the Cardinals Dec. 31 in Tucson, Arizona, he had the same mentality as when he first stepped on the gridiron for the 2020 season in Oxford, Ohio: “championship mode.” “We just show up to work every day,” Cosby said. “I think that mentality has helped us tough out some wins and play hard for four quarters. That was definitely the mindset going into the [MAC] Championship, and we sort of just carried that mindset everywhere we go.” Cosby said he treated each game this season as a championship game, so he didn’t feel too starstruck or caught up in the moment when it was time to play on the big stage. “If we prepare, if we practice, if we lift,” Cosby
If we do everything we need to do on a championship level, it doesn’t matter who we line up against or the magnitude of the game.” - BRYCE COSBY, Senior safety said, “if we do everything we need to do on a championship level, it doesn’t matter who we line up against or the magnitude of the game.” Cosby was a freshman in 2017 when Ball State finished 2-10 and failed to defeat any of its MAC opponents. The Cardinals improved to 4-8 in 2018 and 5-7 in 2019, Cosby’s junior season, which he said was a turning point in his development. Coming into 2020, Cosby said, he knew the Cardinals were a championship-caliber team, which helped him develop his current mentality. Reminiscing on his freshman season, though, Cosby said the adversities he experienced early in his Cardinal career made winning that much more meaningful to him. “We didn’t know the sacrifices that needed to be made,” Cosby said. “We didn’t know what winning was at the collegiate level. We can’t blame ourselves for what we didn’t know at the time versus what we know now.” Following Ball State’s 38-28 upset win over Buffalo in the MAC Championship game Dec. 18, 2020, head coach Mike Neu described his mindset
Redshirt sophomore quarterback John Paddock and redshirt junior quarterback Elliot Charlebois celebrate Ball State’s win Dec. 12, 2020, at Scheumann Stadium. The Cardinals scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to walk away with a 30-27 victory to send them to the MAC Championship. JADEN WHITEMAN, DN approaching a bowl game as “Ball State against the world.” Senior wide receiver Justin Hall said that idea came from everyone on the team having an underdog-like mentality, which is how they’ve approached every game this season. “Of course, we’re always going to feel like the underdogs, but that’s what we’ve [proved] week in and week out,” Hall said. Along with Cosby, Hall was a freshman when Ball State finished 2-10 in 2017. Despite earning All-MAC Second Team honors, Hall said he felt
disappointed following his first season and would have never imagined the Cardinals would play in a bowl game just three years later. However, the Cardinals reached that goal and seized the opportunity with a 34-13 win over San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl. Like Cosby, Hall also viewed each game this season as a championship, and the chance to play in a bowl game was not going to be taken for granted. “We don’t travel to get our asses beat,” Hall said. Despite the challenges he faced his freshman
season, Hall said he knew he wouldn’t graduate from Ball State without becoming a MAC champion. He has now accomplished just that, and being a part of the program’s first-ever bowl win was a bonus. After the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to fall Division I athletes, 16 of the team’s 22 senior players, including Cosby and Hall, confirmed they will return in 2021 for the chance to win a second straight MAC Title. Contact Connor Smith with comments at cnsmith@bsu.edu or on Twitter @cnsmith_19.
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A year to remember Ball State Football got the news Aug. 8, 2020, that the Mid-American Conference would postpone its football season due to COVID-19 concerns. A month and a half later, the decision was reversed, and the Cardinals made the most of their opportunity. Despite being picked to finish fourth in the MAC West Division in the preseason coaches poll and losing their first game of the season to Miami (Ohio), the Cardinals went on to win seven consecutive games to win their division, their first MAC Championship since 1996 and their first bowl game in program history. PHOTOS BY JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN
Ball State defensive coordinator Tyler Stockton speaks to the defense in the second quarter against Eastern Michigan Nov. 11 at Scheumann Stadium. This was Stockton’s first year as the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator. Senior wide receiver Justin Hall looks back for a touchdown pass during the first half against Eastern Michigan Nov. 11 at Scheumann Stadium. In the Cardinals’ 38-31 home-opening win against the Eagles, Ball State showed resilience by coming back after losing its first game of the season.
Redshirt senior linebacker Jaylin Thomas kneels in the end zone after running out for pregame before facing Western Michigan Dec.12 at Scheumann Stadium. After multiple penalties were sorted through on the last play of the game, the Cardinals escaped with a 30-27 win to send them to the MAC Championship.
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Redshirt senior quarterback Drew Plitt and redshirt senior offensive lineman Anthony Todd celebrate after Plitt ran for a touchdown Dec. 5 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The Cardinals held the Chippewas’ potent offense to 20 points while scoring 45 points of their own.
Top: A flock of Ball State Cardinals carry the Bronze Stalk Trophy back to the sideline as the clock runs out Nov. 18 at Scheumann Stadium. The Cardinals beat the Huskies 31-25 to keep the rivalry trophy in Muncie for a second straight year. Left: Redshirt senior linebacker Jaylin Thomas smiles after beating Buffalo 38-28 in the Mid-American Conference Championship Dec. 18 at Ford Field in Detroit. The win marked the Cardinals’ first conference title since 1996.
Graduate student wide receiver Antwan Davis catches a pass with one hand Dec. 5 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The 45-20 win was the Cardinals’ largest margin of victory throughout the season.
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Ball State Football alumni reflect on their experiences playing in bowl games and share their thoughts on the 2020 team. Connor Smith Assistant Sports Editor Brent Baldwin, 1996 Ball State graduate and former Cardinal quarterback, knows a thing or two about playing for high stakes. As a freshman, Baldwin was a backup to thenquarterback and now-head coach Mike Neu, who led the Cardinals to the 1993 Mid-American Conference Championship. Three years later, as a senior, Baldwin led the Cardinals to a conference title as the starter. Twenty-four years following his senior season, Baldwin watched the Cardinals defeat San Jose State 34-13 in the 2020 Arizona Bowl from his Michigan home. Baldwin said he watched every Ball State game this season and is proud of Neu, who he shadowed, for leading the Cardinals to success. “I’m definitely a true Cardinal,” Baldwin said. “I’m just so happy for Mike and all the work he’s put in. I know there was some doubt a couple years ago when things didn’t look as well, but I’m really proud of Mike and what the guys have fought through.” The victory wasn’t the only history the Cardinals made in 2020. After the Cardinals defeated Buffalo 38-28 in the 2020 MAC Championship game, Baldwin sent his congratulations to redshirt senior quarterback Drew Plitt for becoming the first Ball State quarterback to win a MAC Title since his tenure. Baldwin said he sees parallels between the Cardinals’ success this season and what the team accomplished in 1996. Ball State started 0-3 that year and lost to Miami (Ohio), its first MAC opponent, before going undefeated until the team’s 18-15 loss to Nevada in the Las Vegas Bowl. While the Cardinals lost their first game to the RedHawks this season, they won their last seven games — topped off with their first-ever bowl win. As a former player, Baldwin said he believes having an experienced senior class helped the Cardinals finish the season on a strong note. Many of Ball State’s 22 senior players were freshmen when the team finished 2-10 in 2017. “They had to battle through [COVID-19] this year, and they’ve battled through so much adversity,” Baldwin said. “I think that [helped] them in terms of, ‘Hey, it’s just another game,’ going one at a time and not making the moment bigger than what it is.” When Baldwin was a freshman, not only did he watch Neu, but also Tony Nibbs — a fellow 1996 graduate and former running back — lead Ball State’s offense. As a junior, Nibbs played with Neu on the 1993 MAC Championship-winning team before playing his senior season in 1994. Nibbs played in the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl when
EVERY BALL STATE BOWL APPEARANCE Dec. 11, 1965: Grantland Rice Bowl vs. Tennessee State (Tie 14-14)
Dec. 9, 1967: Grantland Rice Bowl vs. Eastern Kentucky (Loss 27-13) Dec. 9, 1989: California Raisin Bowl vs. Fresno State (Loss 27-6) Dec. 17, 1993: Las Vegas Bowl vs. Utah State (Loss 42-33)
Dec. 19, 1996: Las Vegas Bowl vs. Nevada (Loss 18-15)
Jan. 5, 2008: International Bowl vs. Rutgers (Loss 52-30)
Jan. 6, 2009: GMAC Bowl vs. Tulsa (Loss 45-13)
Dec. 21, 2012: Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg vs. UCF (Loss 38-17) Jan. 5, 2014: GoDaddy Bowl vs. Arkansas State (Loss 23-20) Dec. 31, 2020: Offerpad Arizona Bowl vs. San Jose State (Win 34-13) ELLIOTT DEROSE, DN Source: Ball State Athletics
Ball State lost 42-33 to Utah State. Down 21-0 at halftime, Nibbs said, the Cardinals played harder in the second half but couldn’t seal the comeback. “The challenge for us, honestly, was just trying to keep your nerves calm, staying under control and playing within yourself,” Nibbs said. Nibbs played with both Neu and now-defensive
Fans pack the stands to see the Ball State Cardinals take on the Illinois State Redbirds Oct. 8, 1977, at Scheumann Stadium. The stadium was built in 1967. BALL STATE DMR, PHOTO COURTESY line coordinator Keith McKenzie, who played for the Cardinals from 1991-95. McKenzie spent eight seasons in the NFL after graduating from Ball State and was a member of the 1996-97 Super Bowlwinning Green Bay Packers. “We had an offense that put points on the board,” Nibbs said. “Being able to have a great defense to help you out and stop the opponents was very important. We had some great athletic players.” Like Baldwin and Nibbs, Steve Bell — 2016 Ball State graduate and former offensive lineman — followed the Cardinals closely this season. Bell made his Ball State debut in 2013 as a redshirt freshman. The Cardinals finished 10-2 that season and fell 23-20 to Arkansas State in the 2014 GoDaddy Bowl. “Going to the bowl game was another amazing experience,” Bell said. “In the school year, you have classes to worry about, tests, finals and homework. During bowl week, you don’t have any of that. You basically just have football to focus on and friends to hang out with.” Bell played his final game with the Cardinals in 2016, Neu’s first season at the helm. While Ball State finished 4-8 that season, Bell said he saw potential in Neu to eventually lead the Cardinals
to a championship. “Coach Neu was a player’s coach,” Bell said. “He got to know guys on a personal level … He knew there were stepping stones and building blocks.” That year, current redshirt senior offensive linemen Kaleb Slaven and Anthony Todd were freshmen. Bell said he has remained friends with both of them and watched videos of them flip tires in their front yards this March, early in the pandemic. Bell said he had a conversation with Todd over the offseason, who said he wasn’t sure if his team would play this fall. Months later, Bell watched his former teammates end their season on a high note, leading Ball State to its first bowl win in program history. “This group of seniors has been through the ringer from having seasons that no one wants to have to winning the MAC Championship,” Bell said. “I think that adversity has been there for the four or five years these guys have been in school, and I think their toughness and tenacity shows up because of that.” Contact Connor Smith with comments at cnsmith@bsu.edu or on Twitter @cnsmith_19.
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WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
The first bowl game Ball State played in was the 1965 Grantland Rice Bowl. Before 2020, the last was the 2014 GoDaddy Bowl. Neither resulted in a Cardinals victory. In fact, Ball State hadn’t won any of its nine bowl game appearances in program history to that point. The Cardinals’ 10th attempt was different. After taking down Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference Championship, Ball State defeated San Jose State 34-13 in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl, inking the 2020 Cardinals in the record books.
Right: A fan holds up a sign in support of then-quarterback Keith Wenning during the start of the GoDaddy Bowl Jan. 5, 2014, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Wenning threw for 11,403 yards during his time at Ball State. COREY OHLENKAMP, DN FILE Far right: Then-senior Jamill Smith taunts a heckling Central Florida fan before a kickoff during the first half of the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl Dec. 21, 2012, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Smith signed with the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa Redblacks shortly after his time at Ball State. BOBBY ELLIS, DN FILE
Then-junior running back Jahwan Edwards attempts to shake an Arkansas State defender in the GoDaddy Bowl Jan. 5, 2014, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. After college, Edwards was an undrafted free agent and eventually signed with the San Diego Chargers. JONATHAN MIKSANEK, DN FILE
Multiple Ball State Cardinals stand on the sideline during the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl Dec. 21, 2012, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Cardinals lost to Central Florida 38-17. BOBBY ELLIS, DN FILE
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Former Ball State wide receiver Willie Snead reaches for a pass during the first half of the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl Dec. 21, 2012, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Snead went undrafted in 2014 but signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns. BOBBY ELLIS, DN FILE
Then-head coach Pete Lembo looks over plays during a brief break in the GoDaddy Bowl Jan. 5, 2014, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Lembo is currently the assistant head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks. COREY OHLENKAMP, DN FILE
Then-senior quarterback Keith Wenning attempts to throw the ball downfield against Arkansas State during the GoDaddy Bowl Jan. 5, 2014, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The Cardinals lost to Arkansas State 23-20, and the Baltimore Ravens selected Wenning 194th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. JONATHAN MIKSANEK, DN FILE
MAC 2020 BALL STATE CARDINALS
ELLIOTT DEROSE; JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN
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A Neu Day How Mike Neu stayed positive through the struggles and found success Ian Hansen Sports Editor
Ball State head coach Mike Neu yells at a referee Nov. 18, 2020, at Scheumann Stadium. Neu just finished his fifth year as the Cardinals’ head coach. JADEN WHITEMAN, DN
TUCSON, Ariz. — Mike Neu woke up on his 50th birthday and had a flight to Tucson, Arizona. This wasn’t a vacation to celebrate turning a half-century old. This was the reward for coaching Ball State Football to its first bowl game since the 2013 season. This was the payoff for leading the Cardinals to a Mid-American Conference Championship for the first time since 1996 — three years following Neu’s tenure as the team’s quarterback. The icing on the cake was Neu leading the Cardinals past San Jose State 34-13 in the Arizona Bowl. Neu, like most of the players who arrived in 2016, had to deal with adversity. After Ball State won the MAC Championship Dec. 18, 2020, he admitted he was scared for his job just three years prior and constantly felt like he was letting those close to him down. “Being in the position of a head coach, you are expected to win,” Neu said. “Every day you go to work, you expect to win, and, if you don’t, I know I have to do something better.” In his first season as head coach in 2016, Ball State went 4-8 and 1-7 in the MAC. In 2017, the Cardinals went 2-10 and didn’t win a single game in the conference, which, Neu said, is when he started to get concerned for his job security. Neu said he believes one of his saving graces went beyond the football field. He said how appreciative he was of Ball State Athletic Director Beth Goetz for looking at the bigger picture and offering him a contract extension into 2022 this past offseason. Since then, he said, all he wanted to do was prove he was deserving. “We continued to make some gains,” Neu said. “Thankfully, she evaluated the whole program, and I am really appreciative of the opportunity to be here, and I thank her on a regular basis. I thank her for giving us the opportunity, and I wanted to repay her.” All of Neu’s adversity paid off as the game clock hit zero in Detroit and he became a MAC champion. A couple of weeks later, he led the Cardinals to their first bowl game victory in program history. “It’s a really exciting time,” Goetz said. “I know how much blood, sweat, tears and heart that coach Neu has put into building this program. We are just thrilled for him, the team and all of the fans.” Redshirt senior quarterback Drew Plitt echoed Goetz’s excitement for Neu and everything he has accomplished so far this season. Plitt was a member of the 2016 and 2017 Ball State teams and
Former quarterback and current head coach Mike Neu introduces himself during the 1991 team video. Prior to coaching at Ball State, Neu led the Cardinals to a MidAmerican Conference Championship win in 1993 and was the quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints. BALL
STATE DMR, PHOTO COURTESY
knows everything Neu went through. “He cares so deeply about everyone on the team, from coaches to players to the sports staff, so he loves this team, and he loves this program and the university,” Plitt said.“I can’t be more excited for him because there have been tough times for him.” Not only did Goetz see the bigger picture, but redshirt junior linebacker Brandon Martin said the Muncie community and the players did as well. Martin missed all but one game last season due to an injury and said he sees Neu as a father figure who has helped him through personal issues. “We have had some rough times here, and I am glad that the community and the university has stuck with coach Neu,” Martin said. “I know the players definitely have. There wasn’t a time where we doubted him.” Martin said he was thrilled when he found out Neu would be back this season to prove Ball State belongs in the ranks with some of the best teams in the MAC. The Cardinals will return in 2021 with the majority of their key players from the 2020 season. Martin said he is excited to defend their title with Neu leading the way. “I couldn’t be happier,” Martin said. “There is not a better head coach in the country or a head coach anybody in this building would rather play for.” Contact Ian Hansen with comments at imhansen@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ianh_2.
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HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Redshirt senior quarterback Drew Plitt calls out a play at the line of scrimmage during the third quarter. Plitt threw for 217 yards and one touchdown.
Senior safety Brett Anderson II catches an interception. Anderson also had four tackles to go along with his interception.
Sophomore cornerback Nic Jones breaks up a pass. Jones recorded one tackle and blocked a kick for the Cardinals.
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On New Year’s Eve, the Ball State Cardinals defeated the San Jose State Spartans 34-13 in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. The Cardinals took control of the game early and finished the first quarter with a 27-0 lead. When the game was over, the Cardinals had made history, winning their first-ever bowl game to cap off 2020. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN
Graduate student defensive lineman Chris Agyemang celebrates after the defense forces a turnover on downs in the third quarter. Agyemang recorded three total tackles in the game.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jalen McGaughy takes off the line of scrimmage after the ball is snapped. McGaughy recorded a season total of 171 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
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Special Congratulations to the 2020 BALL STATE CARDINALS 2020 Football Roster Chris Agyemang Christian Albright Brett Anderson II Brandon Berger Curtis Blackwell Jack Blanco Joseph Boggs Lucas Borrow Jimmie Boso Markavun Brownlee Brock Burns Colin Caldwell Justin Campbell Mitchell Carter Jake Chanove Elliot Charlebois Clayton Coll Bryce Cosby Chris Crothers Ethan Crowe Antwan Davis Jimmy Daw Isaiah Dunnuck Ben Egenolf Anthony Ekpe Dalton Elrod
Brayden Evans
Hassan Littles
Justen Ramsey
Tye Evans
Tommy Lorincz
Nathan Reichert
Cam Gillentine
Patrick Lyons
Cobee Rice
Joseph Greenwood
Qian Magwood
Javon Rodgers
Hank Grenda
Donny Marcus
Cody Rudy
Connor Grohman
Brandon Martin
Jack Sape
Justin Hall
Luke Martin
Seth Schmidt
Myles Hannah
Julian McBride
Eddie Schott
John Harris
Derin McCulley
Tony Schott
Porter Haught
Jalen McGaughy
Dylan Seiler
Sam Helm
Kevin Meeder
Kaleb Slaven
Austin Hill
Ethan Merriweather
Nathan Snyder
Trevor Hohlt
Kyron Mims
Ben Stewart
Caleb Huntley
Solvauhn Moreland
Corey Stewart
Isaac James-Gray
Caleb Murray
Alex Stirn
James Jennette III
Demetrius Murray
Joshua Tarango
Emeka Jillani
Keionté Newson
Dean Tate
Harold Jones
Mark Nondorf
Jaylin Thomas
Nic Jones
Wes Obermeier
Jerwuan Thomas
Will Jones
John Paddock
Anthony Todd
Kendal Kendrick
Cole Pearce
Jaylen Turner
Jack Knight
Nate Pedraza
Yo’Heinz Tyler
Dylan Koch
Kyrin Perry
Davion Tyson
Peyton Krutz
Antonio Phillips
Amechi Uzodinma II
Jackson Kurth
Matt Phillips
J.T. Wahee
Malcolm Lee
Drew Plitt
Jordan Williams
Jacob Lewis
Aaron Porter
Tavion Woodard
Ryan Lezon
Tyler ‘Red’ Potts
DNCommemorativeEdition
01.21.21
Football Coaching Staff Mike Neu Patrick Dougherty Kevin Lynch Tyler Stockton Alex Bailey Cory Connolly Mike Dietzel Joey Hecklinski Colin Johnson Keith McKenzie Josh Zidenberg Nate Atkins Riley Deckard Zach Greiner Jack Nudo DJ Steward
Football Support Staff Byron Ellis Ben Armer Harry Gilbert Alex Deluca Dan Reineck Kyle Hoogeveen Shawn Comer Hannah Miller Rob D’Anjolell Abby Wegener
20
NATIONALLY RANKED Ball State finished the 2020 season ranked 23rd in the final Associated Press poll.
23 no.
Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three
Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three TwentyThree Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three Twenty-Three
21
01.21.21
DNCommemorativeEdition
MAGGIE GETZIN; JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN
DNCommemorativeEdition
01.21.21
22
KAMRYN TOMLINSON; JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN
CONGRATULATIONS,
CARDINALS!
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