Week 13: Ball State at Northern Illinois

A recent win over Toledo pushed Ball State to that magical sixth win, making the Cardinals eligible for bowl game consideration. They won’t win the Mid-American Conference’s West Division, since they lost head-to-head with defending champ and current West leader Central Michigan, but a win by the Cardinals and a CMU loss in this final week could bring Ball State a piece of the division crown.

With all of that on the line, Ball State coach Brady Hoke is well aware of the danger this game with lowly Northern Illinois presents. The Huskies are stuck in the MAC West basement and they aren’t getting out, but their spoiler role is clear and enticing. A win over Ball State keeps the Cardinals out of any bowl game, and snuffs out their title hopes. For Northern Illinois, that is the most the Huskies have had to play for in months.

“The players know where we are at; they know we are going to be playing a good team and we are not taking them lightly,” Hoke said. “Hopefully, our kids remember the spanking Northern Illinois gave us last year.”

The Cardinals are at their best when athletic quarterback Nate Davis has protection and room to function. Hoke sees it as a pretty simple formula for success. “When Nate has time, he is pretty effective and a good quarterback,” Hoke said. “When it comes down to it, we need to do a better job of blocking and running.”

Northern Illinois is suffering through its worst season since 1998, and its first losing season since 1999. Since that 1999 season, the Huskies have finished first or second in the MAC West in six of the eight seasons. Turnovers have been devastating for Northern Illinois, since it has thrown 18 interceptions and lost 12 fumbles.

Huskies coach Joe Novak, in his 12th year in DeKalb, has mixed feelings about 2007 coming to a close.

"It's been a hard year, and in some ways I am happy it is ending, but in other ways, no,” Novak said “We do this because we love coaching these kids, and the relationships that you build with them.  That part of it has been fun. Some of the results on Saturday have not been fun, but working with the kids has been.”

Novak knows his program could get a significant emotional boost from a season-ending win, especially one over a talented opponent like Ball State, and one with so much left to play for.

“What you go into after the season ends is a long off-season, and coming off a victory at the end is huge because it gives you a little bit more momentum and the off-season is just a little bit more enjoyable,” Novak said. “I am not saying it will make a difference in our season opener next year, but it will definitely make the off-season feel a lot better."

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