The RedHawks are eager for their contest tonight on ESPN2 against Ball State.
Ball State's football game against Miami tonight falls in a spot on its schedule commonly referred to as a "trap."The Cardinals are coming off a key contest last week against Mid-American Conference West title challenger Northern Illinois, a game they handily won 45-14.
Their game next week is on the road against Central Michigan, the MAC champ the past two years and the preseason favorite to win again this year.
Right in the middle of those games is the contest against Miami. The RedHawks have little to play for at this point of the season except to give a good account of themselves against a MAC power in the nationally televised game on ESPN2.
The RedHawks are eager for their opportunity.
"We need to treat this like it's our MAC championship," Miami coach Shane Montgomery said. "We had a lot of expectations going into the year ... and things haven't gone our way.
"Ball State is a team that could be in the MAC championship game in three weeks ... and we have to play like it's our MAC championship game."
The No. 14 Cardinals (9-0, 5-0 MAC West) have said all the right things about not overlooking the RedHawks (2-7, 1-4 MAC East). That doesn't mean coach Brady Hoke doesn't have concerns.
"I worry about everything all the time, so sure, no question you're always concerned," Hoke said. "That's where the leadership of the seniors and the guys who are playing a lot of football ... (and) as coaches, how you want to prepare this team is all a big part of it."
The Cardinals' performance against Miami the past two years has Hoke's attention.
In 2006, Ball State need a 1-yard TD pass from Nate Davis to Madaris Grant to pull out a 20-17 victory at Miami.
Last year, the RedHawks scored a touchdown with 17 seconds to play to dump the Cardinals 14-13 at Scheumann Stadium.
"I have a hard time believing (today's game) will be that low scoring," Montgomery said. "When you play against an offense as good as they are, and with the confidence they have, we just have to try to slow them down. They're playing so well, that will be a challenge for us."
Nate Davis is coming off one of the best games of his career. The junior quarterback completed 18-of-22 passes, connecting on his final 12 attempts. He passed for 300 yards and tied his career record with four touchdown passes.
Davis has 8,000 career passing yards, only the 10th quarterback to reach that figure in MAC history.
"It will be vital to put some pressure on Nate Davis," Montgomery said. "Last year, we got some hits on him. You have to make him get rid of the ball quicker than he wants."
Ball State's football game against Miami tonight falls in a spot on its schedule commonly referred to as a "trap."The Cardinals are coming off a key contest last week against Mid-American Conference West title challenger Northern Illinois, a game they handily won 45-14.
Their game next week is on the road against Central Michigan, the MAC champ the past two years and the preseason favorite to win again this year.
Right in the middle of those games is the contest against Miami. The RedHawks have little to play for at this point of the season except to give a good account of themselves against a MAC power in the nationally televised game on ESPN2.
The RedHawks are eager for their opportunity.
"We need to treat this like it's our MAC championship," Miami coach Shane Montgomery said. "We had a lot of expectations going into the year ... and things haven't gone our way.
"Ball State is a team that could be in the MAC championship game in three weeks ... and we have to play like it's our MAC championship game."
The No. 14 Cardinals (9-0, 5-0 MAC West) have said all the right things about not overlooking the RedHawks (2-7, 1-4 MAC East). That doesn't mean coach Brady Hoke doesn't have concerns.
"I worry about everything all the time, so sure, no question you're always concerned," Hoke said. "That's where the leadership of the seniors and the guys who are playing a lot of football ... (and) as coaches, how you want to prepare this team is all a big part of it."
The Cardinals' performance against Miami the past two years has Hoke's attention.
In 2006, Ball State need a 1-yard TD pass from Nate Davis to Madaris Grant to pull out a 20-17 victory at Miami.
Last year, the RedHawks scored a touchdown with 17 seconds to play to dump the Cardinals 14-13 at Scheumann Stadium.
"I have a hard time believing (today's game) will be that low scoring," Montgomery said. "When you play against an offense as good as they are, and with the confidence they have, we just have to try to slow them down. They're playing so well, that will be a challenge for us."
Nate Davis is coming off one of the best games of his career. The junior quarterback completed 18-of-22 passes, connecting on his final 12 attempts. He passed for 300 yards and tied his career record with four touchdown passes.
Davis has 8,000 career passing yards, only the 10th quarterback to reach that figure in MAC history.
"It will be vital to put some pressure on Nate Davis," Montgomery said. "Last year, we got some hits on him. You have to make him get rid of the ball quicker than he wants."
