# 2009 Ball State Cardinals football team

The 2009 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Ball State competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division. The team was coached by Stan Parrish and played their home games at Scheumann Stadium. The finished with a record of 2–10 (2–6 MAC).

## Before the season
### Recruiting

College recruiting information (2009) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Jelani Alford RB | Cincinnati, OH | Withrow HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | 4.48 | Nov 8, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Alex Andrus LB | Coopersville, MI | Coopersville HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 237 lb (108 kg) | – | Jul 27, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| David Brown RB | Shelbyville, IN | Shelbyville Sr HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.65 | Oct 2, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Otis Brown Jr. WR | Gainesville, FL | Gainesville HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 162 lb (73 kg) | 4.47 | Feb 4, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Ethan Buckles DE | Indianapolis, IN | Cardinal Ritter HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 4.9 | Jul 26, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Justin Cruz LB | Jacksonville, FL | Fleming Island HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 196 lb (89 kg) | – | Jul 3, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Armand Dehaney DB | Maple Heights, OH | Walsh Jesuit HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.49 | Jul 30, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Theon Dixon DB | Cleveland, OH | Glenville HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 4.7 | Feb 4, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Zane Fakes RB | Plainfield, IN | Plainfield HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | – | Feb 3, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Travis Freeman LB | Cleveland, OH | Glenville HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.7 | Jan 25, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Jacob Green TE | Cincinnati, OH | Wyoming HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.7 | Jul 3, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Xavier Hines DT | Cleveland, OH | N/A | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | – | Feb 4, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Donovan Jarrett DT | Hamilton, OH | Hamilton HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | – | Feb 4, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Branden Kish RB | Amherst, OH | Marion L Steele HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.6 | Jul 6, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 45 |||||||
| Keith Langtry WR | Kansas City, MO | Rockhurst HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.5 | Oct 10, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 70 |||||||
| Tony Martin LB | Park Hills, MO | Central HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 198 lb (90 kg) | 4.59 | Aug 12, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 68 |||||||
| Aaron Mershman QB | Bowling Green, OH | Bowling Green HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.7 | Jul 16, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Evan Neff OL | Kettering, OH | Archbishop Alter HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | 5.02 | Nov 6, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Kitt O'Brien OL | Walton, IN | Lewis Cass Jr-Sr HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | – | Oct 21, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Matthew Page OL | East Chicago, IN | East Chicago Central HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | 5.2 | Jan 25, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Jason Pinkston DB | Cleveland, OH | Glenville HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Feb 4, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Connor Ryan WR | Cleveland, OH | St. Ignatius HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.59 | Sep 17, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Seth White ATH | Columbus, OH | Bexley HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | – | Dec 3, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Eric Williams RB | Indianapolis, IN | Warren Central HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.45 | Nov 7, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 101 Rivals: 104 |||||||
| ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Ball State Commit List for 2009". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 22, 2009. "Football Recruiting: Ball State". Scout.com. Retrieved August 22, 2009. "Ball State Football Recruiting 2009". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 22, 2009. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved August 22, 2009. "2009 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 22, 2009. |||||||

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 7:30 p.m. | North Texas* | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPNU | L 10–20 | 16,054 |
| September 12 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 9 (FCS) New Hampshire* | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | | L 16–23 | 11,884 |
| September 19 | 12:00 p.m. | at Army* | Michie StadiumWest Point, NY | CBSCS | L 17–24 | 25,646 |
| September 26 | 7:00 p.m. | at Auburn* | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | FSN | L 30–54 | 83,118 |
| October 3 | 12:00 p.m. | Toledo | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | | L 30–37 | 14,140 |
| October 10 | 1:00 p.m. | at Temple | Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA | | L 19–24 | 13,420 |
| October 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Bowling Green | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | | L 17–31 | 10,192 |
| October 24 | 1:00 p.m. | at Eastern Michigan | Rynearson StadiumYpsilanti, MI | | W 29–27 | 1,535 |
| October 31 | 12:00 p.m. | Ohio | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | | L 17–20 | 7,321 |
| November 12 | 6:00 p.m. | at Northern Illinois | Huskie StadiumDeKalb, IL (Bronze Stalk Trophy Game) | ESPNU | L 20–26 | 13,305 |
| November 18 | 8:00 p.m. | Central Michigan | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPN2 | L 3–35 | 5,736 |
| November 24 | 7:00 p.m. | at Western Michigan | Waldo StadiumKalamazoo, MI | ESPN2 | W 22–17 | 20,344 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Year at school |
| Stan Parrish | Head coach | 1st |
| Doug Graber | Defensive coordinator | 1st |
| Daryl Dixon | Secondary Coach | 2nd |
| Eddie Faulkner | Offensive coordinator Running backs coach | 5th |
| Deion Melvin | Linebackers coach | 1st |
| John Powers | Recruiting coordinator Tight ends coach | 4th |
| Phil Burnett | Defensive line coach | 7th |
| Jason Eck | Offensive line coach | 1st |
| Joey Lynch | Wide receivers coach | 1st |
| Jay Hood | Defensive ends coach | 1st |

## Game summaries
### North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
* 09:24 NT Dunbar 3-yard run (Knott kick) 7–0 NT
2nd Quarter
* 01:19 NT Knott 24-yard field goal 10–0 NT
3rd Quarter
* 06:19 BSU McGarvey 21-yard field goal 10–3 NT
4th Quarter
* 12:41 BSU Lewis 27-yard run (McGarvey kick) 10–10
* 10:46 NT Outlaw 4-yard pass from Dodge (Knott kick) 17–10 NT
* 07:36 NT Knott 19-yard field goal 20–10 NT

### New Hampshire

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
| Cardinals | 6 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
* 12:42 BSU McGarvey 48-yard field goal 3–0 BSU
* 09:25 BSU McGarvey 47-yard field goal 6–0 BSU
2nd Quarter
* 13:50 UNH Jackson safety 6–2 BSU
* 09:36 UNH Orlando 26-yard pass from R.J. Toman (Manning kick) 6–9 UNH
* 03:16 UNH Jellison 5-yard run (Manning kick) 16–6 UNH
3rd Quarter
* 11:12 BSU McGarvey 37-yard field goal 16–9 UNH
* 03:47 UNH Jellison 8-yard run (Manning) 23–9 UNH
4th Quarter
* 08:50 BSU White 21-yard pass from Page (McGarvey kick) 23–16 UNH

### Army

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Black Knights | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
* 06:22 ARMY Carter 1-yard run (Carlton kick) 7–0 ARMY
* 03:51 BSU Page 15-yard run (McGarvey kick) 7–7
2nd Quarter
* 13:37 ARMY Carlton 45-yard field goal 10–7 ARMY
* 07:15 BSU McGarvey 30-yard field goal 10–10
* 01:21 ARMY Villanueva 24-yard pass from Steelman (Carlton kick) 17–10 ARMY
3rd Quarter
* 09:57 BSU Gibson 34-yard pass from Page (McGarvey kick) 17–17
4th Quarter
* 06:41 ARMY Travis 18-yard interception return (Carlton kick) 24–17 ARMY

### Auburn

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 7 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 30 |
| Tigers | 7 | 26 | 14 | 7 | 54 |
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
* 12:26 BSU Lewis 2-yard run (McGarvey kick) 7–0 BSU
* 2:53 AU Trott 6-yard pass from Todd (Byrum kick) 7–7
2nd Quarter
* 13:47 AU Zachery 46-yard pass from Todd (Byrum kick) 7–14 AU
* 12:53 AU Bynes safety 7–16 AU
* 12:20 AU McCalebb 1-yard run (Byrum kick) 7–23 AU
* 8:22 AU Zachery 65-yard pass from Todd (Byrum kick) 7–30 AU
* 2:35 BSU McGarvey 33-yard field goal 10–30 AU
* 0:07 AU Byrum 32-yard field goal 10–33 AU
3rd Quarter
* 11:39 AU Adams 26-yard pass from Todd (Byrum kick) 10–40 AU
* 8:50 BSU Page 21-yard run (McGarvey kick) 17–40 AU
* 7:09 AU Fannin 36-yard pass from Todd (Byrum kick) 17–47 AU
4th Quarter
* 12:39 BSU Fakes 1-yard pass from Page (McGarvey kick) 24–47 AU
* 10:14 BSU McGarvey 37-yard field goal 27–47 AU
* 7:19 AU Caudle 52-yard run (Byrum kick) 27–54 AU
* 2:21 BSU McGarvey 33-yard field goal 30–54 AU

### Toledo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rockets | 7 | 7 | 0 | 23 | 37 |
| Cardinals | 6 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 30 |

### Temple

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 19 |
| Owls | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
* 07:12 TEMPLE McManus 27-yard field goal 0–3 TEMPLE
* 04:47 TEMPLE Nixon 28-yard pass from Charlton (McManus kick) 0–10 TEMPLE
3rd Quarter
* 10:59 BSU Gibson 50-yard pass from Page (McGarvey kick) 7–10 TEMPLE
* 08:47 BSU Williams 0-yard fumble recovery (McGarvey kick failed) 13–10 BSU
* 04:48 TEMPLE Pierce 2-yard run (McManus kick) 13–17 TEMPLE
4th Quarter
* 03:29 TEMPLE Pierce 3-yard run (McManus kick) 13–24 TEMPLE
* 00:00 BSU Ifft 2-yard pass from Page 19-24 TEMPLE

### Bowling Green

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 7 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 17 |

### Eastern Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 6 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 29 |
| Eagles | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
* 9:08 EMU Thayer 3-yard pass from McMahon (Carithers kick) 0–7 EMU
* 4:52 BSU Sykes 51-yard run (Schott kick blocked) 6–7 EMU
2nd Quarter
* 10:59 EMU Carithers 20-yard field goal 6–10 EMU
* 9:23 EMU Welch 12-yard run (Carithers kick) 6–17 EMU
* 6:37 EMU Carithers 26-yard field goal 6–20 EMU
* 4:06 BSU Lewis 48-yard run (Schott kick) 13–20 EMU
3rd Quarter
* 10:44 EMU White 10-yard run (Carithers kick) 13–27 EMU
* 6:37 BSU Sykes 6-yard run (Schott kick) 20–27 EMU
* 5:33 BSU Team Safety 22–27 EMU
* 1:47 BSU Sykes 37-yard run (Schott kick) 29–27 BSU

### Ohio

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bobcats | 3 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 20 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
* 4:12 OHIO Weller 39-yard field goal 3–0 OHIO
2nd Quarter
* 8:27 OHIO Weller 24-yard field goal 6–0 OHIO
* 5:16 BSU Williams 1-yard run (McGarvey kick) 6–7 BSU
* 0:00 OHIO Weller 52-yard field goal 9–7 OHIO
3rd Quarter
* 6:45 BSU McGarvey 22-yard field goal 9–10 BSU
4th Quarter
* 11:27 OHIO Weller 41-yard field goal 12–10 OHIO
* 5:52 BSU Hill 35-yard pass from Justice (McGarvey kick) 12–17 BSU
* 3:11 OHIO McCrae 7-yard pass from Scott (McCrae pass from Scott) 20–17 OHIO

### Northern Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Huskies | 16 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 26 |

### Central Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |

### Western Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 22 |
| Broncos | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |