MAC Notes: Davis, Ball State set to challenge for title

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

DETROIT - He still doesn't use the laces when he throws, but Ball State quarterback Nate Davis has another thing he wants to work on this season. Taking a breath. At Tuesday's Mid-American Conference media day at Ford Field, Davis said calming his hyper-competitive nature is the most important step in his development for this season. "I have to have better composure. I have to be a better leader and not get down on myself and my guys," Davis said. "The biggest thing is that I get down on myself and it affects my team when I get down on myself after I get upset with a throw I just made or something like that." Davis threw for 3,667 yards and 30 touchdowns last season in a breakout campaign. His teammates and coaches agree those numbers can be even better this year, especially if he can tone down his spirit a little bit when passes sail on him or he makes a mistake. "He needs to get himself back under control," Ball State coach Brady Hoke said. "We started to see that a little bit last year." If Davis can accomplish that goal, Ball State has a legitimate shot as any team in the MAC West to dethrone conference champion Central Michigan. For his part, Central Michigan coach Butch Jones said the MAC is as wide open as it ever has been. Jones was questioned a few times by reporters about the seriousness of that statement, but he stuck by it. “I think each and every team has the opportunity to win the championship,” Jones said. “When you look at our West side, there's not much separating each team in our division. It's going to be extremely competitive.” Expectations in Muncie, Ind., are as high as they've ever been, as Ball State has a schedule that is much less difficult than in years past. There are no top 25 non-conference opponents on the schedule for the first time since 2002. Hoke points to two games from last season - a 58-38 loss to Central Michigan and a 52-30 loss to Rutgers in the International Bowl - as games his teams learned from. “Every bad play stays with you, I can promise you that. That was a team that maturity wise probably didn't handle the situation. We talked about that when we get back (from the bowl game). It's great to get to a bowl game but it's no fun losing." Hoke said if Ball State, picked to finish second in the West by the MAC media, can shore up its run defense (it gave up five yards per carry last year), the Nov. 19 game at Central Michigan could decide the division. Youthful Chips Although Central Michigan is considered the favorite in the MAC, it won't be able to rely on too much experience. The Chippewas have only 12 seniors listed on the roster to go with 13 freshmen and 21 sophomores. "We're as young as anybody in the country," Jones said. Injury reports in MAC future? The Buffalo News reported that in light of the Atlantic Coast Conference releasing injury reports this season for the first time anywhere in Division I-A college football, the MAC might start doing the same as early as 2009. "We meet annually in the spring and that will be the natural time for us to get some more input on it and see what will be involved with it and where the coaches will be at and where the ADs will be at," MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst told the newspaper. "I'm pretty sure we'll get some conversation going on it."