BALLSTATESPORTS.COM2016 • @BALLSTATESPORTS CARDINALS • @BALLSTATEFB MEDIA • @BSUCOACHNEU GUIDE 1 QUICK MEDIA NOTES TABLE OF CONTENTS Neu Coaching Staff • Former Cardinal Mike Neu was hired as the program’s 17th head Facilities coach back in January. Neu served the previous two seasons as the 4 Scheumann Stadium quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints. As a player, Neu led 6 Venderly Center Ball State to the 1993 MAC championship. For more information on 7 Fisher Training Complex coach Neu, please check page nine. 2016 Season Three All-MAC Players Return WR KeVONN 8 Mid-American Conference • Of the five Ball State players who earned All-MAC accolades in #16 MABON 9 2016 Schedule 2015, three return to lead the Cardinals this season – senior LB Sean 10 The Nest Wiggins, senior DL Joshua Posley and senior WR KeVonn Mabon. S MARTEZ 11 Fan Experience Wiggins and Posley were both first team selections while Mabon was #21 HESTER 11 Tradition recognized on the third team for both wide receiver and kick returner. 12 Roster Looking to go Bowling Coaches & Staff • Ball State aims to return to the bowl scene this fall. The Cardinals went to the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg following the 2012 21 Mike Neu LB SEAN season and the GoDaddy Bowl after the 2013 campaign. However, 24 Assistant Coaches Ball State fell short of bowl eligibility in 2014 and 2015. #3 WIGGINS 27 Support Staff 30 Athletics Staff Success in the Classroom • Five players on the 2016 Ball State roster have already earned their Tradition bachelor’s degree – WR Cywettnie Brown, DB Martez Hester, WR RB TEDDY 31 MAC Accolades KeVonn Mabon, P Kyle Schmidt and LS Nick Traub. #6 WILLIAMSON 32 Honors, Achievements & Records Lots of Skill Players Return 34 Cardinals Drafted • The Cardinals return 84 percent of their offensive production 37 Records (passing, receiving and rushing yards) from the 2015 squad. The only key play not to return is WR Jordan Williams, who went on to sign a Academics + Alumni free agent deal on the practice squad with the New Orleans Saints. 42 Academics 43 Alumni Connections Winning the Turnover Battle 44 Professional Players • Ball State led or tied the turnover battle in all but three games last year – vs. UMass (Oct. 31), at Ohio (Nov. 17) and vs. Bowling Green Off the Field (Nov. 24). The Cardinals allowed only 21 points off turnovers the final 56 Community Service six games of the season. Ball State ‘Special’ Special Teams 48 The University • Ball State ranked among the top three teams in the league in several 50 Athletics special teams categories last year including kickoff returns (first), punt 52 Board of Trustees return average (third), punting (third), kickoff coverage (third) and field goal percentage (third). The Cardinals’ kickoff return average of 25.5 yards ranked 12th nationally. Senior KeVonn Mabon and junior Darian Green each produced a return greater than 80 yards in 2015. Mabon was one of four MAC players to return a kickoff for a touchdown last fall. 2 BALL STATE FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE BALLSTATESPORTS.COM • @BALLSTATESPORTS • @BALLSTATEFB • @BSUCOACHNEU 3 SCHEUMANN STADIUM Ball State’s John B. and June M. Scheumann flooring and a new sectioned off area for Stadium opened as Ball State Stadium halftimes. In addition, new flat screen in 1967, and has undergone a series of televisions and plaques of former players renovations to transform the facility into a numbers who once roamed the field at major community asset. Scheumann Stadium are featured. A $4 million gift from former Ball State football In addition to the renovated locker room, the letterwinner John Scheumann and his wife, university wrapped up construction of the Ron June, was the lead gift in the Stadium Campaign. and Joan Venderly Football Center this summer. The Venderly’s generosity will help the Cardinals Paul and Patricia Kozel’s gift of $1.25 million move into a state-of-the-art office complex with was honored with the naming of the press a theatre style team meeting room. box and entertainment suites as the Kozel Communications Center. The addition of the Venderly Center will enable the John and Janice Fisher Football Training Ball State’s football program moved into Complex to become a better facility for locker a renovated locker room in the summer room, weight room, training room and position The home for the Cardinal football team, Scheumann Stadium seats 22,500 fans. The stadium of 2014, which included new lockers, new meeting rooms. underwent a major renovation in 2007 that transformed it into one of the top football facilities in the Mid-American Conference. 4 BALL STATE FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE BALLSTATESPORTS.COM • @BALLSTATESPORTS • @BALLSTATEFB • @BSUCOACHNEU 5 FISHER TRAINING COMPLEX COMPLEX LOBBY The Fisher Training Complex lobby celebrates the proud tradition and history of Ball State football. MAC champion banners hang from the ceiling and professional Cards are featured. WEIGHT ROOM The complex weight room features a glass wall overlooking the beautiful VENDERLY CENTER Schuemann Stadium. Weights and rehab The Scheumann Family Team Meeting Room, membership with the Cardinal Commitment equipment provide a theater style meeting area with 140 seats for Campaign Committee, Teachers College athletes the best the team, coaches and staff, is the centerpiece Deans Advisory Council, Founders Society gear to succeed. of the 12,633 square foot Ron and Joan and the Cardinal Varsity Club. As part of Venderly Football Center. Dedicated coaches’ the Cardinal Commitment: Developing offices, a full coaching staff meeting room and Champions Campaign, Ron and Joan Venderly a recruiting lounge provides the Cardinals were the lead benefactors to the Venderly LOCKER ROOM with the best chance to be successful on and Football Center. In 2014, the off the field. Cardinals moved In 2014, Joan received the Honorary Alumni into a renovated Ron and Joan Venderly’s passion for higher Award, the highest honor given to individuals locker room. The education and athletics has led to exceptional who are not Ball State graduates but who new space includes support of Ball State for more than 20 years. have made significant contributions to the new lockers, new The late Ron, MA ’64, received the President’s university’s welfare, reputation, prestige and flooring, a new Medal from Ball State in 2009. His various pursuit of excellence. sectioned off area affiliations with the university included for halftimes and flat screen televisions. 6 BALL STATE FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE BALLSTATESPORTS.COM • @BALLSTATESPORTS • @BALLSTATEFB • @BSUCOACHNEU 7 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE 2016 SCHEDULE The MAC tied a conference record with FRIDAY SEP. 02 SATURDAY OCT. 15 seven teams bowl eligible during the 2015 bowl season. The seven MAC bowl GEORGIA STATE BUFFALO @ ATLANTA, GA. | 7:00 P.M. | ESPN 3 @ BUFFALO, N.Y. | TBA | TBA invitations for Bowling Green (10-4), Northern Illinois (8-6), Toledo (10-2), Ohio (8-5), Central Michigan (7-6), Western SATURDAY SEP. 10 SATURDAY OCT. 22 | HOMECOMING Michigan (8-5) and Akron (8-5) matched INDIANA AKRON the Conference record for programs @ BLOOMINGTON, IND. | 4:00 P.M. | ESPNEWS @ MUNCIE, IND. | 3:00 P.M. | TBA receiving a bowl invitation in a single season, which also occurred during the SATURDAY SEP. 17 | FAMILY WEEKEND TUESDAY NOV. 01 2012 bowl season. EASTERN KENTUCKY WESTERN MICHIGAN @ MUNCIE, IND. | 3:00 P.M. | ESPN3 @ MUNCIE, IND. | 8:00 P.M. | ESPN2/ESPNU The 2016 MAC football schedule will feature 17 nationally televised games SATURDAY SEP. 24 TUESDAY NOV. 08 during the months of October and FAU EASTERN MICHIGAN November slated for national television on @ BOCA RATON, FLA. | 6:00 P.M. | TBA @ MUNCIE, IND. | 7:00 P.M. | ESPN2/CBSSN ESPN2, ESPNU and CBS Sports Network as the Conference race unfolds in both the SATURDAY OCT. 01 WEDNESDAY NOV. 16 East and West divisions. ESPN3, which is NORTHERN ILLINOIS available in more than 99 million homes, TOLEDO @ MUNCIE, IND. | 3:30 P.M. | TBA @ TOLEDO, OHIO | 7:00 P.M. | ESPN2/EPSNU Dr. Jon Steinbrecher will also stream a select number of games late in the season. Commisioner SATURDAY OCT. 08 TUESDAY NOV. 22 CENTRAL MICHIGAN MIAMI @ MT. PLEASANT, MICH. | 3:00 P.M. | TBA @ OXFORD, OHIO | 7:00 P.M. | ESPN2 8 BALL STATE FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE BALLSTATESPORTS.COM • @BALLSTATESPORTS • @BALLSTATEFB • @BSUCOACHNEU 9 Ball State’s passionate student body constantly fills the FAN EXPERIENCE student section in Scheumann Stadium. Every home game, The Nest roars in support of the Cards and on third down you THE NEST hear Ball State’s signature Chirp Chirp chant. Charlie Cardinal has served as the official mascot of Ball State University’s athletics program since 1969. Ball State boasts one of the top gameday experiences in the Mid-American Conference. CARDINAL TRADITIONS Whether it is current students, Cardinal alumni, or Muncie residents, the tailgate is the pregame destination in Cardinal country. Get ready for the Cards to take the field with live music, grilled food and a lot of Chirping. 10 BALL STATE FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE BALLSTATESPORTS.COM • @BALLSTATESPORTS • @BALLSTATEFB • @BSUCOACHNEU 11 2016 ROSTER NEU ERA JACK DARIAN AARON DEVIN MILAS GREEN HEPP REECE R-JUNIOR JUNIOR R-SENIOR R-SOPHOMORE Arlington Heights, Ill. Lafayette, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Westfield, Ind. (Rolling Meadows) 14 (Jefferson) 25 (Bishop Chatard) 80 (Westfield) 19 DAVID JAMES KeVONN NIK QUARTERBACKS MORRISON GILBERT MABON GILES R-SOPHOMORE SOPHOMORE RECIEVERS WIDE R-SENIOR R-FRESHMAN Fort Wayne, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. St. Louis, Mo. Matteson, Ill, (Concordia) 11 (Arsenal Tech) 34 (DeSmet Jesuit) 16 (Mount Carmel) 87 RILEY JOE CYWETTNIE RILEY NEAL SPEGAL BROWN MILLER SOPHOMORE R-FRESHMAN R-SENIOR R-FRESHMAN Yorktown, Ind. Eaton, Ind. Chicago, Ill. Yorktown, Ind. (Yorktown) 15 (Anderson University) 39 (Wartburg College) 85 (Yorktown) 86 ZACK MALIK RALPH DAMON BLAIR DUNNER SMITH III HAZELTON JR.