TSBB Morning Quarterback: Ball State vs. Miami (OH)

I know this is a few days late, but when we're on national TV, I like to watch the game a second time before writing this. Because usually during games, I'm in a glass case of emotion and just flat-out not focusing on certain things.

Every time we're on national television, I just cannot watch the game. I'm jittery, I'm nervous and most of all, always pessimistic. I always fear the worst, wait for the bottom to fall out and then something catastrophic to happen.

It's how I'm built. I'm a Cubs fan so that happens by nature. Although I must say that I was VERY confident in this year's Cubs team and looked what happened. I should know better.

There were about 10 times during the Miami game I thought bad things were going to happen. Let's start.

1. The 4th-and-1 play on the opening drive.

Oh, I see that we calmly marched down the field 50-some yards in five plays, only to not score a touchdown on the freakin two-yard line. I have no problem with us going for it. I'm glad we did. It's what we should've done. But the Cards HAVE GOT TO convert those. Even if we shouldn't have handed the ball off every play, a BCS team needs to convert that against Miami, Ohio.

2. Who knew Daniel Radabaugh could complete so many passes

We did a better job in the second half against him, but his completion percentage was unbelievable. Why is this guy completing every single pass against our defense? Apparently we didn't get the memo that Radabaugh sucks.

3. End of first-half timeouts

I could write an entire book on this. Look, the end result, even if we use the timeouts, is still probably a field goal. But I'm much more confident in McGarvey kicking a 25 yard field goal than the 46 one he made. WE HAD TWO TIMEOUTS LEFT!!! WTF! Why Davis, Hoke, Parrish, or whoever's in charge of calling timeouts didn't call them, I will never know. It's the second straight week and roughly the 1,000th time in Hoke's career we mangled the "timeouts at the end of the first half" strategy. If this comes back to bite us in any of our remaining three games, I feel a 2,000 word post with 50 percent of the words being expletivies coming. For those who read Bill Simmons and know who the VP of Common Sense is, we need a VP of Common Sense timeouts following Hoke around. For that I'm nominating....Jason Whitlock.

Alright, that's the end of the negativity. Just a few things to think about. Onto the happy happy's.

THE GOOD

1. MiQuale Lewis
During the liveblog thingy, I'm not sure what it's officially called, over at Over The Pylon, they officially adapted to calling him OurQuale. Ehh...I'm 50/50 on whether or not I like it, but Lewis had a hellacious game - and please note I gave Lewis my pre-game Helmet Sticker. Twenty-six carries, 165 yards, two touchdowns...my god what we could've been last year with him. The kids' been a beast and will play just as important role next week.

2. Nate Davis
When I think of Nate Davis, I always think to myself, he's such a smooth operator. And to honor him, let's listen in Sade's "Smooth Operator." He's a smooth operator...oooohh oohh operator.



We've been ridiculously spoiled with Davis' play. Let's recall that near-touchdown pass to Orsbon. Calmly rolls out of the pocket, a flick of the wrist leads to a 45-yard spiral right on the money. We've been very spoiled. Nate has been unbelievably awesome. That's why we need to make the BCS this year. This is a once in a lifetime player for us.

3. Miami receiver Armand Robinson

Good gosh almighty, thank you very much for deciding to drop a wide open touchdown pass. It does not break my heart to see you do that. One of the Treys slipped on the play for whatever reason, leaving him wide open and a score would've made it a one-score ballgame. Thanks, Armand!

That should sum everything up. We only have the most important game in the history of Ball State football coming up. Should be a good one.