Brandon Crawford (Fort Wayne, Ind./South H.S.) and Dan Gerberry (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Finch H.S.) were selected by their teammates to serve as team captains for the 2008 Ball State University football team.
"Dan Gerberry will represent the offense for the second year in a row, and Brandon Crawford will represent our defense as team captains," Ball State head coach Brady Hoke says. "I don’t think you could ask for two more stable mature guys who are about Ball State and this football program. We are very pleased, and I do believe it is the greatest honor a guy could get to be chosen by his teammates as a captain."
Crawford, a 32-year-old junior defensive end and former Marine, led the Cardinals with 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2007. He tied for 36th in the nation in tackles for loss, and earned All-Mid-American Conference Third Team honors a year ago.
Gerberry, who was also a team captain last season as a junior, marks the first time since 1991-92 a Ball State football player will serve as a team captain for two straight years. He has started all 36 games as a center in his first three seasons. Gerberry helped anchor an offensive line which blocked for a school record 5,640 yards in total offense, including a school best 3,704 passing yards in 2007.
The Cardinals will open the 2008 season Thursday with a 7 p.m. contest vs. Northeastern at Scheumann Stadium. Pregame promotions in Arby’s Tailgate Town presented by MAC Radio will feature the band Virgin Millionaires. Postgame entertainment will include a fireworks display at the Stadium.