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MACwood Squares is our summer reading series on the best athletes in Mid-American Conference sports history. This week features Ball State. Looking for your MAC school? Consult our schedule for other teams and please submit your nominees as well.
We got the punters out of the way in proper fashion, leaving us with nothing but rushers, passers, and bruisers.
QB Nate Davis (2006-08) — In three seasons he rewrote the quarterback records: passing yard (9,233), completions (678), and touchdowns (74). This was 2,962 more yards, 99 more completions, and 30 more TDs than the previous record-holders. Move over, Mike Neu. He also had 20 250-yard games; previously, nobody had more than six. He declared for the Draft after his junior year and became picked up by the San Francisco 49ers, but not much came of that.
Still, he was the face (aside from coach Brady Hoke) of that magical 2008 season, and he vaulted into the stratosphere of Ball State lore. Heck, it got Hoke on Letterman.
RB Bernie Parmalee (1987-90) — At the time he was their all-time rusher, but with two First Team All-MACs and two Second Teams under his belt, he's still up there. He's also made NFL headway as a position coach, currently with the Kansas City Chiefs as their TE coach.
DB Shafer Suggs (1972-75) — He holds a tie for the most career interceptions (14). As a bonus, he also lettered three times on the basketball team. In five years with the New York Jets he had a total of seven interceptions, one for a touchdown.
DT Keith McKenzie (1992-95) — Had a nice little NFL career after a four-year career with Ball State, breaking the record for most QB sacks. As the only MAC selection in the 1996 Draft (seventh round, no less) he managed to play for five years in an eight-year span, including being on the Super Bowl-winning Packers in 96-97.
S Blaine Bishop (1989-92) — He didn't muster more than a Second Team All-MAC award when he was in Muncie, but he did make four Pro Bowls with the Oilers/Titans.
LB Greg Garnica (1986-89) — Holds the record for tackles (689) and was three times the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, the only person in conference history to win it that much.
Who are your nominees for Ball State's MACwood Squares? Comment below, tweet us at @HustleBelt or submit a FanPost making your case. The final nine will be revealed Friday.