Baker was breath of freshman air

By Joe Scalzo

The former Canfield High athlete’s contribution on defense helped Ball State during a successful 2008 football season.

CANFIELD — On Sept. 13, Sean Baker played his third college football game in front of dozens of friends and family members at the University of Akron.

By the end of the game, the Canfield High graduate had three interceptions and a fumble recovery for a touchdown — and he hadn’t even started.

“Everything went right that day,” said Baker.

The same held true for the first 12 weeks of the Cardinals’ season. Ball State went 12-0 before falling to Toledo in the Mid-American Conference championship game and to Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl.

Baker started the final 10 games and finished with six interceptions — tied for 14th best in the country — and 94 tackles, second-best on the team. He also had 10 pass breakups, four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles, earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team.

“It was a good feeling knowing all the hard work paid off and the team was successful this year,” said Baker. “We had really good senior leadership and a lot of experienced players coming back and we were motivated to get off to a good start.”

Baker, a standout football and basketball player for Canfield, redshirted last fall after tearing the labrum in his shoulder during the last day of two-a-day practices. He had surgery and didn’t feel 100 percent for eight months. He spent virtually every day rehabbing the injury while spending a lot of time in the weight room strengthening his legs. Had he not been injured, he would have competed for time on special teams.

“Everything worked out,” said Baker. “I got to learn how everything worked and it made me a better football player for it.”

A week after the Akron game, Ball State wide receiver Dante Love suffered a season-ending spinal cord injury against Indiana State. The team rallied around Love and won its next eight games to earn its first berth in the MAC title game. The Cardinals beat Central Michigan for the first time in five years and the fans stormed the field after a 45-22 win over Western Michigan in the regular season finale, which was broadcast on ESPN2.

After falling to Buffalo in the MAC title game, head coach Brady Hoke left the team to take the job at San Diego State. Offensive coordinator Stan Parrish, who helped develop standout junior QB Nate Davis, was then promoted to head coach.

“It was really hard,” Baker said of Hoke’s departure. “It was a big shock to the team and it was a big adjustment, but I thought we did OK.

“Stan Parrish is a great guy and he’s really respected. He’s won championships at every level.”

Baker said the 45-13 loss to Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl had nothing to do with a hangover effect from Buffalo.

“No, not at all,” he said. “We put that game behind us. It was just one of those nights I guess.

“Those last two losses, the ball wasn’t bouncing our way. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. But those were two good teams, so I’m not taking anything away from them.”

Baker is majoring in education and plans to become a college football coach when he’s done playing. He said Muncie, Ind., is a lot like Youngstown — a small city with a sports-crazy population.

“I really enjoy it,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

scalzo@vindy.com