Former Ball State WR Love serves as honorary captain

Nov 6, 2008 - 6:00 AM MUNCIE, Indiana (Ticker) -- Ball State's game against Northern Illinois on Wednesday was an emotional one for former wide receiver Dante Love.

A preseason All-American who suffered a career-ending injury against Indiana on September 20, Love served as an honorary captain for the 18th-ranked Cardinals and participated in the pregame coin toss.

"He's definitely lifted us as a team," said Ball State coach Brady Hoke, whose club is ranked in the coaches' poll for the first time in school history. "He's lifted me as a head coach with his attitude, fight and desire. It's good to have him around."

Love, a senior, suffered a cervical spine fracture against the Hoosiers and was told on the night of the injury that he would never play football again.

Love has inspired his former teammates and coaching staff with his upbeat attitude, but admitted he initially wanted to "give up."

"The first day when they were trying to get me up, I really wanted to say, 'Forget it,'" Love said during a news conference Tuesday, when he spoke publicly about the injury for the first time.

"I wasn't eating, I couldn't walk, I couldn't move on my own, I couldn't reach to get the remote. It was tough."

Once considered an NFL prospect, Love is facing a lengthy recovery process, although he is expected to regain full strength.

Love is able to walk under his own power, but not without a limp, and is facing several more months of rehab. His blood pressure also remains unsettled.

"I knew it (the injury) happened for a reason," he said. "(God) got me this far. He got me to college. I'm going to be able to walk. Football is not my life."

Love has attended a number of Ball State's practices and also was at the Cardinals' last home game, a 38-16 victory over Eastern Michigan on October 25.

Prior to Wednesday's 45-14 romp over Northern Illinois, Love participated in the coin toss with Ball State captains Dan Gerberry and Brandon Crawford. He then watched from the press box as the Cardinals improved to 9-0 for the first time since 1965.

Love underwent a five-hour surgical procedure on September 20 to stabilize a cervical spine fracture and a spinal cord injury. He sustained the injuries when he took a helmet-to-helmet hit in Ball State's 42-20 victory over Indiana earlier that night.

Prior to the injury, the 5-10 Love had averaged 144.3 receiving yards per game, the best mark in the nation.

Love finished eighth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in receptions last season with 100 for 1,398 yards and 10 touchdowns.