Ball State's Parrish ready for Hurricane in GMAC Bowl

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Stan Parrish was so impressed by Tulsa's offense in last year's GMAC Bowl, he decided to take a crash course in the system during the spring.

Now, Parrish has been promoted to head coach at Ball State just in time to face the Golden Hurricane in the same bowl game Tuesday night.

Who would've thunk it? said Parrish, the Cardinals' former offensive coordinator. Brady (Hoke) leaves and I'm the head coach. It's just unbelievable. The football gods make things work in strange ways, don't they?

Parrish spent a day and a half studying the offense with Tulsa co-offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, seeking new ways to use star receiver Dante Love. Malzahn is leaving to run Auburn's offense after this game, Parrish has taken over following Hoke's departure for San Diego State, and the dynamic Love sustained a career-ending spinal cord injury in September.

The two teams have more in common than the few offensive touches Ball State (12-1) still uses from that springtime visit, though. Both lost in their conference championship games to mar historic seasons.

Tulsa (10-3), which fell 27-24 to East Carolina in the CUSA title game, reached double-digit wins two seasons in a row for the first time. The 10 wins matches a school record accomplished six previous times.