Ball State WR Love released from Indy rehab center

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State receiver Dante Love has been released from an Indianapolis rehabilitation center and will continue therapy on campus for the spinal injury that ended his playing career, coach Brady Hoke said Monday.

Love, who was leading the nation with 144.3 yards receiving per game at the time, was injured on a hard tackle during the Cardinals' 42-20 win at Indiana on Sept. 20. He underwent surgery the following day.

"He's doing great," Hoke said during the weekly Mid-American Conference teleconference. "He's got a great attitude, and he's really becoming his old self."

The No. 24 Cardinals (7-0) have this week off before an Oct. 25 game against Eastern Michigan.

Hoke said the bye week comes at a good time.

"Like everybody else, we're beat up a little bit," he said. "It just goes with college football, midway through the season. So we're going to give the guys a couple days to make sure they're treated and doing those kinds of things, resting a little bit, and then we'll get after it Wednesday and Thursday. We'll get into our regular game-week mode next Sunday."

Off to its best start since the 1965 team won its first nine games, Ball State moved up one spot from last week in the Associated Press poll.

"It's flattering, it's nice, but it doesn't mean a whole lot when you look at what we're trying to get done," Hoke said. "There are some great teams ahead of us, so we have a lot of work to do.'

The Cardinals are 3-0 in the MAC for the first time since 1993. This week, Eastern Michigan (2-5, 1-2) hosts Akron, which earlier lost to Ball State 41-24.