[1] In 2005, Love enrolled at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and played as a true freshman wide receiver on the football team.
At the end of the season, he was named co-recipient of the John Hodge Award for the team's most outstanding freshman player.
[2] On Saturday, September 20, for their fourth game, the Cardinals traveled to Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers.
With 10:45 left in the second quarter, quarterback Nate Davis threw a short 2-yard pass to the right for Love on a swing route.
An Indiana linebacker grabbed onto Love's shoulder pads from behind, which caused him to lower his head as he pushed forward for more yards.
An Indiana cornerback, Chris Adkins, made the tackle from the front and Love fell to the ground with the ball being knocked loose.
Doctors showed Love x-rays of his fractured neck and informed him that he may eventually walk again, but would never be able to play football.
Head coach Brady Hoke called it the biggest win in school history during a greatly abbreviated post-game press conference.
[5] While unable to play, Love regained the use of his limbs, and on October 25, he returned to assist the team's coaches during the 2008 season.
After the season, Hoke resigned as head coach to take the same position at San Diego State and was replaced by offensive coordinator Stan Parrish.