In the early 1980s, Robert Bell, then the Ball State Universitypresident, led a push for state funding to erect a math, Englishand computer-science building.
That push was successful, and the building now bears Bell'sname. Unless a new building is built or the departments are movedto another structure, Robert Bell will forever be associated withthose programs.
Twenty years later, current president Blaine Brownell will soonbecome former president Blaine Brownell, and some are saying histenure will end, to quote T.S. Eliot, not with a bang, but awhimper.
Brownell seems to have already disappeared from the limelight,even though he won't be officially gone until after Jan. 31. Somewould argue that his short stint at BSU doesn't warrant any type ofcommemoration on the university's behalf, but it would be fittingif Brownell's name is immortalized on Ball State's footballstadium.
Brownell's most famous -- or infamous -- feat was eliminatingthree athletic teams and chopping the budgets of several more.
The move -- which Brownell ultimately made alone -- did nottouch the school football team, which is notorious foroverspending. In 2001, the football team spent $108,000 in chartercosts, but it only budgeted $50,000.
In a recent Star Press article, Athletics Director BubbaCunningham patted Brownell on the back for being a good steward ofthe football program and supporting improvements such as stadiumrenovation.
Good for Blaine. Now, hold him accountable.
Forget David Letterman Stadium. Blaine Brownell Field is thisyear's trend because it would fit one of two situations.
First, the football team could succeed in the future. IfMid-American Conference championships and Bowl appearances becomeannual events for Ball State, Brownell should get a piece of thecredit. After all, he could have cut the athletic budget by gettingrid of a few of the 85 football scholarships the team currentlyoffers.
Instead, Brownell showed enough foresight to realize that eachof those slots is instrumental in a team's success. A third-stringlong-snapper comes in handy sometimes.
He realized that the football team is projected to spend almostten times as much ($2,568,319) as men's indoor track, outdoor trackand cross country combined ($284,916), and he realized thatoperating the latter three on zero dollars would be more beneficialthan operating the former on $2.2 million.
That's how it could happen.
Or the football team could remain slightly below average (theteam is currently 4-6) and fall behind as the MAC as a wholecontinues to improve. Even worse, the team could get bad again.
Ball State is only three years removed from the nation's longestlosing streak. If the Cardinals fall into a similar drought,renaming the stadium would remind everyone that Brownell once stoodup for a lousy football team and dreamt of bringing fans, prestigeand dollars to the program.
In short, if the team has future success, congratulate BlaineBrownell, wherever he might be when that happens. If the footballprogram wobbles to the ground like a bad pass, blame him.
Write to Jay at jdkenworthy@bsu.edu
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