A boisterous, record crowd of 23,718, including almost 8,000students, greeted the 2004 Ball State football team Thursday night,the result of permanent lights being installed over the summer.
Students, parents, and alumni all seemed impressed by the newlights, and were pleased to see the attendence record, which wasset in last year's season opener against Indiana State, again beingbroken.
Athletic director Bubba Cunningham said on several occasionsleading up to the game that he expected attendence to improve atnight games because students had more free time and were looking todo something.
Many students seemed to agree with this reasoning.
Freshman Steven Krige said night games were more convenient forBall State fans.
"People have other things going on during the day," he said."There seems to be a lot more intensity in the game due to theattendence."
Junior Trent Tocco agreed.
"If it brings this big a crowd, it's a good investment," hesaid. "Saturday afternoon, there are other things going on, so thenight game appeals to the students."
"Attending a game at night is a lot more enticing (to thestudents)," parent Dave Power said. "It's a lot nicer now than ifit was during this afternoon."
Mark Nauman, the father of cheerleader Natalie Nauman, came tothe ISU game last year and said this year's game had a partyatmosphere to it. He felt the lights were a great addition to theuniversity, as well as the Muncie community.
Sophomore David Holt agreed, saying the lights provide a "betteratmosphere."
Alumnus Bernie Lohsl said the lights add class to the stadium,although he wouldn't want to attend a night game later in theseason.
"If you're gonna be Division I, be Division I," he said. "I cameback because this is a historic night."
"It looks more professional," freshman Allie Jarvis said.
Placing permanent lights was an effort to increase attendance toat least the 15,000 average per game that the NCAA has mandated forall Division I-A schools starting this season.
Dr. Fred Kreamelmeyer, a professor of education at Ball State,thought the lights looked great, and considered the addition asuccess.
While some students said the lights made them more inclined toattend games, others said the addition would have no affect.
"I love football," freshman Ryan Davis said. "I'll come nomatter what."
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