With one home football game left, Ball State is officially 8,812fans short of averaging 15,000 (75,000 total) in attendance thisyear and being in compliance with NCAA regulations for DivisionI-A.
By falling short of 75,000, the school would face possiblereclassification by the NCAA if the 15,000 average isn't reached in2005, as well.
Though Ball State's last two home finales have brought out lessfans than are needed Saturday (7,957 in 2002 and 8,325 in 2003),and attendance has progressively dropped this season, the athleticsdepartment remains confident that attendance will be highenough.
"I think we're gonna get there," said Matt Wolfert, assistantathletics director for community relations. "At this point, we feelconfident in the support of the community and students."
A school-record 23,718 fans attended the season opener on Sept.2 against Boston College. Since then, however that figure hasfallen to 17,710 (the team's lone win, against Western Michigan),14,612 (Homecoming) and 10,149 (Family Weekend).
Ball State isn't the only school in the Mid-American Conferencehaving trouble meeting the requirement. Of the 14 MAC schools thatare competing in football this year, only six have guaranteed anaverage of 15,000. Two of those schools are Marshall and CentralFlorida, who are leaving the MAC after this season.
Miami, Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan and Toledo are theother four schools that have already met the requirement.
Among those who have not met the 15,000 requirement, Akron,Buffalo and Kent State seem to be in the most trouble.
Akron needs 13,168 fans to attend its Nov. 20 contest againstMiami, but has only reached that mark twice this season. Whilegames against Middle Tennessee State and Marshall brought out wellabove this mark, contests against Buffalo and Ball State failed tobring out 8,000.
Buffalo will need 20,568 to meet the mark, a feat it has onlyaccomplished twice in the past three years, against Syracuse thisyear, and against Lehigh in 2002. Both were season openers. In thepast three years, Buffalo has not been able to earn 12,000 fans inany game after September.
Kent State, meanwhile, needs 16,588 fans against EasternMichigan this weekend, a mark only met in season openers andagainst rival Akron in the past three years.
Other schools that will be trying to reach marks: Bowling Green,who needs 6,072 fans against Marshall this weekend; CentralMichigan, who will needs 10,672 to attend the Ball State game nextweekend; Ohio, who needs 6,880 against Akron; and Western Michigan,who is 6,988 short of averaging 15,000.
To help ensure a high enough turnout at Ball State, theathletics department has done several promotions.
Wolfert said about 4,000 vouchers have been distributed tobusinesses throughout Muncie. Customers can redeem the vouchers forfree tickets, and Wolfert said his goal is to get a 25-percentreturn on them.
The department is also offering tickets to regional veteransassociations and local Boy and Girl Scout troops.
Weather forecasts, which earlier in the week indicated a chanceof snow on Saturday, now show clear skies with high temperatures inthe 40s.
According to Rob Richards, assistant ticket manager, about 8,000tickets for Saturday had been sold.
"We're at about where we've been last couple games," he said."It'll all just depend on the walk up and how many students come.That will be the determining factor."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
