Indiana University will become the first Big 10 school to play on Ball State University turf, as part of the 2006 football schedule, which includes two other Big 10 teams.
The schedule also includes away games against the University of Michigan and Purdue University and a second home out-of-conference game against Division IAA’s North Dakota State University.
Ball State opens its season in the biggest collegiate stadium in the country, Michigan Stadium, home of the Wolverines, on Sept. 2. “The Big House,” as it’s known, holds 107,501 people. Should a sellout occur, Ball State would play in front of its largest crowd. The largest previous crowd for a Ball State game was 85,095 in 2000 at Florida.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity,” Ball State head coach Brady Hoke said. “We’re going to one of the greatest venues in Michigan. Playing in Michigan gives us an opportunity to stay in the Midwest and for our fan base to go to Ann Arbor.”
The Hoosiers travel to Ball State the following weekend for their first-ever game in Muncie. “It’s a great opportunity for us to have a Big 10 opponent [at home],” Hoke said. “That gets us a chance to have six home games.”
The Cardinals also travel to Purdue for the second time in three years on Sept. 16 and host North Dakota State on Sept. 23.
Ball State’s deals with Michigan and North Dakota State are one-year deals, Hoke said. The Purdue game is the second in a three-game agreement, while the game against Indiana begins a three-year deal. Hoke also said he didn’t know when Ball State would complete the deal with Purdue and didn’t know when the Cardinals would play IU two more times.
“We wanted to add more home games,” Cunningham said. “That’s for the community and fans of Ball State football.”
Two of the opponents — Michigan and North Dakota State — have never played Ball State. Indiana and Ball State have played twice since 1997, both times in Bloomington.
Hoke was the associate head coach and offensive lines coach at Michigan in 2002, and he said Michigan contacted Ball State about coming to Ann Arbor.
“My having been there eight years probably has something to do with them asking,” Hoke said.
“Coach Hoke was very instrumental in getting the [Michigan] game scheduled,” athletics director Bubba Cunningham said. “The majority of the time when we play those schools, it’s good for Ball State. It brings enthusiasm.”
Indiana head football coach Terry Hoeppner said Big 10 schools playing at MAC campuses generally provide a great atmosphere.
“We open up the season at Central Michigan,” he said. “It’s going to be a great atmosphere. It won’t be different at Ball State because MAC schools like to play Big 10 schools now.”
The Cardinals traveled to Purdue in 2004, and they have played the Boilermakers a total of six other times.
Connections with previous Mid-American Conference coaches helped Ball State land the game against Indiana. The Hoosiers’ coach, Hoeppner, was previously head coach at Miami (OH) from 1999 to 2004, and he accepted the job at Indiana in December of last year.
“Having coached in the MAC for 19 years, I have a tremendous respect for Ball State,” Hoeppner said. “Playing in-state rivals is great for college football.”
Former Ball State head coach Bill Lynch is the assistant head coach for the Hoosiers.
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
