On Saturday, the Ball State University football team beat Eastern Michigan University and this week features an important football game against the Indiana University Hoosiers.
The Cards are playing for both in-state bragging rights as well as regional recognition and, as usual, the football team can expect massive support from their loyal students.
Yes, the loyal students who wouldn't dare waver on their commitment to the Cards.
Right?
According to the Daily News, the student section was 80 percent full at the game.
Looking around during the game, I could see more and more empty seats as the game continued. Even as Ball State was winning, students kept leaving.
Students are supposed to be the die-hard fans that will stay until even the bitterest of ends. Yet last Thursday, the football team played great, beat up on a conference opponent, and was rewarded with the cheers of only a few hundred fans at the end of the game.
Correct me if I am wrong and I'm sorry to say this, but Ball State winning a football game isn't an everyday occurrence.
The football team has won just seven games since the start of the 2004 season. Given that, all BSU victories should be cherished and savored. Somehow, the Ball State student section doesn't comprehend that. Students seemingly come for the tailgating and the first half only. They completely forget that a football game contains of a second half.
And this isn't the first time I've seen this.
In my first Ball State game as a student, the Cards hosted Boston College and were only down three at halftime. Many students were heading out the exits to either beat the traffic or get an early start to their late-night activities.
What kind of example does this set, especially when your program is on the rise?
In order to change this image, many students need to be dedicated at the games.
If you don't like football, no one is requiring you to go. If you do go to the game, plan on staying until the end no matter what happens. And one of the most important steps, show your team colors.
Some BSU students may be shocked to hear that Ball State's colors are cardinal red and white.
And just this week, I am pleading with all students to not wear any apparel supporting Indiana University. Don't wear your IU hat or your Hoosier basketball jersey.
From now until Saturday, show the dedication that is lacking from most of our student section.
And from now on, show some kind of dedication to the bowl-bound football team.
That's right, I said it.
Ball State will be playing in a bowl game. And wouldn't it look better if the team has all of its 18,000 students solidly behind it?
This Saturday, I'm going to watch the field hockey game, tailgate for an hour or two, and stay at Scheumann Stadium for the entire football game.
I'm not expecting many people to do the same, but at least do the last one.
I'll see you on Saturday, decked out in red and white.
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