The Ball State University women's basketball team gave the university more than a Mid-American Conference West Championship with their 74-73 win over Eastern Michigan Saturday. They can be credited with rejuvenating pride in Ball State athletics, at least until the next championship is won.
The women's basketball team had to overcome the obstacle of support throughout the season. In spite of not gaining much support until their final home game, it didn't deter them from hunting for their first conference championship since the 2002 and 2003 season. Remarkably, they proved to be successful without students hyped up on energy drinks screaming for them, which is a common theme at men's basketball games.
The feeling of pride immediately felt after the women's basketball division title goes far beyond the team. The crowd of 4,711 should be proud they witnessed the women's basketball team win their third title.
The drive to win any type of championship is a feat in itself with countless hours spent practicing, working out and attending events related to promoting one's respective sport. It's a drive that can end in defeat and leave one disappointed for more than a few weeks.
However, the Cardinals quietly posted 21 victories and fought their way toward a division championship.
The team displayed relentless effort on its way to MAC West glory. I will go out on a limb and assume the players achieved one of their goals for the season because of the pride they took in every workout in which they participated and the close attention they paid to the words that came from head coach Tracy Roller.
In a unique way, achieving success on an athletic level and academic level are similar because you have to listen, put in a substantial amount of effort and set goals.
Achieving success requires a certain level of pride and goal setting. You don't want to be the player who continuously warms the bench or the student that is a clone of Ferris Bueller. Granted, the benchwarmer and the Ferris Bueller class-skippers of the world play an important role in society by giving everyone else hope.
Goals are important to have in order to plan for a prosperous future. Heck, the debates between Vote Bare and U.N.I.T.E.D. Initiative - or any debate, for that matter - wouldn't exist if no one had a set of goals.
Yes, you may break a few pencils, get a few scrapes or get into arguments in the process of striving toward your goals, but if you are persistent you will eventually achieve success. However, you may not achieve it with the same ease with which Julie DeMuth hit two free throws to propel Ball State to victory.
The Cards are flying high, but there is still work to be done in fully revitalizing the entire Nest of Cardinal athletics. In order for both men's and women's athletics to keep the theme of pride going, constantly showing up in the win column, setting goals and providing equal promotions for both men's and women's athletic events will be key to a successful future for Ball State athletics.
Dan Ladig is a sophomore psychology major and writes 'The Peanut Gallery' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Dan at daladig@bsu.edu
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