A record number of students flocked to Ball State University's football home-opener at the newly-renovated Scheumann Stadium Thursday.
The student section set a Ball State record for attendance at a football game with 7,875 fans packed into the east bleachers, despite the Cardinals' loss.
Sophomore Merissa Lesnick, who transferred to Ball State from Purdue University North Central, said she enjoyed the enthusiasm of the Ball State fans.
"It's more than I expected," she said.
In the first row of the student section, fans painted "Ball State Cardinals" on the front of their bodies and "chirp chirp chirp" on their backs.
"[The best part is having] 18 of your best friends taking their shirts off and painting their bodies," junior Ryan Pickell said.
Pickell, who was the "E" in "State" and the "R" in the second "chirp," said the friends will wear the body paint to all the games.
Most of the Ball State fans wore white to the game after coach Brady Hoke asked the them to wear white to "white-out" Miami University.
Sophomore Natalie Fisher said she wore a white tank top because of the "white-out." However, she said she expected more energy from the fans.
"We need more cheering," she said.
Hundreds of fans sat on the new grassy hill just beyond the north end zone.
Junior Jordan Burkholder said he will sit on the grass hill most home games.
"The grass adds a lot," he said. "It's a great experience, it just adds to the feeling."
The hill gives fans a place to get away from drunk fans in the bleachers, Burkholder said. He also said he likes the fact that the field and hill are only separated by a row of small bushes.
Ball State students were the majority of the people at the bottom of the hill. Families with blankets spread out on the grass made up most of the fan population higher on the hill.
Senior Elisha Cripe said she also enjoyed the new seating area.
"It's my new favorite spot," she said.
Cripe's friend, Sally Myers, said she liked the renovations to the stadium. She said she is a fan of the grassy area and the new bathrooms.
Todd Stauffer, a 2007 Ball State graduate, said the best part of the game-day experience is the atmosphere. He said night games have a better atmosphere and do not conflict with other college games he would watch on a Saturday.
"I prefer Thursday night football," Stauffer said. "It gives us something to do at night. On top of that, Saturday football I like watching teams like [the University of] Notre Dame and Purdue [University] play."
However, other fans said they prefer the traditional Saturday afternoon games.
"Saturday games you get away from homework and come out and have a good time," senior Jason Waugh said.
Hundreds of cars filled the tailgating area west of the stadium. Games of cornhole were set up in an almost continuous line throughout the parking lot.
Senior Bryan Williamson said he almost got into a fight because he stepped in front of someone's game of cornhole. However, the former Ball State wide receiver said people were really nice and it was a fun new experience, as he had never been tailgating at a Ball State football game.
"Playing, there's nothing like it," Williamson said. "But being out here, it's fun man."
Beer was even more common in the tailgating area than cornhole.
Senior Mike Grodek said tailgating is his favorite part of Ball State football, at least until the Cardinals start winning.
"I think tailgating is probably the best because we never win," Grodek said. "It's no fun when you go to a game and we're losing, so we got to get drunk before we do it."
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