This weekend, Ball State University football fans have a couple ways to enjoy the away game against University of Nebraska. Either huddle up around radios, spend $30 to watch the game on pay-per-view or head to sports restaurants planning to show the game.
Oh wait, make that sports restaurant - singular.
At least the owner of Beef O'Bradys realizes people living near or attending Ball State might want to watch the game without shelling out the pay-per-view fee. Unfortunately, at least seven other local sports restaurants or bars aren't planning to show the football game, and two of them are only blocks from campus.
Why a sports bar near campus isn't showing the game is baffling. They all should be.
For the first time in years it appears a majority of students actually care about Ball State football. Look at the attendance. In Cardinals' season-opener against Miami University, the team drew a school record of 7,885 students to the game.
Muncie restaurants can draw these students to their venues Saturday just by purchasing the pay-per-view game. Even if a few people show up, odds are the restaurant will make up that money in food and beverage sales or cover charges.
Additionally, this is your chance to watch a Ball State football team as it enters a game against a national power and isn't expected to lose by 50 points.
Yes, Ball State hung in there against the University of Michigan last year, but for the last few seasons there have been plenty of non-conference drubbings, such as a 63-3 loss to Auburn University in 2005 and a 59-7 loss to Purdue University in 2004. However, this year Ball State enters a game against a nationally-ranked team with momentum.
Saturday, Ball State defeated Navy 34-31 in overtime for its first non-conference win against a Division I opponent since 2002 and this is the first time since 1995 that the Cardinals have a winning record three games into a season.
If you are a college football fan consider your options Saturday. You can either watch a traditional powerhouse play a team riding a two-game winning streak, or spend the entire afternoon getting geared up to watch University of Notre Dame, which is still trying to score its first touchdown of the season.
Along with Beef O'Bradys, all local restaurants and bars with TVs, especially those near campus, should show the game against Nebraska. Ball State fans should flock to those businesses for hours of cheering, screaming and bonding. It's the next-closest thing to a Ball State home crowd.
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