In its game at the University of Notre Dame today, the Ball State University softball team is guaranteed $600 and pizza.
Although the contract between the universities, which was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, says Ball State (20-16, 2-2 Mid-American Conference) will get pizza, coach Craig Nicholson said the team will likely get Jimmy John's before the game.
"They do that instead of playing a home and home," Nicholson said. "They don't want to come here and so they pay for a large part of our trip."
Elizabeth Milian, a pitcher and designated player, said she would prefer Jimmy John's before the game, but Kamilah Holle, who plays second base, said she would rather have the pizza.
Nicholson said guaranteed money games, while not common five years ago, are becoming more common. The bigger schools can draw a larger crowd at home, he said, and are thus willing to pay for opponents to come their schools.
Notre Dame (17-10 overall, 1-1 Big East) coach Deanna Gumpf said Notre Dame does guaranteed money games because it only has three miss-class days for its athletes.
"I pay them because we academically can't get out of class to return trips," she said.
Last year Ball State visited Notre Dame and lost 3-0.
Nicholson said the Cardinals will have to play really well to beat the Irish this year. Ball State is close to playing really well right now, he said, but something is holding the team back.
"I can't put my finger on it," Nicholson said. "If I could answer that question we would be 30-6 and not 20-16."
Midweek non-conference games, such as Notre Dame, are important to stay sharp in during conference play, Nicholson said. Ball State does treat the in-state games a little different by putting in its best lineup because it wants to do good against the other Indiana schools, he said.
Holle, who is from Granger, said she wants to do good against Notre Dame because it is near her home.
"I want to beat them really bad," Holle said. "I've never wanted to play for them, but I want to beat them."
With Notre Dame being so close to her home, Holle said, the Cardinals will stop at her house after the game like they did last year for a home-cooked meal. It's nice to be able to have her family come and watch her, she said, and then go home with all of her teammates for her parents' cooking, which will probably be mostacholi, mashed potatoes and a fruit bowl.
Milian said she is looking forward to the Holle cooking more than the Jimmy John's.
"Home cooking is always better than fast food," she said.
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