Whatever the scoreboard reads at the end of the Ball State University football team's game against Northeastern University, the small Boston school is guaranteed one thing: $175,000.
Ball State will pay Northeastern $175,000 for playing in their season opener Thursday at Scheumann Stadium - the typical price to play a home game against a team from a small conference, Athletics Director Tom Collins said.
While such arrangements like this are common, the details are rarely made public. Ball State's arrangements with Northeastern and other schools are detailed in documents obtained through the Indiana Access to Public Records Act.
Collins said he is happy with the Northeastern contract because the game balances the Cardinals' schedule and allows for six home games this season.
"We are excited to have them here and to kick off the season against them," Collins said.
The contract between the schools was signed August 2005, four months prior to Collins replacing Bubba Cunningham as the Cardinals' athletics director.
Collins was uninvolved in the contract negotiations, but said he did not have any problems with the Northeastern contract.
"The university entered into the contract, and we intend to uphold our commitments," he said.
During the 2007 season, the Cardinals received $1.45 million for playing road non-conference games, including $725,000 from then-No.24 University of Nebraska and $325,000 from BCS Bowl participant University of Illinois.
Collins said it is a different feeling to pay an opponent for a non-conference home game.
The Northeastern game is the most money Ball State will pay a non-conference opponent this season, according to contracts obtained through the Indiana Access to Public Records Act.
Ball State will pay Navy $150,000 for their game Sept. 5 at Scheumann Stadium. In addition, the Cardinals will receive $85,000 from Western Kentucky University and $125,000 from Indiana University for playing road games against the two schools.
Collins said it is common for a Football Bowl Subdivision team to pay a Football Championship Subdivision team about $200,000 for a home game. He also said about five years ago it would cost $100,000 to play a home game against a Football Championship Subdivision team.
"The market is going up for Division I-AA teams," Collins said. "The market changes and there are some dynamic changes."
Thursday's game will be the first time Ball State plays Northeastern and is the only game scheduled between the two schools, according to the contract.
Collins said the Cardinals could schedule another game against the Huskies in the future. However, it is rare for Ball State to play a home game against an East Coast Football Championship Subdivision team, he said, because of travel reasons.
"Not a lot of them want to fly," Collins said.
Collins said it could play more home games against Football Championship Subdivision teams. He also said the more than $13 million renovations to Scheumann Stadium, which were completed in August 2007, and the Cardinals playing in the 2008 International Bowl will make Ball State more attractive to Football Championship Subdivision teams.
Collins said he expects a good football game Thursday.
"It's a home game and it's a good challenge," Collins said.
Click here to view the contract between Ball State and Northeastern.
Trading moneyGames Ball State paid to play at home since the 2007 season2007: Western Kentucky - $85,000Thursday: Northeastern - $175,000Sept. 5: Navy - $150,000
Games Ball State received money to play on the road since 20072007: Navy - $150,0002007: Nebraska - $725,0002007: Illinois - $325,0002007: Indiana - $250,000Sept. 20: Indiana - $150,000Oct. 11: Western Kentucky - $85,000
HistoryThe Ball State and Northeastern game is the sixth time in the last 10 years the Cardinals will play a home game against a Football Championship Subdivision team
2006: North Dakota St., L 29-242003: Indiana State, W 31-72002: Indiana State, W 23-212001: Northern Iowa, L 42-392000: Western Illinois, L 24-14
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