Ball State University football fans didn't need to travel to Oxford, Ohio, on Tuesday to cheer on their Cardinals in a victory against the Miami University RedHawks.
Rather than commuting 90 minutes to the watch in person, dozens of Ball State students watched the game at Buffalo Wild Wings on East McGalliard Road.
Along with other members of the Ball State gymnastics team, senior Teresa Phipps watched the Cardinals on one of the big-screen TVs at Buffalo Wild Wings.
"It's amazing here because the atmosphere is great," Phipps said. "It's always alive."
Because of her own athletic commitment, senior Cobie Zuk said watching the game with the gymnastic team at the restaurant was the best way to cheer on the football team.
"We couldn't make it to the game because we had practice tonight, so we decided to support the team here instead," Zuk said.
Phipps said hopefully residents of Muncie would see students off campus supporting athletics and spark some more involvement of nonstudents at athletic events.
"It's fun seeing everyone here cheering and showing support to the team and the other fans here," Phipps said. "Maybe people from Muncie will see us supporting the college and more people may come to the next game."
At Scotty's Brewhouse in the Village, fewer fans showed up to watch the game and the ones who did were not students for the most part. The fans cheered twice during the first half, once for each of the Cardinals' touchdowns.
"There are more alums here, not students like it used to be," Ball State fan Jared Burchan said.
Burchan said he and his brother Scott, a Ball State alumnus, tried to get into Buffalo Wild Wings but were unable to get a table. They then went to Scotty's and were seated immediately.
Though Ball State was still battling Miami, Ball State student Matt Myers was already thinking to next week's game against Central Michigan University.
"We got this game easily, and we will be here next week cheering them on again, 100 percent chance of that," Myers said.
Myers said watching the game at a restaurant like Buffalo Wild Wings just makes the game more enjoyable than watching it at home because everyone around is cheering just as much and as loud as him.
His friend, Ball State student Steven Martin, said there is one key benefit to watching the game at Buffalo Wild Wings.
"The wings," Martin said.
If there isn't a conflict in schedules with gymnastics, Zuk said her and her teammates will be cheering on the Cardinals in their potential bowl game.
"We definitely will be going if we don't have a meet or practice," Zuk said. "No matter what, we are going to support them in anyway we can if we can't go to the game."
Myers said he and his friends wouldn't miss a Ball State bowl game under any circumstances.
"We are going, no matter where it is," Myers said. "We don't care if it's in Michigan, California or Japan. We are going to that game."
Teddy Cahill contributed to this story
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