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Ball State football ready to sustain momentum after historic season.

Photo by Samantha Blankenship

Cardinal players celebrate their Arizona Bowl victory that capped a seven-game winning streak, including a MAC title—achievements placing the team among the greatest in Ball State history. T o say there’s a ton of optimism around the prospects for the 2021 Ball State football team would surely qualify as an understatement.

After coming off its first outright MAC championship since 1996, the team defeated Mountain West Conference champs San Jose State, 34-13, in the 2020 Arizona Bowl, marking the first-ever bowl win in Ball State history. In final Associated Press and Coaches Poll rankings, the Cardinals ranked 23rd nationally.

Adding to the optimism is the fact that 20 starters from last year’s team will return this upcoming season.

“We never take anything for granted, but we’re very hopeful and can’t wait to get going,” said Mike Neu, ’94, head football coach since 2016.

“This is a well-grounded team, and a team that’s working harder than any I’ve had here in the past. I can promise our fans we’ll not be resting on our laurels.”

Of the 20 returning starters, 16 are seniors from last year who took advantage of an extra year of eligibility offered by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If you follow college football, you know the transfer portal is very active,” Neu said. “The fact that these seniors want to be a part of Ball State football again is something we all greatly value and appreciate.”

Quarterback Drew Plitt is among those 16 seniors and will be leading Ball State as the starter for the third-consecutive year.

“Drew just makes everyone around him better,” Neu said. “I can’t even begin to put into words how important it is to have him with us again.”

Adding to the excitement is the opening of the Scheumann Family Indoor Practice Facility (see more on p. 40).

“It’s one of the best indoor football practice buildings I’ve ever seen,” Neu said. “It’s simply a game-changer for us.”

The non-conference portion of the Fall schedule includes the first trip in school history to Big 10 powerhouse Penn State, as well as a trip to Wyoming. And for the first time since 2013, the Cadets of Army will return to Muncie to face the Cardinals in Scheumann Stadium.

“No doubt we have a challenging non-conference schedule, and our MAC schedule is always tough,” Neu said. “But that’s how we want it, and I think the fans are in store for some great football.”

Speaking of fans, Neu remains hopeful the COVID-19 situation will allow as many as possible into the stands in 2021.

“As of right now, we don’t know how the Fall will look in that regard,” he said. “But we do know our fans are the lifeblood of our football team, and let’s hope we can welcome them back in big numbers.” — Dan Forst, ’85

September 2

Western Illinois

September 11

@ Penn State

September 18

@ Wyoming

September 25

Toledo (Family Weekend)

October 2

Army

October 9

@ Western Michigan

October 16

@ Eastern

Michigan

October 23

Miami (Homecoming)

November 2

@ Akron

November 10

@ Northern

Illinois

November 17

Central Michigan

November 23

Buffalo For ticket info, visit ballstatesports.com

March Madness Gets Cardinal Assist

Ball State was selected as a host institution for the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament that was solely held in venues across Indiana. The University hosted games played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever. According to Josh Rattray—assistant director of Athletic Communications who also served as media coordinator for the games—it was a memorable experience resulting in:

games hosted practices hosted press conferences managed

Ball State women’s tennis won its third MAC championship in the past five years in a season that featured 22 consecutive wins and an overall regular season mark of 22-3, with only one loss coming in conference play. The Cardinals’ stellar season also resulted in a trip to the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in school history, both under eighth-year head coach Max Norris.

media members

served at Ball Statehosted games

Ball State staff and students participating

number of basketballs chased down during free throw practice

Ball State baseball has a new career strikeout leader. On April 23, senior right-handed pitcher John Baker recorded his 358th strikeout, eclipsing the old mark of 357 set in 2002 by Bryan Bullington who, in that same year, was the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft. Baker, a finance major from Hartland, Michigan, entered the 2021 season as the active Division I college baseball career strikeout leader.

His career honors at Ball State include being named to the 2019 All-MAC first team, as well as being named to Collegiate Baseball’s preseason All-American third team in both 2019 and 2020. Baker was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 29th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, but elected to return to Ball State for his senior seasons in 2020 and 2021 (he was given an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

inspiring you to reach your goals

Amazing opportunities await you in the advanced degree and certificate programs offered by the Graduate School at Ball State. Inspiring faculty and innovative learning experiences on our vibrant campus will empower you to grow, thrive, and take flight in your career. We’ll meet you where you are and help you achieve your aspirations.

bsu.edu/gradadmissions

Great

JORDYN BLYTHE

Motivated to Affect Change

Expectations F or Jordyn Blythe, embracing future challenges also means learning from the past. One such lesson hit home for the Honors College student last Summer, when Blythe learned from her father the story of her first-born brother’s death decades ago as an infant. “The doctor was very dismissive and told my parents to wait until Monday to bring him in. He died that Sunday,” she said. “I refuse to believe if my parents were white that This Spring, we asked several people to share their hopes, would have happened.” Her family’s tragedy and a growing desire to address dreams, and predictions for the University based on systematic racism are motivating her to consider a career aimed at resolving health and race-related disparities. their experiences as students, faculty, administrators, “I’m really interested in disparities affecting Black community leaders, and alumni. Each has a unique women,” said Blythe, a Communication Studies and Political Science double major set to graduate in perspective, but shares a strong belief that when it Spring 2022. comes to Ball State’s future, the best is yet to come. Whether she chooses among her options to work for not-for profits or pursue a career in law or politics, she’s already displayed considerable mastery related to leadership and affecting change. Empowered by parents who place a high value on community involvement, Blythe came to the University, having formed the Black Student Union at her high school in Normal, Illinois. At Ball State, she co-founded the Student Anti-Racism and Intersectionality Advisory Council, volunteered as a Cardinal Corps Ambassador, was vice president for the Student Government Association, and president of the Delta Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a Black sorority. Blythe attends the University on a Whitinger Scholarship, which recognizes exceptionally talented Honors College students and is considered Ball State’s most prestigious scholarship. She said the college was “a huge draw” for deciding to attend Ball State. “The Honors College teaches you how to be a good person, an ethical person, and to listen to different perspectives, to come together to create something beautiful from that.” Blythe shines as a dynamic communicator, having participated on Ball State’s Speech Team since freshman year. She’s also already completed requirements for a Spanish minor. Looking to the future, she urged Ball State to intensify ongoing efforts to construct a more inclusive curriculum supporting a free exchange of ideas. “As long as Ball State continues creating more outlets for students to express their opinions and feel they’re being heard, the University will be advancing more rapidly,” she said. — Susan DeGrane