On October 30, Midkiff was part of another red-letter day in Ball State football history—the kickoff of "Drive to Distinction," the $12 million fund-raising campaign that will transform the nearly 40-year-old stadium into a first-class football facility.

The multi-year campaign, which has already raised more than $6.6 million, seeks private funding for the expansion and renovation.

Ball State President Jo Ann Gora emphasized the importance of the university's student-athlete model as she spoke to the crowd of alumni and friends gathered at the Alumni Center for the campaign kick-off event before the game against Northern Illinois.

"Our student-athletes receive their educations in outstanding academic facilities, and they should compete in a stadium they are proud to call home," the president said, referring to recently released NCAA figures which indicate that Ball State's four-year graduation rate is the highest among public universities in Division I-A, and 24 points above the national average.

Others expressing their enthusiasm for the stadium plan were Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham, Muncie Mayor Dan Canan, Board of Trustees member and alumnus Greg Schenkel, Ball State Student Foundation President Ann Henry, and longtime Ball State supporter John Fisher, the former president and chairman of Ball Corporation, who is chairing the 35-member "Drive to Distinction" campaign committee.

John and June Scheumann, who made the $2 million lead gift for the campaign, were also introduced. The Scheumanns have made several major gifts in the university over the years, including $1 million toward the construction of the new athletic training facility in 2000. John Scheumann, a former Cardinal defensive tackle who graduated in 1971 with a degree in accounting, acknowledged his appreciation for his Ball State experience and the football scholarship he received as an undergraduate.

Tim Clary played for the Cardinals from 1977 through 1980 and received both his undergraduate degree in business and his MBA from Ball State. "Playing a team sport at that level instilled a strong sense of discipline and a work ethic that has stayed with me," explains Clary, who is president of Chicago Community Bank. "Today, I rely on many of those life lessons learned in athletics to guide my decision-making and strategies in business."

Midkiff says that being part of a winning program led by Ray Louthen and his coaching staff was significant to him and his teammates, particularly during the turbulent '60s. "It was a trying time. They gave us a solid grounding and inspired us. Their direction, leadership, and example made every one of us a better man," he says.

Louthen, who was acknowledged during the October 30 campaign announcement, served as athletic director, head football coach, and head baseball coach during his 28-year tenure at Ball State. In his six seasons as football coach, from 1962 to 1967, he never experienced a losing campaign, leading the Cardinals to their first Bowl appearance in the Grantland Rice Bowl in 1965. Louthen was instrumental in Ball State's achieving entry into the MAC.

Louthen believes it's time for the stadium transformation. "We played our first game in the new stadium in 1967, but we're still playing there, and it needs to be improved," he says. "If we're going to be in Division I, we need to compete in Division I, and to compete, we need a Division I stadium."

Former player Eric Scherrer, a Muncie resident who is a member of the Cardinal Varsity Club board, the "Drive to Distinction" campaign committee, and Cardinal Football Alliance, also stresses the need for the stadium renovation, which benefits both the university and Muncie communities. "Adding the new training facility and the lights has already made a big difference," says the 1977 graduate. "Now we need to make the improvements to the stadium in order to stay competitive in the Mid-American Conference."

Former player Brent Baldwin, a member of the Ball State football coaching staff and 1996 graduate, knows first-hand the impact of the stadium on football recruits, as well as other students. "Our stadium is the first thing people see when they visit campus," he says, noting that student-athletes rank facilities very high in their college decision.

Head Coach Brady Hoke, who played for Ball State from 1977 to 1980, agrees with Baldwin. "Recruiting is the lifeblood of a quality football program," Hoke comments. "When you have a first-class facility, it instills pride and demonstrates a commitment to the players, the team, the program, and the university."

Clary, a former classmate and teammate of Hoke, and other former players—members of the Cardinal Football Alliance, an organization of Ball State football alumni headed by Midkiff—express enthusiasm for supporting Coach Hoke and his staff.

"I believe the new stadium will allow him and the university to be more successful," says Clary. "Athletics are an integral part of a university's mission. Attracting the best student-athletes requires a commitment by the university to strong academic programs and also to its athletic teams. Its facilities are a significant expression of its commitment."

Midkiff agrees. "I'm very proud of the university. Under the leadership of President Gora, we can build on what's been done and go on to new heights," he says, noting that he now looks forward to adding to his Ball State football memories by attending the first game in the newly transformed stadium.