Ball State is examining ways to distribute resources within its athletics budget to ensure the university will be able to compete at the highest level in the NCAA and offer a quality experience to all its student athletes. As a part of this process, the university is considering reducing the number of teams it fields in order to reallocate funds within the athletics budget. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is also looking for ways to increase non-institutional revenues through a combination of ticket sales, private support, marketing, and corporate support.

Ball State is committed to maintaining its Division 1-A status and its membership in the Mid-American Conference. Like other members of the MAC, five of which have cut sports in the past two years, Ball State is affected by the evolution of the economics of NCAA Division I-A sports and by the structure and priorities of the conference. With 22 sports, Ball State currently supports the greatest number of sports among MAC schools. Combined with the depletion of the athletics reserve account, which held funds received after the men’s basketball team appeared in the 1990 NCAA Sweet Sixteen and which covered budget deficits over the past four years, the strain on the athletic budget has reached a critical point. Simply adding to the athletics budget from university operating funds is not possible because of the continued negative impact of the state’s fiscal situation on university funding. Ball State’s administration is seeking ways to limit increases in the athletics budget to the same level given to other critical areas of the university.

As Ball State considers the issues and options related to budget and sports offered, the university is engaging in a more open process than has been the case at other universities that have eliminated sports programs. Even though this public process has stirred emotions inside and outside the Ball State community, the university believes it is valuable.

At this time, no final decisions have been made. Two committees within the university have reviewed information regarding the athletics budget over the past month and a half. The first committee recommended eliminating six sports, reducing the football roster by 10 players, eliminating an associate athletic director position, and continuing athletic scholarships for the duration of any athlete’s eligibility even if the athletes sport is eliminated. The second committee voted against a motion in support of that recommendation. Bubba Cunningham continues to seek input from campus constituents and to consider the comments he receives from the greater Ball State family of alumni and friends. He is also consulting with peers and experts outside the institution before making a recommendation to Ball State President Blaine A. Brownell.

Comments regarding this process may be sent to Bubba Cunningham at bcunningham@bsu.edu.

The university sincerely hopes this process will result in a viable plan to provide the long-range level of support necessary to give Ball State teams their greatest chance for success and to provide student-athletes with an excellent experience.