Ball State University's student section was labeled "Mid-American Conference No. 1 Student Section" because of the Nest.
Go to a game and receive free rally towels, "The Nest" T-shirts and even promotional energy drinks.
If it's a Ball State men's basketball game, anyway. At the women's home games, it's more of a case of empty nest syndrome - and not the kind your mother was experiencing when you and your siblings left for college.
The issue here is that while the men's basketball team has lost twice as many games as they've won, the women's team is 15-2 and undefeated in the MAC.
It would seem that fans would flock to the games where our team is winning, but this isn't the case at Ball State.
Instead, promotions from the university are drawing plenty of fans for the men's games, even though the team's record is inferior.
When Ball State has one team that is playing better than at any time in its history and another that has a record that few students can be proud of, it's obvious which team should have more enticing factors to increase attendance.
In addition to giving the fans of the men's teams all kinds of goodies to get them through the door and keep them there during games, the university should give equal attention, regardless of sex.
Putting aside season records, women's games are just as important as the men's games. Both teams are representative of Ball State and deserve equal treatment from both fans and the university alike.
Arguably, most students should be attending the women's games to cheer them on as they fight toward completing what could be the greatest year in Ball State's history. Instead, students are going to the men's games for the free promotions and don't really seem to care if the team has one of the worst records in history.
Although the support is great for the men, the women's
team - along with other Ball State sports that might go unrecognized - deserve more respect as well.
But, at a school where students might recognize lyrics to the latest Fergie song more than our own fight song, school spirit is always an uphill battle.
All teams deserve student support, though it comes easier depending on the venue and number of homestands.
As the saying goes, never put all your eggs in one basket - err ... Nest.
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