Super Bowl XLI featuring the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts is a few days away and the euphoria surrounding it has some students hoping for a free day without classes.
The push for a day off began with the creation of the Facebook group called "Cancel Classes after Super Bowl Sunday" and has spread out into hanging flyers in an attempt to gain more support. Although it's not bad to have dreams, I don't even think the guys of "Animal House" could accomplish the movement of canceling classes after the Super Bowl.
The thought of no classes on Feb. 5 will be punted away by the administration. The idea may be discarded in similar fashion to Chicago Bears punter Brad Maynard effortlessly pinning the opposition inside the 20-yard line.
The former Ball State Cardinal is now one of the NFL's best directional punters. Maynard holds the school record with 242 punts for 10,702 yards and is ranked third in NCAA history with a 42.2-yard career average.
Maynard's no stranger to holding records, as he owns the record for most punts in a Super Bowl with 11. The record was set in 2001 during Super Bowl XXXV when he was with the New York Giants. The game featured many uphill battles for Maynard's team, which was up against arguably the best defense since the "Steel Curtain" in the Baltimore Ravens.
Students would likely face a similar climb if the fight to get classes canceled came down to a football game at Scheumann Stadium.
Imagine students and faculty members filling the stadium to witness the Ball State administration versus a team of randomly selected students. It surely would be hyped as the ultimate battle for academic supremacy.
The student body would have to pull a play from the 1985 Bears playbook similar to that of 326 pound William "Refrigerator" Perry's touchdown run in Super Bowl XX. Yes, lots of trickery would have to be involved if students were to come out victorious.
In reality, the idea of getting classes canceled by the university has no chance. A better chance would have to be given to Peyton Manning throwing a third touchdown pass to defensive tackle Dan Klecko.
Surprisingly, one group of students won't be attending their Monday classes. Heritage Christian School, a private school on the northeast side of Indianapolis canceled classes following the Super Bowl for no other reason than to show how much it supports the Indianapolis Colts.
No matter who you are rooting for in the Super Bowl, it should be an encouraging sign to see the Ball State student body excited and trying to get each other involved. As college students, we aren't as fortunate to miss a day of classes because responsibility is greater and the schedule to get tasks completed hard to change.
In the middle of the pandemonium following Super Bowl XLI, don't forget to be proud that some students tried to make the celebration one to remember. Barring a spectacular ice storm, the idea of getting classes canceled will come up short.
Write to Dan at daladig@bsu.edu
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