Brady Hoke scurried around the bright new field turf of Schuemann Stadium with his whistle in hand, shouting out instructions as he taught the game of football.
The only thing missing from a typical football practice were fully padded players. Instead, Hoke's audience was women from the Muncie community.
Approximately 100 women attended the first-ever Women's Football Academy Saturday at the Cardinals' football complex. Cost of admission was $30 and all proceeds went to The Cancer Center at Ball Memorial Hospital.
"We wanted to make sure that any woman who was interested in the game of football had an opportunity to be around the game," Hoke said. "Hopefully we taught them a little more about the game and got them ready to play and enjoy the game more when they watch it."
During the six-hour clinic, the women did everything from kicking field goals to observing a player's typical workout regimen.
In individual drills, wide receiver Dante Love taught the women how to properly catch footballs; tight end Darius Hill demonstrated how to run receiving routes and center Dan Gerberry showed what it took to be a part of the "Chain Gang."
"It's really fun for us players," Love said. "I like that I get the chance to demonstrate and show the ladies what they don't know about being a receiver or any of the positions. It's exciting watching the ladies learn things [about my sport]."
While events in the women's clinic were planned around the idea of fun, there was a bigger purpose Saturday than just having a good time. Love said he was happy to be involved in a fight against cancer.
"I didn't know that everything we made here today was going toward The Cancer Center, but I think it's great," Love said. "One of my aunts had breast cancer and cancer is something that affects a lot of people. So I'm happy our program took the time to recognize the cancer program and donate a lot of money."
In the group of nearly 100 women was Brenda Sloan, who is a research nurse at The Cancer Center. Aside from her love of Ball State football, Sloan said the biggest reason she attended the camp was to help support the worthy cause.
"When I heard that the proceeds went to The Cancer Center, I went around and tried to get all the people I could to come [Saturday]," Sloan said. "It means a lot [to see so many people here] because helping the patients is the main focus at work and that's what this is all about. I think the turnout is a lot better than any of us thought it would be for it being the first year."
Football players were not the only athletes to make an appearance at the women's clinic. Ball State soccer players Annie Aiello and Bailey Decker attended the session to help support the team and its cause.
Aiello said she learned a lot about football during her time at the women's clinic.
"I now know that I knew nothing about football," Aiello said with a laugh. "I play soccer in the fall, but when I'm here I try to get to as many football games as I can. I'm a big fan and I like to support the [football] team."
The day concluded with an hour-long pick-up game on the Cardinals' home field. The women were some of the first people to be able to play football on the new playing surface.
Love said the highlight of the clinic for him was seeing the women play on the Schuemann stadium field.
"The ladies were having fun doing the drills, but now it's more exciting because they get to really play the team sport and see how we play," Love said. "Just seeing the ladies really enjoying the game, I think it makes them want to come watch us play even more because they understand the game a lot better."
As successful as Saturday was, Hoke believes the clinic will improve with each passing year.
"I'm real pleased with the turnout today," Hoke said. "Hopefully next year we can triple it or quadruple it because I think the cause is so outstanding."
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