Ball State University needs one more game to finalize its 2009 football schedule after adding the University of North Texas.
Ball State is scheduled to play North Texas at Scheumann Stadium in 2009 and in Denton, Texas during the 2013 season, according to documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
"It's a good contract and it gets us a home game," Tom Collins, Ball State's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said.
According to the contract, which was signed in August 2007, Ball State will pay North Texas $175,000 in 2009 for playing in Muncie. However, the Cardinals will receive $175,000 after its 2013 road game in Denton.
Last season North Texas was 2-10 and 1-6 in the Sun Belt with first-year coach Todd Dodge. Ball State finished the regular season 7-5 and advanced to its first bowl game since 1996. The 2009 match up will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Collins said the contract stays within his philosophy of scheduling a home-home series, as opposed to being contracted to play two road games for one home game, like Ball State is currently doing with Indiana University.
Eric Capper, North Texas' associate athletic director, said the Mean Green are looking forward to playing the Cardinals because both schools are in a similar situation with scheduling home-and-home contracts.
"There are several factors when you schedule that you take into consideration," he said. "For us, especially at one of the conferences that is a non-BCS conference it's difficult to find teams that are non-BCS and that are competitive to play against. Those schools struggle to find schools to play in home-and-home series and you're only assured a home-and-home if you schedule teams from conferences like the [Mid-American Conference], Conference USA and the Mountain West. You can't do a one-for-one with [the University of] Michigan or Purdue [University]."
Capper said North Texas was happy to see Ball State make the International Bowl this season because it's beneficial for the Mean Green to play high-quality opponents.
"We want all the teams we play to make our schedule stronger," he said. "It's not one of those situations where we were trying to find an easy opponent."
The Cardinals have three of their four non-conference games scheduled for the 2009 season. In 2005 Ball State revised a contract with Auburn University to play the Tigers in 2009. Also, the Cardinals will travel to West Point to play Army in 2009.
Collins said Ball State is currently in contact with several schools about adding another home game, but it will not add another big-name school to the 2009 schedule.
Collins said when scheduling games multiple years in advance one of the goals is to schedule games that will be exciting for the fans.
"You're just trying to find a match up that you haven't had before and make it excellent event for alumni to travel to," Collins said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
