One gigantic missed opportunity for Ball State

I, for one, refuse to toe the company line or drink the juice being spewed from the Ball State athletic department, and unfortunately, Brady Hoke that this game is not in our overall interest, financially or program-wise.

We've said all along that to be the best, we've got to beat the best. All Ball State ever wanted was to be recognized for having a great football program. The opportunity went to new heights when the Humanitarian Bowl reached out to us to try to get a Boise State-Ball State matchup.

Instead, Ball State pussed its way out of this. Plain and simple.

You want drama? You want action? You want national attention between two of the top three non-BCS teams who could go mano-a-mano? It's a dream matchup for both teams, for the nation and for both fan bases (don't listen to Boise State's fans because I'm willing to bet Ian Johnson and company would love a shot at Ball State in a battle of the unbeatens).

Look, I understand WHY Ball State said no. The financial implications would've been astrononical. Keeping everybody in hotels for five days, airplane ride for the team, blah blah blah, I get it. But it terms of the progress of the football program, it's a killer. And isn't that is most important?

Everyone's looking at us like a bunch of pussies who didn't want to strain in a game or come close to blemishing our undefeated record. When Bubba Cunningham was our AD, he said he wanted Ball State to be the front porch of the university.

Now, wouldn't being 13-0 and playing a 12-0 Boise State team in the biggest bowl outside of the BCS (and you could argue, better than the BCS game that will involve Cincinnati) put us in that prime position to do it? Any money lost on it would be well worth it.

Would it be a road game? Yes. Remember Fresno State coach Pat Hill's motto? "Anytime, anyplace, anywhere." This is our first year in the national spotlight. If we wanted to get back there next year and try to get in a BCS game, playing this game and beating Boise in Boise would've done it. In case you forgot, we would have the best player on the field. Now, the media — and everyone outside of our little Ball State nook — look at us as a bunch of cowards, and I am almost inclined to agree.

Shame on you, Tom Collins. This decision falls on you. I'm sorry that a battle of unbeatens in a huge bowl game with all of the national spotlight on us wasn't good enough. A win would've more than made up for the financial loss. Yes, it would've turned out to be a road game. Yes, Boise State somewhat bullied us. But you know what? In the non-BCS world, they've earned it. They are where we want to be. And Ball State missed the biggest opportunity possible to do that.

Let's say Ball U were to have gone in there and beats Boise or it's a close loss. If Nate comes back...where would that have set us up next year? Top 15 preseason if not better, not to mention the Boise game fresh on everyone's minds. We could've ruled the roost in the non-BCS teams. Instead, we're a bunch of pansies who looked like we're too scared to play Boise State.

Don't give me the financial bullshit or the fact that beating another non-BCS team would only hurt our standing. A win puts us in prime BCS position for next year and, oh, a $14 million payday, which would've more than recouped the financial losses from the H-Bowl.

Would our fans not get to see us play? Sure. I can't afford the $600 round trip ticket plus three days in the hotel. But don't we want to set ourselves up for the future? I don't understand why nearly everyone on BSUFans is toeing the university line and wants to play in the Motor City Bowl or (puke) GMAC Bowl against Minnesota, NC State, Rutgers or whoever else.

Instead, we're running scared in the eyes of everyone else.

Do you think Central Michigan would've passed on this game?

I don't think so.