1. Ball State is named after the Ball family, which is most known for their brand of canning jars.
2. "Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division" was BSU's original name. "Ball State" was slang later adopted by the state legislature.
3. "Hooserions" was the original mascot. A naming committee chose "Cardinals" due to a coach liking the St. Louis Cardinals' logo.
4. Muncie, IN (BSU's hood) fielded the "Muncie Flyers", one of the first NFL teams.
5. Northern Illlinois University is Ball State's chief rival. The rival game is dubbed "The Battle of the Bronze Stalk", a bronze trophy of corn.
6. Ball State has never won a bowl game (0-7).
7. "The Frog Baby" is Ball State's distant form of 'Sully'. Instead of pennies, students rub the statue's nose for good luck during final exams. The statue is now located in a fountain due to students rubbing away the statue's nose.
8. Six Ball State cheerleaders made the Indianapolis Colts Blue Stampede team.
9. The student body "chirps" at opponents during third down. This involves chirping while making a Cardinal form with your fingers and hand.
10. The student body also places chewed gum on a campus tree. The tree is named, "The Gum Tree" and the act is considered a campus tradition.
Bonus Fact: Ball State players have been known to pay with feces smeared money.
2. "Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division" was BSU's original name. "Ball State" was slang later adopted by the state legislature.
3. "Hooserions" was the original mascot. A naming committee chose "Cardinals" due to a coach liking the St. Louis Cardinals' logo.
4. Muncie, IN (BSU's hood) fielded the "Muncie Flyers", one of the first NFL teams.
5. Northern Illlinois University is Ball State's chief rival. The rival game is dubbed "The Battle of the Bronze Stalk", a bronze trophy of corn.
6. Ball State has never won a bowl game (0-7).
7. "The Frog Baby" is Ball State's distant form of 'Sully'. Instead of pennies, students rub the statue's nose for good luck during final exams. The statue is now located in a fountain due to students rubbing away the statue's nose.
8. Six Ball State cheerleaders made the Indianapolis Colts Blue Stampede team.
9. The student body "chirps" at opponents during third down. This involves chirping while making a Cardinal form with your fingers and hand.
10. The student body also places chewed gum on a campus tree. The tree is named, "The Gum Tree" and the act is considered a campus tradition.
Bonus Fact: Ball State players have been known to pay with feces smeared money.
