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(10/18/24 2:00pm)
The revitalization of Muncie Central’s football program began in the 2022 season with the hiring of now-head coach Kyle Padgett. Over the past three seasons, Padgett has been tasked with the responsibility of bringing Bearcat football back to what it once was in the early 2000s. A school that won four sectional titles in five years. He saw the Muncie Central job as a golden opportunity to put his dreams into action.“I always want to go battle for the downtrodden or the little guy,” Padgett said. “In the football community, Muncie Central is kind of considered a graveyard or, a dead-end job, and I like a good challenge.”It certainly was a challenge as Muncie Central was coming off the heels of three straight seasons of two wins or fewer. A long-term plan was needed to turn a program that hadn’t had a winning season in six years around. The details of that plan contained ideas that had nothing to do with the football field but culture change.“[Padgett’s] vision of what Muncie Central football would look like under his guidance was very appealing,” Muncie Central athletic director Jeff Holloway said via email. “He spoke a lot about culture and standards, and you can see the growth as he implements that vision on a daily basis.”A part of the vision that was cast on Holloway during the initial hiring process was to change the culture of the football program and the school.“In our community, there's already a commitment issue,” Padgett said. “If you look at our school attendance and nature, that's something we’ve got to overcome. To come in and think that you can automatically get commitment and consistency in athletics is naive.”The priority of being more than just athletes has rang true during Padgett's tenure. Holloway said success in the classroom has drastically improved under Padgett’s supervision.“I’ve seen the most growth in the classroom,” Holloway said. “... The number of absences and tardies to class [has] become almost nonexistent under the direction of Coach Padgett. He preaches the importance of how you do anything, is how you do everything and our kids are starting to mimic that.”After year one under Padgett, he said the vibe around the Muncie Central football team was much different from the athletic director down to the players. But that was just step one in the rebuilding process. Next on Padgett's docket were the lower-level programs at Northside and Southside Middle School. The last time both middle schools had a fully functioning football program was in 2018.Rejuvenating a program that had been dormant for five years was no small task. Padgett’s priority was to gather a coaching staff where everyone was on the same page. An essential part of his plan was to make sure everything was academically and athletically consistent from the top level to the bottom.“We did some revamping with our coaching staff there, and spent a lot of time together with our middle school staff and got them completely on board,” Padgett said. “As far as running our offense and our defense, they did a lot of clinic-ing with us and spent a lot of time in our practices. We're seeing that success at the middle school level.”A part of that revamped coaching staff for the Muncie middle school team is offensive and defensive line coach Joseph Boggs. He said the opportunity to be a part of the development of the Muncie football program means a lot to him.“[I told myself] if you’re wanting to be a good coach this is where you’re going to learn it,” Boggs said. “I felt that it would be beneficial for me and the community.”Boggs was brought on staff in large part because of his playing days at Ball State as an offensive tackle. Padgett wanted to address technique issues across the board and hired Boggs to negate those technical problems on the offensive and defensive line.“My goal is to give [Padgett] kids who know how to get in a three-point stance, fire off, use their hands and understand the scheme of Muncie football,” Boggs said.Building those programs started in the weight room. Padgett said there has been a concerted effort to get at least 90 percent of Muncie Central athletes enrolled in a weightlifting class. That effort has paid off thus far, with 100 more athletes in those classes growing from 197 to now 300 enrolled.This heavy emphasis on the weight room is something Padgett wants to ensure is consistent at the middle school level to allow for cohesion throughout the entire Muncie football program.“They’ve now created a strength and conditioning program at both middle schools, and that sets a foundation for our kids, and they’ll be ahead of the game once they get to high school,” Padgett said. “That’s where we decided to put all our poker chips down and we’ve seen the benefits of that.”Boggs, who’s a part of that middle school weightlifting program, has seen the dividends paid through the effort put into that aspect of player development.A weightlifting program called “The Breakfast Club” is an early morning session implemented for all middle and high school athletes to come to the weight room and lift. “Everybody wants to go to the first one because that's when the most people are going to be there and when it’s the most fun,” Boggs said. “But when you get two months into the summer they’re not wanting to wake up at 7 a.m. to go to Breakfast Club anymore.”This program has been a critical part of the development of the middle school athletes getting to train alongside the high schoolers and receive the same coaching as their older counterparts.“Our coaches are consistent and we tell them ‘we're going to be there, so you should be there, and if you're not there, we're going to ask you why, and you're going to get calls why. If you were busy, well, I need you not to be busy next time,’” Boggs said. “So it’s about consistently digging them and trying to give them an idea that this is serious. If you want to play for us, if you want to be good, you need to be here.”A devotion to the weight room has led to the growth and size of the program but many of these steps would not be possible without the full support of those above Padgett. He said the most important part of this process is Holloway’s unwavering support.“The thing that gives me confidence in growing the program is the way Coach Padgett pays attention to the details,” Holloway said. “His commitment to building the program from the bottom up with the youth is a testament to his passion for building a complete program.”Padgett’s commitment to the youth has been what he has strived for throughout this process. Bringing in more and more disciplined players when they get to the high school level has been the goal from the beginning.This year, and in the coming offseason, the youth league is where Padgett is focused most.“We’ve been going around with our hair on fire shifting our focus to the youth league level,” he said. The focus on the youth level is a part of the development that is the key ingredient in Padgett’s plan to rebuild Muncie football. But in his mind, it’s not all about football. It is developing young men to become successful when they leave his care which determines whether the plan is a success.“You won't know how good of a job you've done until about 5, 10, 15 years after the kids are gone,” Padgett said. “That's when you're gonna know if they're a good husband, a good father, a good worker, if they're contributing to society. That's when you know that you've done it the right way.”Contact David Moore via email at david.moore@bsu.edu or on X @gingninj63.
(10/22/24 2:00pm)
It all started with a long drive.A long drive competition, that is, to see who could drive a golf ball down the fairway the longest at the 2011 Pepsi Little People’s Golf Tournament. A competition that has been won by now Ball State freshman golfer Landon “Happy” Gilmore. Gilmore was bestowed the nickname “Happy” at age six by an onlooker for winning said competition — and it happened to stick.At the time, Gilmore was aware of the film “Happy Gilmore,” but it took some time for him to appreciate his new nickname.“I would say I was around 13 when I finally got the connections and realized how popular the movie was,” Gilmore said. Gilmore said the onlooker giving him his famous nickname is one of his earliest memories of competitive golf, and he said his ability to play golf competitively as a youth made him realize how much he loved the game.Gilmore made waves in the junior golf circuit, as he qualified for the 2023 United States Junior Amateur Championship and finished as the runner-up at the 2023 Indiana Golf Hoosier Junior Championship. He capped off 2023 with a fourth-place finish in the Golfweek International Junior Invitational.A successful time on the golf course on the junior circuits did not translate to the enjoyment of time spent off the course.“There is so much dead time when our rounds will end. Some days it is five o’clock, and you don’t really have enough time to go do something,” Gilmore said. “You go [to the course], play your round and then sit in a hotel room for four or five hours, then you go to bed.”The Bloomfield, Indiana, native attended Bloomington South High School and continued to make a name for himself on the golf course under head coach Dustin Carver.During each of Gilmore’s four years with the Panthers, the team made the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) State Finals. Every year, Bloomington South placed in the top 10. Carver said he remembered the first time he saw Gilmore swing a club and knew he was going to be a good addition to his team.In Gilmore’s senior campaign, he had his own personal best finish, placing 11th out of all players.Gilmore said he is proud of what he accomplished in high school but admitted he wished he could have won a state championship for his coach, who retired from coaching Bloomington South at the end of last season. He is now in an administrative role with the school.“Me and the whole team, we had the goal of winning it,” Gilmore said. “It may have hurt us because we wanted it so bad for coach [Carver].”Carver said he was lucky to coach Gilmore and expressed a similar sentiment toward all of his players. He said he was very fortunate to give back and teach for something that is a big part of his life in golf.“It’s all about being able to wrap your arm around them after the rounds are played and having these conversations about life outside of golf,” Carver said.Ball State men’s golf head coach Mike Fleck reached out to Gilmore in June 2022 after a then-second-straight state championship appearance.Gilmore said Fleck was the first one from Ball State to reach out to him via text message. Within 24 hours, he had secured his first phone call with Fleck. That September, Gilmore made his first visit to the campus and started to feel a real connection to university life.“[After seeing] the team, their facilities, the coach and all that stuff, I was pretty much locked in on coming here,” Gilmore said.Gilmore said he had more or less made up his mind of a commitment to the Cardinals around winter 2022, although he took his time in making an official decision.Gilmore said he let Fleck know a day before the 2023 IHSAA State Championship and the only other people who knew were the few players he had spoken to outside of his campus visit.Fast forward to June 23, 2023. Gilmore officially posted his commitment to Ball State on X the morning before the U.S. Junior Open Qualifier at the Delaware Country Club. As he puts it, he posted the commitment on X not long before his tee time. Gilmore put his phone back in the bag and out of his mind, proceeding to qualify for the U.S. Junior Open by shooting a score of 66.“I was not on my phone for almost half of the day, and I looked at my phone to see how it did,” Gilmore said. “It was at 450,000 views.”Gilmore went and talked to a friend, then checked his phone 20 minutes later — the post had reached five million views and was retweeted by Adam Sandler, star of the 1996 film “Happy Gilmore.”“It all didn’t process for me until a few days later,” Gilmore said. “I was more excited about qualifying for that tournament. I honestly wish I [posted the commitment] on a different day so I could have gotten the full experience.”After posting his commitment, Gilmore played through his senior year and in various tournaments. In the aforementioned state championship meet, Gilmore was, at one point, two shots off of the lead. He shot a 70 in the first round and a 79 in the second round to get him at 149.Now, in October 2024, Gilmore has played in numerous events for the Cardinals.“It’s been awesome having Happy around,” Fleck said. “He’s obviously an outstanding golfer but he’s also an outstanding young man.”Ball State and Gilmore have one more event for the fall portion of their season: Oct. 25-27 at the White Sands Bahamas Invitational before a sabbatical from competition. The season resumes for the Cardinals in February, as they look to defend their 2024 Mid-American Conference Championship.Contact Corbin Hubert via email at cchubert@bsu.edu or on X @corbin_hubert_.
(10/17/24 12:00am)
MUNCIE, Ind. — The crisp fall air is once again flowing through another high school football season as the regular season enters its final act. Delta High School is looking beyond the curtain call before they perform their final scene.
(10/16/24 11:26pm)
MUNCIE, Ind. — This past weekend, Ball State’s Men’s and Women's swimming and diving team kicked off their 2024-25 season campaign welcoming in UIC. The women put up a strong performance, capturing a 176.5-123.5 win over UIC at the Lewellen Aquatic Center. The men, however, came up short with a score of 143.5-156.5. Coach Agnew expressed that he liked what he saw despite both of his teams splitting.
(10/16/24 10:11pm)
Singer-songwriter and former member of One Direction Liam Payne, 31 is dead after falling from a third-floor balcony Oct. 16, according to the Associated Press (AP).
(10/16/24 7:34pm)
Tonight: Partly cloudy skies and a low of 33 degrees with calm winds.
(10/16/24 7:00pm)
Calvin Scott is a third-year media major. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Ball State Daily News.
(10/16/24 4:00pm)
As the final whistle blew at Kent State, head coach Mike Neu said the Cardinals looked emotionally spent. They were spent from thinking they had a win sealed, to almost losing it. “It was a roller coaster,” Neu said. “...Everybody was so [relieved] that we forgot to celebrate knowing that the game is over!”The Cardinals made up for a lack of celebration on the field with a ruckus one in the locker room. When Ball State beat Kent State in 2022, special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Corey Connolly celebrated the win on top of a chair. The chair broke and ended up leaving Connolly with a laceration on his head. The chair was now dubbed “The Victory Chair.” The Cardinals brought The Victory Chair back to Kent State this year and celebrated with it again.“Those are the moments where you laugh about those and enjoy those [locker room celebrations],” Neu said. “There is nothing like it. Every one of them is different, you can’t recreate it.”Neu said it was a great win this past Saturday against Kent State 37-35, but he said the Cardinals are aware they still need to clean things up going forward. Now, the Cardinals face one of the hottest teams in America in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent Vanderbilt. Neu specifically mentioned game management in the case of redshirt junior running back Vaughn Pemberton not going down in his touchdown run. “I have got to be better to make sure those guys are educated better in those situations,” Neu said. Neu said he understands Pemberton’s urge to score a touchdown with all the injuries and adversity he has gone through, but knowing when to go down is essential. Neu also said he could have done a better job reminding everyone about the situation. “I was thinking the same thing of everybody is like, “Is he going to go down?” senior running back Braedon Sloan said. “He didn’t go down and went ahead and scored it. Still excited for him since it was his first one of the season.“It is always good to score touchdowns, but sometimes it’s better to go down and knee it out to not worry about it [the ending].”Sloan has had breakaway runs, but he said he also takes a lot of pride in the fact he can punch it in from one yard out on the goalline. The senior back leads Ball State with 423 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Redshirt junior linebacker Joey Stemler said the win against Kent truly is a spark for the Cardinals' confidence. Stemler said consistency for the defense will be the biggest thing going forward for Ball State. “We’ve shown what we can do, we just have to do our jobs,” Stemler said. Stemler also said it is hard to be consistent constantly on defense but making plays can motivate the group to be the best they can be. Neu said it was great seeing the Cardinals flourish and run well on the offense, but also great to see the defense stop the running game. On the flip side of things, Neu wants to see both sides of the ball improve with the passing game. Neu said the defense still needs to clean up tackling and communication to ensure that every single player on the field is aware of the situation at hand. “We got to get those things cleaned up and can't keep talking about them,” Neu said. Stemler said the Cardinals are emphasizing tackling in practice, and also said it is frustrating to still have tackling issues. “I know we can get it fixed,” Stemler said. “We keep on getting better week in and week out, which is very good to see.” Vanderbilt is coming in the middle of Mid-American Conference play, and Neu said there is nothing the Cardinals could have done with the schedule but just go and play. Neu said there is no secret the Commodores have been stellar with execution, and he plans to watch the heavy amounts of tape on Vanderbilt. “They are the story of college football right now,” Neu said. “...They are playing great team football right now. They have a formula that is working for them, but it is an opportunity for us to go down there and take advantage of the opportunity.”Neu pointed out the Commodores have scored 37 points off turnovers and allowed zero points off turnovers. He said he is not sure if he has ever seen a stat like it. “It is a team with a lot of confidence,” Neu said. “You can see that when you turn on the tape.”Regardless of the bigger stage and opponent, it is just another opponent, Sloan said. Neu said he is not worried about playing in the SEC night game atmosphere with the Cardinals experience. “There would not be anything schedule-wise to do anything different than what we’ve done before,” Neu said. In shifting their preparation for the Commodores ahead, the Cardinals will be without key redshirt junior wide receiver Ty Robinson. Neu said seeing a player go down again is emotional and had him at a loss for words. He said the first thing he did with Robinson after the game was give him a hug and let him know he loves him. The season-ending nondisplaced lower leg fracture comes just one game after being ready to play with a shoulder injury he sustained in week one. Robinson also missed every game but two last season with a thumb injury. “It is heartbreaking because of what he has been through,” Neu said. “...Now we are going to be without him, but we are going to be there for him to support him. It is not easy, going through a tough time like that, but we have to be there for him.” With players like Robinson and graduate student offensive lineman Damon Kaylor out for the season, Sloan said it is important every person on the team stays ready for whenever their number is called. “You never know when your opportunity to step in and make the most out of it,” Sloan said. Neu said he is optimistic to get wide receiver Justin Bowick back on the field for Ball State this week. With Thailand Baldwin out, Neu said to expect Willizhuan Yates and Eric McClain to get more playing time as Baldwin is continuously evaluated. Stemler said he has seen Yates intercept passes in practice, but to see Yates intercept a pass on his third-ever snap in college football was awesome. “We have their back no matter what,” Stemler said about the younger players. “We know nobody’s perfect, you’re going to mess up, just keep playing hard”The kickoff against the Commodores is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 19.
(10/16/24 2:34pm)
If you're from a rainy and muddy area, you're in for a treat in Dubai! Dubai is just perfect for fastdrive lovers or supercar fans. Who wouldn’t want to see luxury cars everywhere? The UAE offers sleek roads with stunning vistas. Renting a luxury car in Dubai is enticing. Ferrari awaits your choice alongside Porsche or Range Rover options too! Dubai’s celebrated opulence enhances the drive’s excitement. Keep luxury supercar rental UAE policies handy and also look for hidden fees when renting. Don't overlook insurance coverage! There are lots of things to consider. But let´s start with making wise route planning.
(10/16/24 2:30pm)
When you're in Dubai—especially if you're from Delaware County—the thrill of driving a Lamborghini is unparalleled excitement. Whether visiting for work or fun, consider renting a supercar to enhance this luxury city experience even more! Indulge in the vibrant culture; it makes your stay exhilarating through its bustling avenues and gleaming skyscrapers. However, the choice of the correct service for your supercar especially for repair and servicing is of paramount importance. This will ensure your investment is safe and ensure you also have an excellent experience while driving. Here are some crucial considerations to make when selecting the best Lamborghini repair Dubai.
(10/16/24 2:27pm)
Adapting Dubai-style outdoor furniture means understanding climate differences. Humidity affects material reactions. Dubai's arid heat contrasts other seasonal humidity.
(10/16/24 2:23pm)
Maintaining connection over distance is hard; expressing feelings adds another layer of difficulty. Sending peonies as a gift bridges this emotional gap beautifully because these flowers communicate what words cannot. With their gentle touch and fragrance that symbolizes love, luck, and happiness—making them ideal for sending heartfelt messages to Dubai instead of being traditional.
(10/15/24 11:47pm)
Tonight: We are expecting to see the first frost of the season tonight as temperatures dip into the low-30s throughout the area. A freeze warning will also be in effect tonight from 2:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Make sure you bring those plants and other sensitive outdoor items indoors! Skies will be partly cloudy with winds blowing NNW at 5-10 mph.
(10/17/24 1:00am)
It is coming down to the last wire for both presidential campaigns to try and find new ways to sway voters. With election night just three weeks away, the two presidential candidates are fighting it out by taking some final stabs at each other.
(10/15/24 10:15pm)
FAIRMOUNT, Ind. — In the fall of 2017, the Madison-Grant Argyll football team finished with a 0-10 record. They only scored 44 points all season while yielding over 50 points per game. In 2024, the roles are reversed.
(10/15/24 9:45pm)
Muncie, Ind. — A cemetery is often thought of as bleak, scary, or just creepy. Many people only ever step foot into a cemetery when attending a funeral, but at the historic Beech Grove cemetery, the community is working to change this. They are hosting a tour of the facilities and having local actors portray historic Muncie natives. These tours are held annually every October.
(10/15/24 9:15pm)
MUNCIE, Ind. — Have you ever wanted to visit a state park but weren't sure where to start? Well, Ball State has the program for you. Adventure Trips is a program held by outdoor pursuits through Ball State.
(10/15/24 8:43pm)
MUNCIE, Ind. — Epsilon Sigma Alpha is an international organization founded in 1989. Ball State University has the first collegiate chapter. The organization's mission is to be a family where students can give back to the community.
(10/15/24 10:00pm)
Wes-Del senior football player Grayson Mealy was voted the Delaware County Athlete of the Week. In the Warriors' 54-0 win over Union County, Mealy had 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Ball State Daily News will use this program to honor athletes who had an impressive week or a breakout performance. Candidates will be chosen and the community can cast their votes.Candidates will be announced every Sunday with the voting closing on the following Monday at 5 p.m. The winner will be announced the next day. If you believe a certain student-athlete should be a candidate, email the Daily News sports editor Zach Carter at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or associate sports editor David Moore at david.moore@bsu.edu.Nominees for the Delaware County Athlete of the Week from Monday, Oct. 14 to Saturday, Oct. 19 will be announced Sunday, Oct. 20 at noon. The Ball State Daily News is partnered with the Muncie Sports Commission for this program. This will help determine nominees for the end of the year award show next spring.
(10/15/24 1:58pm)
Mason and Ashton delve into the series finale of The Simpsons... which is also the season premiere.Checkpoint is Byte's video news series, reporting on recent events in the world of entertainment, tech, and pop culture. Whether it's video games, film, television, or music, we've got you covered!Anchors: Mason Mundy & Ashton WeirExecutive Producer: Willow EmigScript: Mason MundyVideo Editing: Ashton WeirAudio Editing: Ashton WeirIntro Graphics: Ryan MinterGraphics: Ryan MinterThumbnail: Mason MundyOriginal Thumbnail Images From: Fox Music: Jack McGinnisSources: https://youtu.be/Zu-kxLINp-E?si=-FlleKsPoCGg1RH3
