Back to the Ball State Cardinals Newsfeed

5 Questions: Catching up with a former Ball State football star, current NFL coach

(Photo: Courtesy of Ball State Athletics)

MUNCIE, Ind. — Bernie Parmalee almost ended up attending the United States Naval Academy and Georgia Tech before ultimately arriving at Ball State to play football for the Cardinals.

So many from his hometown of Jersey City, New Jersey, thought he was crazy for deciding to spend his college career in Muncie, Indiana.

But Parmalee looked at the opportunity to get away from living in a big city, study business at BSU and play running back — instead of wide receiver or safety — and he took a chance.