Two hundred and twenty-five students participated in Bumper Balls at the quad on Oct. 27 from noon to 6 p.m., hosted by the University Programming Board, who paid Kramer Entertainment $2,000 to run the event.

“The company was going to other universities in the area and we were able to join in on a block schedule,” Mario Ramirez, UPB adviser, said.

Bumper Balls is a game where students get inside a bubble suit and play a game of six on six soccer.

“I have played soccer but never like this before,” Yvonne Mfonyo, nursing sophomore, continued, “It was harder than I thought because you have to control the bubble as well. My friends encouraged me to play and I really didn’t think it would be this fun. I would play again.”

Jeremy Burris, computer science freshman, said he felt the activity promoted friendly competition.

“This was a lot more fun than just playing regular soccer. You can knock people around with the inflatables,” Burris said. “It is very tiring.”

Alongside bumper balls, students could also race in Zorb Balls, simulation of a giant hamster ball.

“I’ve never been inside one or raced in one before,” Savannah Luna, nursing freshman, said. “It wasn’t too hard because once you got the ball moving, you can keep going.”

This is the second year UPB has hosted Bumper Balls as an activity during Homecoming week.

“A lot of people have come and participated this year. Not everyone has played, but many have just watched the games that have taken place, ” Juan Mercado, UPB showcase chair and sociology junior, said. “We decided to bring the activity back after it was successful last year.”

The Hypnotist Show originally scheduled for Oct. 27 at 7 p.m., was cancelled due to a family emergency of the hypnotist, Chris Jones, according to UPB’s twitter account, and was replaced with a showing of the movie, ‘Spy.’

MORE THOUGHTS:

• Tyler Katsoulis, a kinesiology freshman, said “It felt like I was a hamster running around playing soccer with everyone. It was just like regular soccer, but you were in this big ol’ bubble thing running around, bumping into everyone. It doesn’t look like it would hurt to fall, but it still kind of does when you’re shoved by another guy.”
• Nicole Buchanan, an education sophomore, said “I wish I could’ve done the big bubbles where you can put your whole body in it, but I hurt my back so I just watched everyone run around in the big balls. I think the UPB did an awesome job getting students to participate side by side. It was like they combined soccer with a rough pillow fight for everyone to try and join in on.”
• Denaijah Shaw, an athletic training freshman, said “It was great watching others roll around and slam into each other trying to get to the soccer ball while they looked kind of like sumo wrestlers.”

Additional reporting by Hannah Dean