College Football

Well that vote went well as expected. 78% of students in the largest student vote turnout to date said yes they want the Niners to have football in Charlotte. I am not surprised, when it was asking college students if they want football games.

I think much of the counter arguument would fall on deaf ears covered up by big green foam fingers that say “we’re #1″ on them.

“Through an online poll, 78 percent of the student body voted to support the fees increase. Now a new advisory committee will look at the feasibility of adding a team.
One of the main issues is if there’s enough interest citywide to warrant and pay for another sports team.

“It’s pretty fun for me to be able to stand here today and say that this may be the start of something really big,” said Ben Comstock, the student body president at UNCC.”

The plan for football brings with it the challenge of student body interest to build and maintain ticket sales. In this writers opinion that would be a no brainer even in a large stadium. Charlotte is a basketball town first, but the Panthers success has built a good football base as well. I welcome the games near my home and look forward to attending often. This need for attendence was one of the concern that the next year and $150,000 exploration into the feasability will explore. If the games sell out well there is a good promise of money from ticket sales for football helping to fund and grow the other athletic areas of UNCC. The revenue generated could well lead to a stronger backing for the Bastketball teams and an added draw for recruiting students and atheletes.

Hats off to the students who did much of the work, and heats off to the fact that it should be that way. Let this success and the evntual football team be the product of student persistence and the long time property of the students themselves.

I hope UNCC will extend its football traditions in the future to letting the team and players remember the student bidy and the fans that built the team from scratch with signatures.

I hope UNCC senior days on the field include the 12 man in making this happen.

Here is my little slice of love to the Niner nation.

See the previous post on the team vote >

UNC Charlotte does not have a football program because it is a costly endeavor. The costs will need to be paid for by students and university donors.

The vote is going on NOW until the 25th of February, head to the student government site for details.

About 75% of the Athletic Department’s budget is paid for via student fees. A significant contribution in the form of increased student fees would be needed if UNC Charlotte started a football program.

Take a look at what other college students pay per student fot the athletic fees here

You will see from the above linked chart that UNCC already has a pretty high end athletic fee for a school with no football.

Q: Will voting for a fee increase cause my fees to go up immediately?
No. The Athletic Department would likely phase in a “football fee” over several years.

Q: What kind of football team would Charlotte get?
Division 1AA or 1A. Because we currently compete in the Division I level, we can not move down to Divisions II or III.

Q: If UNC Charlotte’s administration decided to start football tomorrow, what would need to happen?
Scholarships, coaches, staff, facilities, women’s athletic programs (Title IX), operational expenses, etc.

Q: What have increased student fees paid for in UNC Charlotte’s history?
The SAC, the Student Union, Cone Center, Health Center, playing fields

Q: Why would student fees need to increase for UNC Charlotte to get a football program?
The UNC system does not provide funding for athletics. Tuition pays only for the operating costs to run UNC Charlotte’s academic programs. Student fees pay for activities.

Answers From: http://sga.uncc.edu/vote