Charlotte football revisited... one more time

This story from Thursday's University Times makes pretty good sense to me. It quiet some of the critics, unless they've got a fat wallet or a bottomless checking account. The important statement from the article, "None of the money can come from the state, buy only from donations and increases in student fees."


Football sidelined until University's objectives met
National tragedy hindered athletics' plans to ask community, business leaders for donations
By Sila Vlachou, University Times Assistant A&E Editor
February 26, 2004

Sept. 11, 2001 was not only a national tragedy, but it was the day the prospect of UNC Charlotte fielding a football team went up in smoke.

Prior to the terrorist attack on American capitalism, the University had a committee of leaders and companies in place that was laying the groundwork to determine the feasibility of a Charlotte 49ers' football team.

“This committee was going the right direction,” said Darrin Spease, associate athletic director for business affairs. “We were trying to figure out how UNC Charlotte could get a football team or whether this community would like to have a football team or not.”

But tragedy struck and major layoffs followed.

Realizing many who had initial interest would not be willing to invest money into the football team due to the declining economy, the committee decided it wasn’t the right time to ask the community if they would like to have a football team. The committee dissolved shortly after.

Since then, UNCC Chancellor James Woodward has repeatedly said the acquisition of a football team would not happen on his watch.
Woodward told a group of student leaders in November that UNCC has yet to pull the trigger on the decision to field a football team given the costs and uncertainties of intercollegiate athletics.

“We have sort of a hard rule on this campus,” Woodward told students. “We don’t put academic programs nor athletic programs in place unless we can compete at the highest level.”

Woodward said a study was conducted by the University two years ago about what it would take to have a competitive Division I football team within seven years and found the costs to be too great at that period of time.

“What we can’t do is announce that we are going to play Division 1 football in five, six or seven years and then change our minds,” said Woodward. “That’s harmful to the reputation of this University.

He does believe it is only a matter of time before the Charlotte 49ers will pick up the pigskin. His successor as well as the athletic director would have to see increased stability in athletics before the University takes on the financial risk of funding a team, he said.

As Woodward’s career is nearing its final year, his focus on moving the University to the highest level of doctoral research status has only strengthened, putting issues such as the football team on the backburner.

“Certainly, if the University had all the things in place, research taken care of, all the buildings built, all the things that are needed to do to complete it’s primary mission, which is to educate the population of North Carolina and particularly this region, then football would probably be more on the front burner,” said Spease.

With the introduction this spring of its 12th doctoral program, infrastructure and environmental systems, the University is only a few years away from joining UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State as the third public doctoral research extensive university.

With Woodward’s retirement will come UNCC’s fourth chancellor who will have his own objectives for the University.

But creating a football team takes more than mere interest. Significant amounts of money have to be placed on the table.

Coaches, trainers, support staff, offices, athletic and training facilities, scholarships and travel all have to be considered.

The athletic department studied averages for Conference USA schools a few years ago to estimate financial needs of a football team’s upkeep. It was determined the annual cost to maintain a competitive Division I football team would be around $6.6-7.7 million.

“We couldn't be in Division II or III simply because you can’t have cross-divisional athletic programs anymore,” said Spease.

Since all current sports in the athletic program participate in Division I, football would have to follow.

In addition to upkeep, the University would have to address initial startup costs regarding a football field. Building a NCAA required 30,000-seat on-campus facility or municipal stadium could cost anywhere between $25-75 million.

A less expensive alternative would be renting the Carolina Panthers' facilities, but UNCC would run into problems scheduling access and logistics.

With the addition of football, the Charlotte 49ers' athletic program would have to upgrade its other sports to further comply with Title IX requirements to have an equal number of scholarships for women athletes comparable to men. This could potentially mean the University would have to field more women’s sports programs or take away some men’s teams.

The additional 110 male athletes would need to be countered with 130 female athletes.

According to Spease, UNCC is not an institution that is able to write a multimillion-dollar check, give it to athletics and wish them to have a nice program.

None of the money can come from the state, but only from donations and increases in student fees.

Spease said if students were asked if they would pay more tuition and fees to get a football team, only 10 percent would probably oblige.

“The rest will just say I would like a football team, but I don’t want my tuition and fees to increase,” said Spease.

Given all the costs, Spease said the University is not in a position to have a football team right now.

But that doesn’t stop the question from being asked and rumors from circulating.

UNCC legend has it that a football team would not be created out of respect for University founder Bonnie Cone who was said to have lost a son or nephew to a high school football injury. Others whisper about a mysterious, wealthy donor who wouldn’t give a huge donation without the stipulation of no football. Both of which are not true.

There has been buzz about the 49ers' recent move to the basketball-rich Atlantic 10 having an impact on the program’s commitment to football.
Spease said the decision to move to the A-10 did not push or pull them from the decision to have football.

 

The Cost of Football
Financing a team at UNCC would include…
Head Coach (salary/benefits) - $345,102
Assistant Coaches (9) - $786,743
Scholarships - $923,760
Team Travel - $400,000
Recruiting Travel - $125,000
Equipment Costs - $150,000
Officials - $72,000
Stadium Costs - $375,000
Guarantees - $675,000
Additional Staffing (football related) - $255,000
Other Operating Expenses - $150,000
Estimated Annual Cost for Football - $4,332,605

Other Costs
Playing/Practice Facility – Unknown ($25-27 million)
Facilities Expansion – Unknown ($5-7 million)
Additional Staff - $300,000
Gender Equity Concerns - $2-3 million
information courtesy Charlotte 49ers Athletic Department

Below... something we need to dream about (and do something about when the timing is right).

Illustration by Solomon Franklin, University Times

 

It appears that UNCC is serious about adding football down the road. I'm surprised to hear Woodward say "He does believe it is only a matter of time before the Charlotte 49ers will pick up the pigskin."

Is the proposed football stadium a modifcation of the soccer stadium?

How many years down the road are we talking about?

 

the terrorist have won

 

How could a move to the A10 not hurt our football aspirations? What conference would our football team be in if we did have the resources to start one?

 

The Atlantic 10 Conference.

The A-10 football champion, Delaware, was the Division I-AA national champion for 2003. UMass was the national champion in 1998. They finished ranked #11 in the ESPN poll with other A-10 football schools, Northeastern at #20, folled by Villanova at #25.

The Atlantic 10 (11) football schools are Delaware, Hofstra, James Madison, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Rhode island, Richmond, Villanova, William & Mary. As you can see, they are not all the same members. And I think that's something you'll see more of in the future, schools will not be exclusively in one league for all sports.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, that looks like MOLSON STADIUM in Montreal . . . Am I right ? ? ? ? Giveaway was the 55 yard field . . .

 

:thumbup:

you da man

 

why hasn't there been a pool established for a future football program... money could be set aside a few years until it was enough to make a dent in the cost of a stadium, equipment, etc. It would provide a base... then honestly most football programs generate enough revenue to support themselves and HONESTLY many other sports as well... but by saying you're starting the groundwork and that alumni can invest in this program, and that in 5 years you'll evaluate the funds and consider it if enough money has been raised. If not then its put off for 5 more years, but within 10 years if there isn't enough money you can say "Hey the alumni aren't interested in having football here." Then take whatever money there has been invested and turn it over to other departments... just inform everyone before hand of that possibility.

 

i agree with brain on this, once the program is established, it should be self-sufficient, and even provide some profits.