UNF AD now considering football

[spuwho]

It may be hard to believe, but Northern Illinois, who just happened to play FSU in the Orange Bowl was once a FCS school (Football Championship Series) formerly called Div 1-AA. They made the decision to go Div 1-A back in the late 70's spent the money to meet the stadium sizing requirements. They too floundered to get past their prior reputations, but by the mid 80's were producing solid teams.  After they moved to the new MAC conference, they have been a regular winner.

Everyone pooh-poohed them, until they beat Georgia and Maryland and reached #6 in the rankings a few years ago.

So if UNF does embraces football, they will probably approach it like the FAU did, start in a small-major conference like the Sun Belt. Then when they get traction, move to a large mid-major conference, in this case C-USA.

FAU started sports in only 1979, I think they have done pretty good. If UNF were to start football in 2020, it will probably be 2030-2035 before the program elevates depending on the quality of the coaching.

[Tacachale]

New release from the President's office:

Message from the President
In January, we began the process of thinking about starting a football program at UNF. At that time, I promised we would analyze the possibility, while being committed to doing what is right for our campus. After much financial examination, we have concluded that we just can’t make it work. To some, I know this is relief, as many have told me that adding a football team would ruin the unique serenity of our campus. To others, this will be a disappointment. And while I understand the feelings on both sides, when we explored the feasibility within the budget constraints, the numbers simply did not add up.

I have long said that a Florida university needs enrollment of about 25,000 students to properly support football. And most schools of that size do indeed have football. And with our continued growth, football is probably inevitable for UNF at some point. But after in-depth analysis, we have determined that football is just not a part of the near future at UNF. However, we will continue develop the sports and recreation fields' master plan in anticipation of long-term growth that will hopefully include Osprey football.

I appreciate your input. Please know that when the time is right, we will take another look at this topic.

[tufsu1]

good to see they are leaving the door open in the future

[blizz01]

About the only crappy news that I've seen on here within the last 24 hrs......

[KenFSU]

I've always admired Delaney's refusal to do anything half-assed.

I'm glad the door is open in the future, but with or without football, UNF is a really fantastic school.

[FSBA]

Does anyone know the financials for JU's football program? They seem to be making it work playing as a scaled down FCS school. Starting up a football program with the expectation to fast track it to FBS would be a great way for UNF to get a major financial albatross around its neck, just ask FIU and FAU.

[copperfiend]

For selfish reasons, I wanted this to happen. But this was the news I expected. I was up in Atlanta last week and was reading about Kennesaw State starting a football program in 2015. They play in the Atlantic Sun with JU and UNF but their enrollment is well over 20k.

I know it will happen someday but probably not for at least 10-20 years.

[flgator75]

I never thought that one of the colleges I went to, the U. of South Alabama, would start football but lo & behold they did. It has been a mild success at worst.