Jim Johnson Posted December 7, 2007 Group: TBP Subscriber III Topic Count: 0 Content Count: 5,491 Reputation: 1,808 Days Won: 13 Joined: 12/02/2018 Share Posted December 7, 2007 South Alabama trustees vote to start football program in 2009 The Associated Press MOBILE, Ala.: The University of South Alabama's board of trustees voted unanimously Thursday to start a football program in a long-discussed move for the university. The university plans to field a team starting in 2009 and make a full transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision by 2013. South Alabama President Gordon Moulton told the trustees he recommended the move because of support from alumni and students. More than 2,500 students signed a petition in favor of football even though it will mean increased student activity fees. "This effort is really about the students and alumni, and bringing them closer to the university," Moulton said. "We also believe this will strengthen our already close relationship with the community." South Alabama competes in the Sun Belt Conference in 14 sports. League Commissioner Wright Waters said the Jaguars football team would join the Sun Belt "as soon as they get their Division I-A certification." Moulton and athletic director Joe Gottfried hope to hire a head coach early next year. The program will largely be funded by a $300 increase in annual student activity fees, projected to generate about $3.5 million per year. The school also plans to start a 200-member marching band. The national alumni association has pledged $50,000 over the next five years to help with startup costs for the program. The team is expected to play at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. City Council President Reggie Copeland has said the university will likely be allowed to use the stadium free of charge for five years. SOURCE (INTERESTING NOTE: The last FOUR programs to move from I-AA to I-A all play in the Sun Belt Conference: Troy, FAU, FIU, and Western Kentucky. The one below would make #5 --- Time to get G'town and Nova to move up!!). Okay - I'm gonna move this one myself... : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeG Posted December 7, 2007 Group: Moderator Topic Count: 0 Content Count: 19,737 Reputation: 3,854 Days Won: 175 Joined: 07/17/2003 Share Posted December 7, 2007 seems to me they are so completely underfunded from the start that this should fail miserably. We had a benchmakr of 10 million before we would start our program--- and this was 12 years ago. They are 1/3 of that number. Hell--- the guy stated 1-A certification-- so out of touch that he doesn't even know it is called the FBS now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 seems to me they are so completely underfunded from the start that this should fail miserably. We had a benchmakr of 10 million before we would start our program--- and this was 12 years ago. They are 1/3 of that number. [glow=yellow,2,300]Hell--- the guy stated 1-A certification-- so out of touch that he doesn't even know it is called the FBS now. [/glow]That would be Sun Belt Commissioner Wright Walters, not someone with USA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarySJ Posted December 8, 2007 Group: Member Topic Count: 0 Content Count: 2,661 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/14/2000 Share Posted December 8, 2007 South Alabama was supposed to start this program around 2001, but didn't due to lack of funding and ticket sales.I can't figure out what changed between then and now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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