2008 Woodie Awards
Football would be great at USA
Jon Garcia
Contributing Writer
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Opinion
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When people state that they are against football at the University of South Alabama it really makes one wonder: why? Academics often benefit from the increase in enrollment and the subsequent increases in institutional funds in relation to the implementation of a football program. Also, a football program provides a sense of community, an increased sense of school pride, a greater sense of legitimacy and would undoubtedly lead to an increase in alumni involvement and donations. Additionally, all of these items would lead to an evolving and prospering campus, would help to further promote the University's multiple causes, and would also help to further develop the University's interaction and development within the community.
It seems as though the "facts" presented against the institution of football at USA are often misleading or misunderstood.
The fact that is most often overlooked is that there are 16 schools in this state that have football programs. Believe it or not, there are football programs in this state other than Alabama and Auburn. And think of the built-in rivalries USA would have: Troy (who would be played on a regular basis as a conference opponent), UAB, BSC (which is also a startup program) and Southern Miss just to name a few.
It has been stated to varying degrees that Alabama and Auburn will not "let" USA establish a football program because Mobile is such a hotbed for recruiting. Again, I think people have the wrong idea here. That is like saying that the Jags' basketball program can never find any good recruits -- which is entirely untrue, because we have several "bigger" schools surrounding us.
Sure, we would hope that we could lure a recruit or two or ten from the bigger programs due to a hometown discount, local roots, family factor, etc., but South would more so be competing for recruits against other similar schools, i.e. the other Sun Belt schools, other Alabama schools and surrounding state schools. But it's not as though schools do all of their recruiting in one small area. Heck, the Jags' basketball team has players from New York, Illinois, Texas, Kentucky and Michigan (not to mention Alabama and the local states Mississippi, Georgia and Florida).
It seems as though the "facts" presented against the institution of football at USA are often misleading or misunderstood.
The fact that is most often overlooked is that there are 16 schools in this state that have football programs. Believe it or not, there are football programs in this state other than Alabama and Auburn. And think of the built-in rivalries USA would have: Troy (who would be played on a regular basis as a conference opponent), UAB, BSC (which is also a startup program) and Southern Miss just to name a few.
It has been stated to varying degrees that Alabama and Auburn will not "let" USA establish a football program because Mobile is such a hotbed for recruiting. Again, I think people have the wrong idea here. That is like saying that the Jags' basketball program can never find any good recruits -- which is entirely untrue, because we have several "bigger" schools surrounding us.
Sure, we would hope that we could lure a recruit or two or ten from the bigger programs due to a hometown discount, local roots, family factor, etc., but South would more so be competing for recruits against other similar schools, i.e. the other Sun Belt schools, other Alabama schools and surrounding state schools. But it's not as though schools do all of their recruiting in one small area. Heck, the Jags' basketball team has players from New York, Illinois, Texas, Kentucky and Michigan (not to mention Alabama and the local states Mississippi, Georgia and Florida).
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