There have been a lot moving lately, but I would like to put in one place those we know, and those thinking of moving.
Recent moves: Texas-San Antonio, Georgia State, South Alabama, UMass
In transition now: Old Dominion, Georgia Southern, Appalachian State
Those adding Football in 2014 who are already D1 (Assuming all will be FCS):
New Orleans, Kennesaw State, and East Tennessee State
http://www.footballfoundation.org/News/ ... -2013.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Those considering adding Football who are already DI:
Belmont University (Nashville, TN) - An article dated March 15, 2011 regarding the new football team at Stetson University mentioned that Belmont was also considering the addition of an intercollegiate football team. Belmont is presently a member of NCAA Division I for other sports. (source:
http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/ ... all-league" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )
Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers, FL) - This college has recently considered the formation of an intercollegiate football team but (as of March 2011) will apparently not be doing so for at least several years, with the expense of adding such a team being the main reason. " 'Right now, it probably won’t work,' [Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees Chairman Scott] Lutgert said. 'It’s probably 5-10 years down the road – 5-10 years down the road to make the decision to start doing it … that puts it at 10-15 years down the road.'” (source:
http://www.championshipsubdivisionnews. ... r-a?blog=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )
George Mason (Fairfax, VA) - GMU is apparently considering the addition of football as an intercollegiate sport during the next decade (source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/geo ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
Grand Canyon (Phoenix, AZ) - as I mentioned in my previous post.
High Point University (High Point, NC) - University president Nido Qubein has stated that football is "inevitable" at HPU, though it may be several years before a team comes to fruition. Land on which to build a stadium is one of the needs mentioned in this article.
Maryland-Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, MD) - This Historically Black college announced on September 20, 2012 the "formation of a task force to help the institution assess a study that outlines what fielding an NCAA Division I football team would take". UMES had a football team previously, which played its last season in 1979. (source:
http://hbcusportscentral.com/2012/09/21 ... m-revival/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA) - As of February 2012 the university is reported to be considering the addition of football as an intercollegiate sport (source:
http://www.nbc12.com/story/14219581/vcu ... f-football" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ).
University of West Florida (Pensacola, FL) - A "Football Feasibility Committee" is expected to meet for a final recommendation (about whether UWF should add football as an intercollegiate sport) on May 10, 2011 (source:
http://www.goargos.com/page.asp?articleID=4450" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )
Winthrop (Rock Hill, SC) - This college may be considering the addition of a varsity football team: "Recent estimates indicate starting an intercollegiate football team at Winthrop would be a multi-million dollar proposition –over $18 million, much of it in facilities costs, just to get to the first kick-off – with over $2.4 million in annual operating and scholarship costs after that. University President Anthony DiGiorgio said he created a task force last year to come up with those estimates, among other things, so he would have a detailed answer to a question he’s been hearing every autumn for some years: “What would it take for us to have football at Winthrop?” That task force -- part of a larger group doing a 10-year projection of prospects for the overall athletics program -- sees identifying the level of potential donor support as the first question to be answered in determining how feasible it might be for Winthrop to field an Eagles football team, DiGiorgio said Tuesday. To generate that discussion, DiGiorgio authorized Athletics Director Tom Hickman, who chairs the task force, to release to the public details of the cost estimates developed by the task force now, ahead of completion of the final report. That will enable the task force to take stock of the public reaction to the “real dollars and cents” part of the question, see what donor support might step forward, and make that assessment part of the task force report before it is finalized. “It’s the fundamental feasibility question that must be addressed before exploring such a step any further,” DiGiorgio said. “Where would the money come from? Over what period of time? Football these days is an extraordinarily expensive sport for an institution to offer as part of its athletics program. The start-up costs are daunting and the operating costs are formidable. For our type institution, gate receipts would constitute only a part of any realistic financial plan. There are capital costs, personnel costs, and scholarship costs to be considered – and all those come before the first kick-off. Public tax dollars aren’t available for this, and Winthrop has other priorities for whatever tax dollars are available anyway. That leaves donor and fan support as the principal bases of support to be assessed. We are in a fortunate situation at Winthrop now, in that our existing athletics program is on firm enough footing that we can look at this question.” (source: undated "Media Relations News Release" from the university, available at
http://www.winthropeagles.com/upload/up ... evised.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
Wisconsin-Milwaukee: This school, which had a football team in 1974 and earlier years, may be considering reinstating the sport: "UWM is paying a Washington, D.C., consulting firm $87,450 to put together a strategic sports plan for the school. Part of that study will look into the possibility of fielding a football team" (source:
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/133066738.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , article dated November 2, 2011.)
Schools considering or rumored to be considering moves to FBS from FCS:
Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware, Delaware State, James Madison, William and Mary, Villanova, Georgetown, Youngstown State, Cleveland State, Dayton, Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Western Carolina, North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State, and Eastern Washington. (of interest, Delaware State would be the first HBU school to make such a move)
Schools considering or rumored to be considering moves to Division I from Division II (not all have football):
Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State, UC San Diego, Northwest Missouri State, Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri Western, Missouri Southern, Harding (AR), Grand Valley State, North Alabama, Pittsburg State (KS), Lincoln (MO & HBU), West Virginia State, St. Cloud State, Alaska - Fairbanks, Alaska - Anchorage, Western New Mexico, Mars Hill (NC).