JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- "The Spinnaker" asked athletic director Lee Moon what was the possibility of a football program at UNF and he said, "Not in my lifetime."
But that was back in the fall.
Since then he was given permission by UNF President John Delaney to go to the student body for feedback.
He claims there was an overwhelming response at fraternities and sororities in support of bringing a team to UNF. He said he also asked them if they would support it if there was some sort of fee and the response was positive.
But not everyone is excited about that. There was fear it would mean an increase in tuition. However, UNF confirmed that the football team would not create a tuition increase.
Moon said adding a football team would likely double the athletics budget, which is currently close to $8.3 million dollars. UNF students currently pay an athletic fee worth $16.33 per credit hour, which makes up the majority of the UNF athletic department’s budget.
According to a football feasibility report authorized by Florida Gulf Coast University in 2011, gross expenses (scholarships, compensation and operations) for FCS Football and additional women’s sports would reach approximately $5.9 million at full implementation.
