ETSU Trying To Revive Football Again

#1
mdrew27

mdrew27

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#1
Johnson City Press - ETSU could be playing football by 2016 - Mobile Edition

I'm not sure what to think about it. I was there in 07 when they tried to bring it back. I was in favor but realized that the current students would have to pay a big chunk of the initial fundraising with not a lot in return.

I still think its bad if they want current students to pay for some of the initial cost with tuition dollars. I would love to see football back at ETSU but under different circumstances.
 
#3
#3
There just isn't enough of a fanbase. Too many people would still rather drive 100 miles west to see UTK play, even the current brand of football. And once you get into Carter County and over the mountain you're losing out to Appy St. Southwest VA is obviously VT country. ETSU was throwing money away for years when they had football, and it will continue to be the trend if they revive it.
 
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#4
#4
Once they finally finish the baseball stadium, they need to find someone to help them build a real basketball arena. Something around 8-10k seats on campus that can not only play host to basketball games, but also house concerts. I know the city just refurbished Freedom Hall, but it's still junk. ETSU can get their own arena, attract concerts and other live shows and profit off of it. Plus an actual basketball arena would greatly help attract not only fans to the games, but recruits as well.

BTW, for those that still live in the area. Is it just me and my 5-6 times a year that I get to come home from Bragg, or is it really taking waaaaaaaaaay too long to finish the new baseball stadium?
 
#5
#5
In hope they get it going again. I was born in JC, so have a soft spot for them
 
#6
#6
San Diego Vol said:
In hope they get it going again. I was born in JC, so have a soft spot for them
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Out of curiosity, why would you want the program to start up something that will do nothing but put them deep in the red financially?
 
#7
#7
The financials behind it don't really concern me
 
#8
#8
San Diego Vol said:
The financials behind it don't really concern me
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If you don't live in that area that is understandable, but if you do or are an alum it should. There is no sense throwing good money after bad and a new football program would have all the liabilities the former program had when it was dropped. The program has been gone for ten years and it seems to be an exercise in futility to try and bring it back, unless it would be a program of lesser stature, such as Maryville College, Carson-Newman, or that type program. There aren't enough fans to support a program and football wasn't supported when it was in existence. There might be enough talent in that area to have a successful, lesser stature program, however. Even that would raise the question though, "where is the money for the program going to come from?" Startup funding as well as continuing operating funds?
 
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#9
#9
As far as the length of construction is concerned... Construction is weird like that. It looks like barely any progress is happening and then... Poof the project is completed. I would like to see it only if it doesn't take a huge financial scare to the students and community. I heard in the past it was successful. I know last time they claimed that it would be successful because all the money that would go towards it. And that they would try and schedule games on Thursdays and Fridays to try and not conflict with UT. It will not be an easy task.
 
#10
#10
mdrew27 said:
As far as the length of construction is concerned... Construction is weird like that. It looks like barely any progress is happening and then... Poof the project is completed. I would like to see it only if it doesn't take a huge financial scare to the students and community. I heard in the past it was successful. I know last time they claimed that it would be successful because all the money that would go towards it. And that they would try and schedule games on Thursdays and Fridays to try and not conflict with UT. It will not be an easy task.
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I would bet a year's salary that ETSU would still lose to local HS football by doing this.
 
#11
#11
My love for football aside, if it's not good financially for the school, then they need to keep it dead.
 
#13
#13
Need to get rid of the dome, it is not up to code to hold up to capacity. They built it on some soft ground and now that is has settled it is just not stable to hold the football crowds. Donors are wanting to build another stadium. Last time they worked to bring back football they put it to a vote to ETSU students, and told them their tuition would go up a few hundred dollars. It was vetoed by the students.
 
#15
#15
volfanbill said:
Out of curiosity, why would you want the program to start up something that will do nothing but put them deep in the red financially?
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but they play in the FCS and they have a playoff so settling it on the field is much more important than something as silly as money
 
#16
#16
DjCrenshaw said:
Need to get rid of the dome, it is not up to code to hold up to capacity. They built it on some soft ground and now that is has settled it is just not stable to hold the football crowds. Donors are wanting to build another stadium. Last time they worked to bring back football they put it to a vote to ETSU students, and told them their tuition would go up a few hundred dollars. It was vetoed by the students.
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Rather than tear it down, which would cost some serious money in itself, it should be examined for retrofitting it to other uses. Universities always seem to have a need for room and retrofitting it would probably be cheaper than demolition as well as not having to approach the legislature for increased funding for future building(s), in these days of tight budgets and funding.
 
#17
#17
sjrobert said:
Rather than tear it down, which would cost some serious money in itself, it should be examined for retrofitting it to other uses. Universities always seem to have a need for room and retrofitting it would probably be cheaper than demolition as well as not having to approach the legislature for increased funding for future building(s), in these days of tight budgets and funding.
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they need the area for parking. That dome isn't good for anything.
 
#18
#18
GreveHaller said:
but they play in the FCS and they have a playoff so settling it on the field is much more important than something as silly as money
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oh well obviously. Forget funding the university or the rest of the athletics department!
 
#19
#19
sjrobert said:
Rather than tear it down, which would cost some serious money in itself, it should be examined for retrofitting it to other uses. Universities always seem to have a need for room and retrofitting it would probably be cheaper than demolition as well as not having to approach the legislature for increased funding for future building(s), in these days of tight budgets and funding.
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I've heard it may cost more to repair than to just tear down. But that is just hear say.
 
#23
#23
This could work they need a new outside stadium for tailgating and schedule the home games around TN and Vtech games.
 
#24
#24
volswitten1 said:
This could work they need a new outside stadium for tailgating and schedule the home games around TN and Vtech games.
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so what makes you think this could work? I really am curious, I'm not just being a prick. I spent the first 25 years of my life and I still go back every chance I get. I can't find any possible way that there would be enough interest.
 
#25
#25
volfanbill said:
so what makes you think this could work? I really am curious, I'm not just being a prick. I spent the first 25 years of my life and I still go back every chance I get. I can't find any possible way that there would be enough interest.
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Maybe a tongue-in-cheek remark?
 
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