Why doesn't GMU have a football team? I have heard they have done studies and it is not financially viable. I find that hard to believe with the population of the area and the lack of competition for College football in the area. There was a recent change of administration at GMU any chance the alumni could make this happen.

GMU football would be like Georgetowns program. Do u really want that?

They have a club team
Or did a few years ago

They don't have a team because it costs a fortune and the whole world then revolves around a group of guys who have no business being in college because their average IQ is about 90.

They have basketball, which is probably not much better on the IQ score. One big sport is enough............

iuytd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They don't have a team because it costs a fortune
> and the whole world then revolves around a group
> of guys who have no business being in college
> because their average IQ is about 90.
>
> They have basketball, which is probably not much
> better on the IQ score. One big sport is
> enough............


Whether you want it or not Football/Athletics brings prestige and legitimacy to a university. If you don't believe me all you need to do is look at the numbers of applications that increased four fold after GMU made their run to the Final Four. A FCS competitive football team playing in the CAA would play like minded academic Universities and draw a lot of positive attributes to the school. It would draw support from alumni out of the area and local support from the legions of football fans in Northern Virginia. ODU started their program less than 10 years ago and sold out before they ever played a game. They have multiple College teams in their backyard. GMU will always carry the second rate status until they step up their Athletic programs, specifically a Football team.

When I went there 15 years ago, they put it to a student vote and the majority of the students didn't want one due to the expense and they really didn't care. the only ones who really wanted a football team at the time were the students that weren't commuter students which a low percentage of the student body at the time.

GMU does have plans for a stadium though and it would be placed off of the new entrance there on Braddock Road by the ball fields. There were some plans shown a while back showing the planned growth of the school and it was in the master plan.

I'm a GMU grad and this is brought up incessantly on the GMU FB page.

It will NEVER happen.

There are too many other uses for the money. The university is pouring cash into housing and making the school feel more like a university and less like a commuter school, renovating buildings, and investing in academics.

It wouldn't be profitable. Most D1 football programs aren't bringing in the money that SEC schools are. Many D1-AA programs tend to LOSE money for the school (that's likely where GMU would be). GMU was formerly in the CAA which had two schools (Northeastern and Hofstra) shut the doors on the program because it was hemorrhaging funds. There's no stadium, so that would cost millions and millions of dollars. Braddock and 123 aren't equipped to handle the traffic that a quality D1 football program would bring, and Fairfax isn't going to spend the millions it would take to widen the roads to accommodate an influx of traffic.

GMU already has a core fan-base for its basketball program. They just dished out the cash it took to migrate to the A10 so they could play in a decent mid-major conference against VCU. Basketball is what put GMU on the map, and it'll stay that way.

Given the prohibitive cost of building a football program, they'd be better off investing in a sport like lacrosse that will allow them to interface w/ more reputable universities and recruit from the local NOVA/MD talent pools.

FusilliJerry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When I went there 15 years ago, they put it to a
> student vote and the majority of the students
> didn't want one due to the expense and they really
> didn't care. the only ones who really wanted a
> football team at the time were the students that
> weren't commuter students which a low percentage
> of the student body at the time.
>
> GMU does have plans for a stadium though and it
> would be placed off of the new entrance there on
> Braddock Road by the ball fields. There were some
> plans shown a while back showing the planned
> growth of the school and it was in the master
> plan.


The underpass was built to relieve commuter traffic on 123 and Braddock during rush hour. Not as a byway for a football stadium. If you do have these "master plans" I'm interested in a link though.

I agree with everything you have just said Not Happening. Football is not happening anytime soon at George Mason University. Here is what I would like to say:

It is much easier to obtain success with a Division I basketball program than a Division I football program. The cost of maintaining a basketball facility is much cheaper than a football stadium. On the plus side even when the basketball season is over, the arenas can still generate revenue when music artists come by for tours or when the circus comes. A school with a basketball program can obtain success and attention by doing only two things. Make it to the NCAA March Madness and make it to either the Sweet 16, Elite 8, or Final 4.

Football stadiums are expensive to build and maintain. When football season is over the stadium is used for soccer and lacrosse games. Not as multi purpose as a basketball arena. There are also two subdivisions in Division I football. Basketball does not have two subdivisions in Division I, if you are Division I you are Division I. THe two subdivisions for football include Division I-A BCS and Division-AA FCS. If you are not Division I BCS it is very difficult to make any money in a football program.

Gaining national attention with a football program is very difficult. You have to be a top 10 in the rankings in BCS to get people to know your school. Then you got to win the BCS bowl game. Any of those lesser bowl games is no good.

Not Happening Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FusilliJerry Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > When I went there 15 years ago, they put it to
> a
> > student vote and the majority of the students
> > didn't want one due to the expense and they
> really
> > didn't care. the only ones who really wanted a
> > football team at the time were the students
> that
> > weren't commuter students which a low
> percentage
> > of the student body at the time.
> >
> > GMU does have plans for a stadium though and it
> > would be placed off of the new entrance there
> on
> > Braddock Road by the ball fields. There were
> some
> > plans shown a while back showing the planned
> > growth of the school and it was in the master
> > plan.
>
>
> The underpass was built to relieve commuter
> traffic on 123 and Braddock during rush hour. Not
> as a byway for a football stadium. If you do have
> these "master plans" I'm interested in a link
> though.

Page 11 - Optional Stadium for 15,000.

http://facilities.gmu.edu/CampusPlanning/Masterplans/upload/athletics_masterplan_FEB05.pdf

Football was never in the future plans of GMU. They eventually planned on having a med school. The plan 30 years ago was to take over Commonwealth Hospital Less than a mile from the Fairfax Campus. Now it seems, they are more interested in building more dorms for the out of state tuition.

Not Happening Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm a GMU grad and this is brought up incessantly
> on the GMU FB page.
>
> It will NEVER happen.
>
> There are too many other uses for the money. The
> university is pouring cash into housing and making
> the school feel more like a university and less
> like a commuter school, renovating buildings, and
> investing in academics.
>
> It wouldn't be profitable. Most D1 football
> programs aren't bringing in the money that SEC
> schools are. Many D1-AA programs tend to LOSE
> money for the school (that's likely where GMU
> would be). GMU was formerly in the CAA which had
> two schools (Northeastern and Hofstra) shut the
> doors on the program because it was hemorrhaging
> funds. There's no stadium, so that would cost
> millions and millions of dollars. Braddock and 123
> aren't equipped to handle the traffic that a
> quality D1 football program would bring, and
> Fairfax isn't going to spend the millions it would
> take to widen the roads to accommodate an influx
> of traffic.
>


> GMU already has a core fan-base for its basketball
> program. They just dished out the cash it took to
> migrate to the A10 so they could play in a decent
> mid-major conference against VCU. Basketball is
> what put GMU on the map, and it'll stay that way.
>
>
> Given the prohibitive cost of building a football
> program, they'd be better off investing in a sport
> like lacrosse that will allow them to interface w/
> more reputable universities and recruit from the
> local NOVA/MD talent pools.





You can't have it both ways! In one sentence you say it will never be supported and in the next you are saying the roads won't handle all the traffic driven by the Football games! WHICH IS IT?

Either "problem" can be dealt with. I tend to agree with the traffic coming from a competitive football team on Fall Saturdays. GMU has developed very successful alums and I bet there are a few football fans in the group. These core "Patriots" can help get the ball rolling with a kick start to fundraising for a multi use stadium for all outdoor sports. Soccer, Lacrosse, Track and Field as well as Football. There is already a beautiful stadium that would just need to be updated to facilitate football.

You point to unsuccessful football programs from Boston and Long Island where the competition for College Football is extreme. I look at ODU and see more prestige and positives coming from a successful football program that is sold out every Saturday. GMU had an opportunity to become a Mid Major in basketball after the Final Four run. They blew it and have never financed Athletics like they should. The focus away from Sports has failed, the Arts projects do not pay. Try Football and see the immediate result in fundraising dollars and applications. ODU has already proven my point! There is your blue print on creating and marketing a financially viable football program in a better market.

There is an administrative mindset that is behind more Arts and less Athletics, and it is time for explanations. If it is all over your Facebook page it has traction and there just needs to be leadership that reflects this forward thinking agenda.

I AM SOORY, BUT THE REALITY IS..... FOOTBALL = LEGITIMACY

FusilliJerry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not Happening Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > FusilliJerry Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > When I went there 15 years ago, they put it
> to
> > a
> > > student vote and the majority of the students
> > > didn't want one due to the expense and they
> > really
> > > didn't care. the only ones who really wanted
> a
> > > football team at the time were the students
> > that
> > > weren't commuter students which a low
> > percentage
> > > of the student body at the time.
> > >
> > > GMU does have plans for a stadium though and
> it
> > > would be placed off of the new entrance there
> > on
> > > Braddock Road by the ball fields. There were
> > some
> > > plans shown a while back showing the planned
> > > growth of the school and it was in the master
> > > plan.
> >
> >
> > The underpass was built to relieve commuter
> > traffic on 123 and Braddock during rush hour.
> Not
> > as a byway for a football stadium. If you do
> have
> > these "master plans" I'm interested in a link
> > though.
>
> Page 11 - Optional Stadium for 15,000.
>
> http://facilities.gmu.edu/CampusPlanning/Masterpla
> ns/upload/athletics_masterplan_FEB05.pdf


That's interesting, but this looks more like a proposal put forward by a contractor. I wouldn't say it's necessarily in the "Master Plan" of the university.

GMU Football Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not Happening Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm a GMU grad and this is brought up
> incessantly
> > on the GMU FB page.
> >
> > It will NEVER happen.
> >
> > There are too many other uses for the money.
> The
> > university is pouring cash into housing and
> making
> > the school feel more like a university and less
> > like a commuter school, renovating buildings,
> and
> > investing in academics.
> >
> > It wouldn't be profitable. Most D1 football
> > programs aren't bringing in the money that SEC
> > schools are. Many D1-AA programs tend to LOSE
> > money for the school (that's likely where GMU
> > would be). GMU was formerly in the CAA which
> had
> > two schools (Northeastern and Hofstra) shut the
> > doors on the program because it was
> hemorrhaging
> > funds. There's no stadium, so that would cost
> > millions and millions of dollars. Braddock and
> 123
> > aren't equipped to handle the traffic that a
> > quality D1 football program would bring, and
> > Fairfax isn't going to spend the millions it
> would
> > take to widen the roads to accommodate an
> influx
> > of traffic.
> >
>
>
> > GMU already has a core fan-base for its
> basketball
> > program. They just dished out the cash it took
> to
> > migrate to the A10 so they could play in a
> decent
> > mid-major conference against VCU. Basketball is
> > what put GMU on the map, and it'll stay that
> way.
> >
> >
> > Given the prohibitive cost of building a
> football
> > program, they'd be better off investing in a
> sport
> > like lacrosse that will allow them to interface
> w/
> > more reputable universities and recruit from
> the
> > local NOVA/MD talent pools.
>
>
>
>
>
> You can't have it both ways! In one sentence you
> say it will never be supported and in the next you
> are saying the roads won't handle all the traffic
> driven by the Football games! WHICH IS IT?
>
> Either "problem" can be dealt with. I tend to
> agree with the traffic coming from a competitive
> football team on Fall Saturdays. GMU has
> developed very successful alums and I bet there
> are a few football fans in the group. These core
> "Patriots" can help get the ball rolling with a
> kick start to fundraising for a multi use stadium
> for all outdoor sports. Soccer, Lacrosse, Track
> and Field as well as Football. There is already a
> beautiful stadium that would just need to be
> updated to facilitate football.
>
> You point to unsuccessful football programs from
> Boston and Long Island where the competition for
> College Football is extreme. I look at ODU and see
> more prestige and positives coming from a
> successful football program that is sold out every
> Saturday. GMU had an opportunity to become a Mid
> Major in basketball after the Final Four run. They
> blew it and have never financed Athletics like
> they should. The focus away from Sports has
> failed, the Arts projects do not pay. Try Football
> and see the immediate result in fundraising
> dollars and applications. ODU has already proven
> my point! There is your blue print on creating
> and marketing a financially viable football
> program in a better market.
>
> There is an administrative mindset that is behind
> more Arts and less Athletics, and it is time for
> explanations. If it is all over your Facebook page
> it has traction and there just needs to be
> leadership that reflects this forward thinking
> agenda.
>
> I AM SOORY, BUT THE REALITY IS..... FOOTBALL =
> LEGITIMACY

It won't ever be supported by the university. Infrastructure costs around the school are just one of many reasons. While I agree that they should have put more emphasis on basketball after the Final Four run (and never should have let Larranaga walk), emphasis is still going to be on Basketball when it comes to athletics at Mason.

In addition to the costs associated w/ widening 123/Braddock, Title IX would generate more problems -- the additional cost of the football program will require cuts to established DI Men's Sports at GMU, or an equal increase in Women's sports spending.

If ODU has seen a boost in reputation from developing a football program, it's not reflected in their rankings. They're still not ranked among the top 150 schools in the US whereas GMU and Hofstra (who cut their football program) are.

There are plenty of cost-efficient ways for GMU to improve its reputation without dropping millions on a football stadium. One way I can think of is instituting an honor code on par w/ UVA and W&M. GMU has decent admissions standards, but guaranteed admissions from nova allows poor students to attend, and they can then cheat their way through undergrad w/ no repercussion. Cheating should result in expulsion when detected.

At the end of the day, football is never going to happen at Mason. Stop trying to make football happen.

How is Harvard's football team? Does anybody really care?

exactly.

NE has moved up 100 spots in the rankings over the past 10 years or so, and they're currently ranked 49th nationally by US News. They also cut their football program the same year Hofstra did.

The sport of elite schools is lacrosse. GMU already has a stadium they could use for that, and if they worked it out so they got to play Georgetown, UVA, Hopkins, UMD, Loyola, etc. there would be a boost in reputation at a much lower cost.

Does MIT have a football team? They are legitimate. So is Harvard. People don't go to either for the football.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

MIT has a football team. Whooda thunkit. Does anybody really care?

Not Happening Wrote:
>
> That's interesting, but this looks more like a
> proposal put forward by a contractor. I wouldn't
> say it's necessarily in the "Master Plan" of the
> university.

Execpt the part where it says masterplan in the link and on the GMU Master Plan website.

I you dig a little deeper, they were/are looking at putting a minor league baseball stadium at Strinfellow and Braddoxk. Back at the time this was drafted, it was going to cost ~$32 mil to build the football stadium.

Nothing says, "an actual college experience" like a football team

FusilliJerry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not Happening Wrote:
> >
> > That's interesting, but this looks more like a
> > proposal put forward by a contractor. I
> wouldn't
> > say it's necessarily in the "Master Plan" of
> the
> > university.
>
> Execpt the part where it says masterplan in the
> link and on the GMU Master Plan website.
>
> I you dig a little deeper, they were/are looking
> at putting a minor league baseball stadium at
> Strinfellow and Braddoxk. Back at the time this
> was drafted, it was going to cost ~$32 mil to
> build the football stadium.

My point is that this "Master Plan" is a proposal/pitch by a contractor and the athletic dept. It doesn't mean that university administration is actually considering this as a viable master plan.

> There are plenty of cost-efficient ways for GMU to
> improve its reputation without dropping millions
> on a football stadium. One way I can think of is
> instituting an honor code on par w/ UVA and W&M.
> GMU has decent admissions standards, but
> guaranteed admissions from nova allows poor
> students to attend, and they can then cheat their
> way through undergrad w/ no repercussion. Cheating
> should result in expulsion when detected.
>
> At the end of the day, football is never going to
> happen at Mason. Stop trying to make football
> happen.



Holy Shit! Whoever you are, put down the gun and take your meds! An Honor Code! Seriously, that's your response to a post about football at GMU? WOW! What kind of issues are you dealing with? ANYWAY...... Back to football at GMU. to the other more lucid comments, GMU football would join the ranks of most of the teams losing money! YES, Harvard's football team is part of the Fall traditions attended and financed by the alumni and school. Why would any school finace football based on the financial considerations. BUT there is the football season that draws the fans and support that makes College football THE draw for Fall Saturdays. GMU alum may never know what it means to come back to Fairfax to enjoy that camaraderie. The real problem is that all the decision makers are off on Fall Saturdays enjoying THEIR alma maters football homecomings.

More "lucid"? that was also my comment.

You seem to have missed the point of my honor code suggestion: it's a much more affordable means to boost the reputation of a school that currently churns out an abysmal graduate for every competent one.

Football is a waste of money. The school has a homecoming centered around basketball. They're trying to foster a sense of community by building on-campus housing. Students are happy with the basketball program.

Stop pretending football is going to happen.

Competitive shooting team or bust!