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UMES Executive Council votes not to pursue
football - at this time
November 21, 2005
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Executive
Council recently reviewed the findings of a study of the feasibility
of reinstating football and voted unanimously to recommend
to President Thelma B. Thompson that the effort not be undertaken
at this time.
The principle finding of the report was if football is to
be reinstated at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore,
it must be financed by the alumni, student, local businesses
and the community at large. The report estimated the cost of
reinstating football at $2.5 million and $1.5 million per year
to sustain the program operations.
The football feasibility study committee, chaired by UMES
alumnus Armstead Ward, was appointed in October, 2004. They
presented their report to President Thompson in June, 2005
and made it available for several months of campus review.
The study revealed certain dynamics and concerns that directly
impact the interest level of the various constituents groups
that responded to the interest polls and surveys conducted.
Key among those concerns were:
- Overwhelmingly, the respondents chose NCAA Division I-AA
as the priority level of competition;
- Although 95% of the respondents
stated that they favor the reinstatement of football and 66%
indicated they would financially support football, only 14%
indicated that they would contribute $500 or more to the reinstatement
effort;
- The study acknowledged that successful fundraising
at UMES has been difficult to achieve.
"Taking these facts into consideration, as well as the
current economic, social and political factors that will directly
effect any decisions that place an extra financial burden on
the student body, the Executive Council's deliberations were
thorough, but direct," said UMES Director of Athletics
Nelson Townsend. The Council also cited the lack of facilities,
such as a stadium, team training and dressing rooms, office
spaces for coaches, equipment and storage space as considerations
in their decision. The UMES Executive Council is made up of
faculty, staff and student representatives who meet monthly
to review and discuss critical university issues with the president.
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