The UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees agreed to continue with plans to start a football team in 2013 this morning. The Plan E that was passed will require a a student fee increase of up to $320 when it is phully phased in over the next several years.
The decision was made after a lengthy discussion between the board and other campus leaders. Chancellor Dubois also gave a power-point presentation highlighting the plan. Also discussed was pushing back the football discussion for three years to give the economy time to recover.
The vote drew unanimous support from the trustees.
"It almost makes me kind of speechless, this is just unbelieveable," Athletic Director Judy Rose said of the decision. "I'm extremely optimistic that the community wants this, and the corporate community wants football for UNC Charlotte and they share our vision for this university."
The timing of the vote was just at the right time, as it will give the university time to seek approval from the UNC-system leaders to raise student fees to support the football program. It will also allow the univesity to ask state lawmakers to sign off on a $45 million on-campus stadium complex.
Rose also gave some intimate details about what the football program and facilities would entail. In terms of scheduling, Rose thinks the school might be a little bit behind.
"We're behind the 8 ball on a schedule for 2013," Rose said of the scheduling conflicts. "If you know much about college athletics, in particular football, those schedules are done four or five years in advance."
Part of the student-paid money would go towards running the football organization, but up to $120 per year would go towards to building of the stadium.
The university has sold more than 3,200 football-seat-licenses and received $1.6 million in private donations.
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