KENNESAW STATE FOOTBALL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Why is Kennesaw State starting a football program?
A: Starting football at Kennesaw State provides a positive impact to the entire University in several ways, including: improving the residential student-life on campus, enhancing the total collegiate experience for the entire campus community and surrounding communities, increasing revenue streams that help fund and further increase the success of non-revenue sports, promoting the overall brand of Kennesaw State University, providing the institution with national name-recognition in avenues where it traditionally hasn’t been able to reach.
Q: Why will Kennesaw State football be a success?
A: The southeast and state of Georgia are meccas for college football. There is a high level of interest in the sport, especially in the metro Atlanta area where the population exceeds five million people. A solid infrastructure has been established at Kennesaw State that includes a stadium and sound business plan.
Q: How did KSU first look into adding a collegiate football program at the university?
A: In fall 2007, the KSU Student Government Association surveyed students on whether they wanted football at Kennesaw State. Over 35 percent of the student body responded, which in most polling samples is a huge response rate. Nearly 90 percent of KSU’s students indicated they wanted football and two-thirds supported an increase in student fees to fund football.
After years of discussions that included input from the student body, Kennesaw State University President Daniel S. Papp created a Football Exploratory Committee (FEC) on Dec. 10, 2009. The FEC, comprised of 33 members, explored the possibility of adding a collegiate football program at Kennesaw State and examined four key areas: projected costs, funding possibilities, broader consequences and positive alternatives.
Q: Why is Kennesaw State University interested in starting a football program when some schools are dropping the sport?
A: In the south, universities have been adding rather than dropping football; football programs that have been dropped are almost exclusively in the northeast. Outside of several institutions within the state of California, Kennesaw State is the eighth largest university in the country that does not have a football program.
Q: How would football help Kennesaw State University?
A: This will help attract more students, enhance alumni and community support, increase school spirit, and expand sponsorship and other fundraising opportunities for the Department of Athletics and University. Increased media exposure would help raise Kennesaw State’s national profile.
Q: How much would football cost?
A: The annual cost for a football program will be between $4.5 million and $5.5 million. This includes annual operating expenses such as scholarships for student-athletes, coaches’ salaries, equipment, game-day operations, marching band, fielding new sports to achieve Title IX compliance, etc.
Q: How will the football program be financed?
A: Funding will come from a variety of sources including donations, sponsorships, ticket sales, student fees, and guarantee games.
Q: With the addition of football, would there be an increase in student fees?
A: On Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, the Student Fee Committee voted 10 to one in favor of football and Title IX. The KSU Student Fee Committee approved a $100 fee increase that will take effect in the fall of 2013. The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents approved the fee increase on Feb. 13, 2013.
Q: Now that football has been approved, what are the next steps?
A: The next steps are to begin the search for a head coach, hold educational town hall meetings, begin selling tickets, renovate Fifth Third Bank Stadium, refurbish offices for coaching staff and develop a marching band.
Q: What role has Vince Dooley played in the football process at Kennesaw State?
A: Vince Dooley was asked to lead the Football Exploratory Committee (FEC) in 2009 and has continued working with Kennesaw State in a variety of capacities including fundraising, consulting on elements of starting a football program and advising on several initiatives. We are honored by Coach Dooley’s service to Kennesaw State, and look forward to a continued partnership with him.
Q: How soon after the announcement of football will a head football coach be hired?
A: Kennesaw State anticipates hiring a head coach as soon as we find the right person.
Q: When will Kennesaw State actually begin playing football and play its first game?
A: Kennesaw State will field its first intercollegiate team in the fall of 2015.
Q: At what level will Kennesaw State football compete?
A: Kennesaw State will compete at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly Division I-AA.
Q: Will it be scholarship or non-scholarship football?
A: Kennesaw State will compete in FCS scholarship football while funding the maximum 63 scholarships.
Q: Where will the team play?
A: The team will play at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, which seats 8,300. The stadium is currently used for soccer and lacrosse.
Q: What other facilities would be necessary?
A: Kennesaw State will need offices for the football coaches and staff.
Q: Will the football program include a marching band and cheerleading squad?
A: Kennesaw State already sponsors a spirit program, consisting of a cheerleading squad and dance team. The University also will start a marching band consisting of students in the School of Music.
Q: Would other sports be added along with football?
A: Additional women’s sports programs will be added over time to keep the University in compliance with Title IX. However, it is too early to speculate about which women’s sport or sports will be added. Kennesaw State recently introduced women’s lacrosse as the University’s 17th NCAA Division I championship sport, with intercollegiate competition beginning in the spring of 2013.
Q: What conference will Kennesaw State join and at what level would it compete?
A: Kennesaw State currently belongs to the Atlantic Sun Conference, which currently does not sponsor football. After announcing football, the University will begin a search for a place where football can play. It is too early to speculate which conference that will be.
Q: When will the recruiting process begin?
A: Once a head coach is hired, he may begin recruiting on behalf of Kennesaw State University.
Q: How can prospective student-athletes send in their information?
A: Prospective student-athletes can visit KSUOwls.com and fill out the prospective student-athlete questionnaire online.
Q: When will the first recruiting class be announced?
A: The first day of the National Letter of Intent (NLI) signing period for football is February 2014.
Q: How can I find out the latest updates on Kennesaw State football?
A: All information regarding Kennesaw State football will be available at KSUOwls.com. Fans can also follow KSU Athletics on Twitter @KSUOwlNation or by liking Kennesaw State Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/KennesawStateOwls.
Q: How can I purchase tickets?
A: The Kennesaw State Department of Athletics will be releasing detailed information regarding ticket information in early March. Continue to log on to KSUOwls.com for all the latest information.
