Talk of adding football at VCU.

[Appstate29]

My guess is brass at UVA and Va Tech privately work against this move by potential competitors, UNC-Ch and UNC-Raleigh worked very hard for UNC-C to not get a team.

I don't think its silly, ask any UNC-C grad what they think about UNC-CH's thoughts on their getting football. Maybe I'm looking at it from too much of a business perspective, but if VCU (and GMU) add football as a varsity support, that is only bad news for VPI and UVA. More competition for fans and recruits. VA already has more than enough FCS programs they can schedule. I don't know VA as well as NC, but I doubt VCU JMU and ODU have anywhere near the clout UVA and VPI have, and if they are as worried about those teams adding as I would be, they will use it.

[andy7171]

Where is VCU in Virginia? I thought it was in the middle of downtown Richmond. You would think they'd have to take over the city stadium. Wouldn't upgrading be cheaper then starting anew?

[purplepeopleeaterv2]

Not going to happen. It's written somewhere in their charter that the school can't have a FB team (I believe it was some deal with the city anumber of years ago). With all the recent scandals surrounding the school, I'm surprised they're even talking about it.

They'll figure out a way around it somehow. Give it a few years with ODU and possibly Mason joining in Football VCU fans will feel left out. That won't last for long.

[purplepeopleeaterv2]

I don't think its silly, ask any UNC-C grad what they think about UNC-CH's thoughts on their getting football. Maybe I'm looking at it from too much of a business perspective, but if VCU (and GMU) add football as a varsity support, that is only bad news for VPI and UVA. More competition for fans and recruits. VA already has more than enough FCS programs they can schedule. I don't know VA as well as NC, but I doubt VCU JMU and ODU have anywhere near the clout UVA and VPI have, and if they are as worried about those teams adding as I would be, they will use it.

You don't know much about Virginia football then. Thats the great thing about being a Commonwealth. UVA and VT have close to zilch say on what VCU will do. Trust me. VCU's immediate threat is its own alumni base possibly being split on whether to add football or not.

[Appstate29]

Not going to happen. It's written somewhere in their charter that the school can't have a FB team (I believe it was some deal with the city anumber of years ago). With all the recent scandals surrounding the school, I'm surprised they're even talking about it.

I don't believe its written in their charter, THAT is silly. What were they thinking, "hmm oh yeah, we are going to have exams and a nice quad, and ohhh yeah, you know what really ticks me off, FOOTBALL, this school can't have it, ever, write that down. No, bigger. In all eternity, no football."

I bet you think UNC-C can't have football either because Bonnie Cone's son was paralyzed in a football-related activity?

[purplepeopleeaterv2]

Where are they going to build a stadium, though? There's no room to expand their current soccer field.

I don't think there's anywhere near VCU's campus to build a stadium. I think they will suffer from the same attendance woes as UR if they are away from campus.

Maybe they could expand the Siegel Center???

Or they could pull a JMU and demoloish the stadium and rebuild it on that site. Its possible.........

And for Andy yes VCU is in the heart of Richmond and using Richmond's old stadium would probably be their best bet (with some improvements).

[WileECoyote06]

I don't think its silly, ask any UNC-C grad what they think about UNC-CH's thoughts on their getting football. Maybe I'm looking at it from too much of a business perspective, but if VCU (and GMU) add football as a varsity support, that is only bad news for VPI and UVA. More competition for fans and recruits. VA already has more than enough FCS programs they can schedule. I don't know VA as well as NC, but I doubt VCU JMU and ODU have anywhere near the clout UVA and VPI have, and if they are as worried about those teams adding as I would be, they will use it.

Yep. Anytime you have former UNC System presidents speaking against the decision, you know it's not popular with the 'flagship' universities. I wonder if VSU, Richmond, and VUU alumni will get involved as well? They may look to undermine building permits and stadium construction.

[Appstate29]

You don't know much about Virginia football then. Thats the great thing about being a Commonwealth. UVA and VT have close to zilch say on what VCU will do. Trust me. VCU's immediate threat is its own alumni base possibly being split on whether to add football or not.

who controls spending and funding? Who controls fees a University charges? (since athletic fees will be making up a large part of the increased cost of football for these schools), who controls newspapers and local media in VA?

[elon77]

I hope they're successful. I didn't see any talk about what conference they'd play in, I'd have to think the CAA. This is looking more and more like the CAA will soon be a Virginia conference (to include Towson) with the northern schools breaking off. I wouldn't be surprised to see this happen and the old Yankee Conference returning with a few new faces from the north.

Foreman Field? WOW! I'm glad to hear it is still there. I can remember going to see the Norfolk Neptunes play there in the late 60's or early 70's when I was a kid living in Norfolk, VA.

If anyone remembers that team and league then you're a dinosaur.

When I was a kid we used to go every year to the Oyster Bowl. Roger Staubach played there with Navy when I was a kid. The old lady is going to look alot different than you remember, in one end zone they are building a high rise with luxury suites and club seats, and it is going to be pretty sweet. Redoing the whole place with new seats, rest rooms, turf, parking, and locker rooms. Go to ODU's web site and check out where the Neptunes used to play. By the way, I am a dinosaur, just ask my kids.

[Dane96]

If my former working knowledge of the VA system finances are the same, UVA actually gets less tax dollars than VCU...and is (UVA) more of a pseudo private university.