UTSA is adding a football program (Dallas, San Antonio: student loan, universities, live)

[The Rising Suun]

Thanks for that vankai, I knew I had seen something on that.

[tgannaway89]

Coker has hired a Director of Football Operations. Shane Elder comes to UTSA from A&M where he served as administrative assistant for recruiting for the past seven years.

UTSA names Shane Elder as Director of Football Operations - GoUTSA.com—Official Web site of the University of Texas at San Antonio Athletics

He is the fourth to join Coker's coaching staff.

UTSA football will field an independent team beginning in 2011, and will play in the SLC starting in 2013.

[tgannaway89]

UTSA has signed a contract with NISD to use the nearby Farris Stadium for practice. The team will use the facility Sunday through Thursday during the months of August to April. This contract applies for the next 4 years (2010-2013). By 2014 UTSA will have constructed phase II of Park West which includes new football practice fields.

[majormadmax]

UTSA now plans to go it alone in football

Switching gears from a tentative plan to join the Southland Conference in football, UTSA has charted a new course for its fledgling program.

University of Texas at San Antonio athletic director Lynn Hickey said the school, which is slated to begin play in 2011, would attempt to reach the NCAA’s top flight as an independent by its fifth season in 2015.

Should they do so, the Roadrunners would become one of just four independent football teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A). They would remain there indefinitely until an opportunity to move their entire athletic program into an FBS conference presents itself. (full story (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/UTSA_now_plans_to_go_it_alone_in_football.html - broken link))

Cheers! M2

[Bo]

I read that article M2 posted. It said that UTSA will need to draw an average of 15,000 fans to their games in 2013 and 2014 to be admitted to what used to be called Division I-A in 2015, which is the program's ultimate goal. I expect that will require a large promotional effort and the school will offer loads of inexpensive tickets during those seasons. Those two seasons could provide a great entertainment value downtown, since they'll be playing in the Alamodome.

The article said they plan to be independent and they've had a lot of interest from other schools in playing a home and home series. Imagine games in the Alamodome vs. high-profile Big 12 opponents in search of easy wins.

[sapphire]

There are hundreds, if not thousands of students alone that will fill those seats. Between students and alumni, I think they'll be off to a great start towards meeting their goal. What an exciting time for the UTSA community!

[Pops and Sweets]

Bowie you are so close to making a good argument for a dismal attendance record....except that you forgot the operative word: beer.

Thousands of local alumni + cheap seats + 6 home games (that's very very few games when compared to a basketball or baseball schedule) = <20000. Throw beer into the equation, St. Paul's square and tailgating and that's just as good as any reason to have a downtown party as cleaning the river.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by Pops and Sweets

Bowie you are so close to making a good argument for a dismal attendance record....except that you forgot the operative word: beer.

Thousands of local alumni + cheap seats + 6 home games (that's very very few games when compared to a basketball or baseball schedule) = <20000. Throw beer into the equation, St. Paul's square and tailgating and that's just as good as any reason to have a downtown party as cleaning the river.

Interesting perspective. But will beer be sold at the games? Most colleges don't sell it.

[Pops and Sweets]

It's gonna be sold at the games and on the grounds.

And perhaps it is an interesting perspective; but it's literally rooted in history. there's a reason why prohibition movement failed. Because the masses love their brew.

By the way I believe, that at art walk without alcohol would be much smaller in SA (e.g. First Friday). But that's a divergent topic all together.

To quote Ben Franklin "beer is proof God loves is".

And yeah, I believe only two other Texas universities do this. I could be off by one or two though.

[triwing]

Who cares?