Hey, sports guys!

James, Mike:

In 2009, the University of Richmond will vacate City Stadium and begin playing football at a new facility next to the Robins Center. This will leave only the semi-pro soccer team, the Kickers, as the only draw for City Stadium.

Also in 2009, VCU’s rival Old Dominion will begin playing Division I-AA football. The Monarchs will be on the Spider’s football schedule and will likely become a longstanding large revenue game for both schools.

With a stadium available near Carytown and plenty of regional teams that could be scheduled, there is no logical reason why VCU should remain the only large university in Virginia without a football team.

I realize that the prevailing attitude among students is that the VCU administration is led by a bunch of (wimps) and that having a football program is just too costly. On the first point, VCU has some very fine staff, many of whom would love to see VCU become a great place for football to be played. On the latter point, VCU could begin with a club team like that of George Mason, or start in Division III, where no players get scholarships. While starting small is a good option, I do not see how ODU can have a team and a slimy school like JMU can have a national caliber team, but a leviathan university such as VCU claims that football is too hard for their administrators to figure out.

I hope that you will use your editorial position to call for the establishment of a football team at VCU. Even to start a football club team (like George Mason has) would be better than nothing. As my older brother says, you can’t be a real university without a football team. I think that VCU’s students deserve to have a Rams football team to cheer for.

– J. Tyler Ballance

Mr. Ballance,

James and I wholeheartedly agree that VCU should make movements toward bringing a team to town. What we don’t agree on is how, or frankly, what kind of team. In our Oct. 30 edition of “point/counterpoint,” James and I jested a bit on the issue. It was all in good fun and we only scratched the surface of what appears to be a complex issue. Regardless of stance, we all agree that we’re talking many years and many dollars to bring a team to Richmond.

We haven’t talked to the administration and we don’t know what they think about such an endeavor.

We do know that a few years ago the administration cited finances as a major reason to forgo bringing a team to town. What we don’t know is whether this assertion was in response to a study or high-level discussion, or whether it was in response to a reporter’s pesky question.

However, James and I examined the annual sports budget for our story and we’ve come to the conclusion that a football team would essentially require doubling the $7 to $9 million we already spend. We’ve also heard stories of schools our size spending more than $30 million a year to maintain a teams with little local support.

So here’s where we are: We agree that something must be done – read “Richmond: I’m just not feeling you” from Oct. 12 – to bring more people into the city. This is key. VCU would have to create a fanatical following for any start-up of this size to make sense.

We like the idea of a club football team, though we don’t necessarily agree that it would lead to anything in the future.

Here’s what we’re going to do: We think that this section can (and should) do a better job covering our teams. Frankly, we’re part of the problem and I think a growing school spirit is essential to our future sporting success – football or no football. We need to do our part to grow that spirit.

We’re working hard to expand the coverage of our local teams.

We’re still finding our feet, so any questions, comments, you know the drill: call us at 804-828-7108, or e-mail us at sports@commonwealthtimes.com.

We especially want to hear from people that want to write. It’s not hard, we promise, and you’ll get a backstage, all-access pass to the greatness that is VCU sports. Operators are standing by.

– Michael De Soto