The current situation on UVU establishing a football program is technically undecided since the decision is left up to President Holland whose main concern right now is establishing credibility for UVU academically instead of athletically. According to an interview with head of UVU athletics department, Mike Jacobsen, there is potential land set aside for the purpose of a football field. If President Holland would give the go ahead for football it would take UVU 3 years to come up with the money that is needed to start up a football program. The obvious question is where to get the money? Jacobsen mentioned that in the beginning a 5 year plan was established for football plans so that money could start accumulating. This was proposed to the student body in 2006. Polls were established and the student body was uanimously on board with the idea. Jared Sumsion, who was the student body president at UVU during this time was interviewed on the matter last Friday. He was asked about the football fund that students, since 06, have been putting money into every semester, what are the fees? And how much money is in the fund now? His response was that there wasn't a football fund, it was the conference affiliation fund which was established to fund athletics so that UVU could get into a legitimate conference. When talking to Mike Jacobsen about the funds though he said it started out as a football fund and was changed to the Conference Affiliation Fund that it is now. So honestly it is really unclear what the purpose is of being "taxed" for football, if there may not be a football program. When comparing the two interviews, Jacobsen and Sumsion, there were a lot of holes in the story. One said money is being set aside, the other said that football would happen only if UVU was able to find a wealthy benefactor for the program. According to SUmsion, bottom line is that UVU must get into a conference before they even think about a football program. Bottom line for Jacobsen is even if Pres. Holland said yes to a team tomorrow it would still take 3 years to raise the money.
A survey of students was taken and there was a wide variety of results and opinions. A poll is in process and so far 80% of the students would not put their money toward a football team if given a choice. However, 60% of the same students would like a football team here at UVU.
Jared Sumsion did a poll when he was student body president and the result was 80% to wanting a football team, but were these students aware of the money they were paying without consent.
We interviewed a number of students about this subject. Most originally had a positive reaction, but when they discovered that their money was already going toward this establishment many ended with the answer no, to having a football team at UVU.
Garret Swenson was one of the students who answered yes. Swenson says that having a football team would help the reputation of the school and also his education.
A few students agreed that since they are graduating soon it is not fair for the school to use their money because when a football team is established it will not be beneficial to them.
“BYU is right there”, said McCall Tycksen.
Students don’t feel it is necessary to have another football team here in Utah Valley.
The poll proves these reactions of interviews. Students see positives in having a football team, but not when their money is involved.
Also, We want to make you aware that $123 of our tuition is going toward the Athletic department each year. We spoke with the University Utah and discovered that they are paying the same amount. Why are we paying the same amount as an extremely established university who has the added expense of a football team? Football is the most expensive sport to have at a university, therefore we should not be paying the same amount as the University of Utah because UVU is not funding a football team.
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