Where’s WU football?

By Chris McFadden

With the start of another college football season underway, a thought occurred to me:  Winthrop really needs a football team.

Between the upsets and last-minute victories that will no doubt accompany the new season, college campuses throughout the country will be home to thrilling and exciting moments.
 
Fans will yell and scream, cry and laugh as their teams do battle on the football field.

Football has surpassed baseball to become America’s pastime.

It has become something close to a religion.  

An engaged friend of mine said she almost considers herself single during football season.  

Between playing fantasy football and watching games, her fiance is gone during the season.

A college football team at Winthrop would be very popular with students and the Rock Hill community alike.

Being a Rock Hill native, I can attest to it being a football town.  

The three high schools in Rock Hill usually have sold-out stadiums when they play on Friday nights.  Go to any diner or bar around town and you are sure to hear some discussion of high school football.

Judging by the conversations I hear around the West Center and the number of Winthrop football shirts around campus, I think the student body would love a gridiron team as well.

The university has already built a nationally-known basketball team.  

It would only be a matter of time before the football team would be successful as well.

The basis of this opinion is based on Winthrop’s location.  Football talent surrounds the school.  

Every year, the high schools in this area send numerous kids off to universities on football scholarships.  

The area also has a number of athletes who play in the National Football League.

A Winthrop football team would be able to keep some of the local talent that heads to other areas to play college ball.

Starting a football program will, without question, cost a lot of money.  

However, a football team at Winthrop in the not-to0-distant future would increase the university’s profile throughout the country.

An Eagle football team may be a pipe dream, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea.