The news of the birth of Kennesaw State’s football program occurred on Wednesday.
The party happened on Thursday.
“Are you ready for some football?” KSU President Dan Papp asked the more than 1,000 students, officials, alumni and others who came to the Convocation Center to celebrate a dream that officially began in 2008, but can be traced back years before that.
Their answer?
A resounding yes.
“This gives us more of an opportunity to grow and one day compete against (Georgia) Tech and Georgia,” sophomore Tim McGaha said.
Some had already made their thoughts known by donning black or gold T-shirts with Kennesaw State Football on the front. Members of the women's lacrosse team, which will be fully funded because of the addition of football, held up a sign that said “LAX loves football.”
At the end, black and gold balloons fell to the floor, ending an emotional set of months that twice saw the Board of Regents rebuff KSU's efforts at starting football before they unanimously approved a $100-per-semester fee increase on Wednesday that will support the football program.
Now, the hard work begins.
Athletic director Vaughn Williams said he hopes to hire a head coach within six weeks. Williams declined to say what the pay range might be, but he did say he already received 30 emails or phone calls from people interested in the job since Wednesday. Williams said he won’t use a search firm to assist with the hiring, saying he wants things to be as efficient as possible.
Vince Dooley, who chaired the KSU football exploratory committee whose work began in 2009, said he doesn’t want to lead the Owls’ program.
“I’m here to help, not to handicap,” he said.
Fans will also begin to receive information about the ticket-buying process around the same time a coach is hired, a full 30 months before the Owls hope to play their first game in 2015.
Williams said KSU plans to use a points system similar to those used by other schools in which dollars donated equal points. A certain level of points will grant different purchasing rights. A minimum donation of $100 will grant the opportunity to purchase two season tickets. Prices on season tickets haven’t been decided.
Williams said he will also begin to reach out to try to find a conference in which the Owls can play football. Williams said on Wednesday that he wouldn’t be against playing football in another conference and staying in the Atlantic Sun, where the Owls’ 17 current sports play. He did say that he would prefer to play scholarship football.
Papp said there are no plans to expand the 8,300-seat KSU Stadium, which will now be known as Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Fifth Third Bank was referenced as an unnamed sponsor in documents given to the Board of Regents on Wednesday.
It wasn’t all polished on Thursday.
Williams twice urged hose in attendance to stand up and sing the fight song, which debuted Feb. 2012. It was evident that the tune needs to be added to a few I-pods.
But there’s still time to learn it before the first game in Aug. 2015.
“This is our call to action, when the fight song starts to play,” Williams said. “We stand up and start the fight song.
“It’s our time.”
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