Dear Editor,
When I first heard that ETSU was going to attempt to bring football back, I must say I was elated. It seemed like a good thing for the students, as well as for the overall image of the university. I changed my stance somewhat once I found out that a large increase in student fees would be necessary in order to fund the project. I do not doubt that the project will cost a great deal of money but I feel that such an increase will contribute to a dangerous precedent that is already present in American society.
Many cities have been forced to pass tax increases in order to fund new stadiums for their NFL franchises, which draw in millions of dollars in revenue yearly and threaten relocation if the citizens don’t help them out. College football players now frequently leave school early in pursuit of these large salaries, many times at the expense of their education.
At the same time, many cities and counties in our area can’t bring in enough revenue to provide good salaries, sidewalks, traffic lights and other basic improvements that are badly needed. Everywhere I look, there is an important project needing money somewhere. When I ask myself “Where is all the money?” one of the first things I think of is sports.
Professional, and now college sports as well, soak up a tremendous amount of money each year from fans. While I am a rabid football fan, this trend bothers me a great deal. We should be concentrating on enriching our lives and providing for the future, not throwing exorbitant amounts of money into football player salaries.
Apart from Iraq, that is where most of our nation’s money is. I won’t sit here and tell people they should vote no on the fee increase because of this, but I think the facts about today’s society should be a part of this discussion. Do you really want to be a part of further funding the cash cow that professional and college sports have become?
-Brian Fouche

Author