It’s difficult to drive down Main Street without seeing a sign saying “vote yes for football” or a marquee reading “support Bucs football.” The growing support for bringing back the football program to ETSU is undeniable.
A plethora of reasons this would benefit the overall betterment of ETSU has been attempted to be explained to students, but not in great detail. Being a freshman, I remember those first couple of weeks in the fall when campus would turn into a ghost town.
Having football games on the weekend would aid freshmen involvement and ease them into a college setting. The level of fun that could be had in bringing football back would be astronomical. Pre-game parties, Homecoming and pep rallies would be a fantastic opportunity for all students to live up their weekends and get involved.
Homecoming would take on a whole new meaning. Out-of-region alumni would actually have a reason to return to campus and witness a Homecoming like they had once before. Fraternities and sororities would receive better recognition from their respective alumni.
Renewed traditions and relationships would be that much more attainable. The new football team would also bring with it a new stadium, an excellent addition to the university in-season and out. The new stadium would provide an outstanding new venue to host concerts, campus events, speakers, etc. If football were to return, a marching band would come with it. This is yet another attraction for an increase in student population. Not to mention that the football team in general will be a huge pull for further increase in more students coming to ETSU.
Naysayers of football let me have your attention for a bit. There has been talk that Bucs football could never compete with the number of students who drive south 98 miles or so to see Tennessee play on the weekends. Sure, there will always be people who want to drive to Knoxville to take in a game but there are plenty enough students, alumni and other fans that can fill up a 15,000 seat stadium. Throw in some creative scheduling, a good football team, a great game-day experience and people will come. 
If you still don’t believe me, go take a look at Furman’s attendance records. The school has less than 3,000 undergraduates, Greenville-Spartanburg has a smaller population than Johnson City-Kingsport and the campus is in the backyard of both Clemson and South Carolina. They still averaged approximately 12,500 per game.
The scheduling is extremely flexible. Thursday and other weekday games are increasingly popular choices for non-BCS (Bowl Championship Series) schools. Again this increases student life and excitement as more students are on campus during the weekday. Home games can also be scheduled on different days than UT’s home games. All of the positive aspects of renewing football feed off of one another, the negatives are that of a few issues that can be worked out very easily. Overall, a new football team would breathe new life into athletics, academic and other university wide positives.
Community and student support is ever-prevalent, it’s hard to look left without seeing a flier, sign, or pin on a student’s shirt supporting the return of football.
In the sports world, ETSU is missing out in a way with keeping the football program away. There is fantastic football being played in our surrounding regions and areas throughout.
Pride is a big factor at ETSU, the new football team will just add to the list of why ETSU students hold their heads up high. Football is meant to be played here; it’s a calling of sorts to bring it back.
The overwhelming positives that surround the notion of having football return are undeniable. Community and student support is as strong as ever, and I am encouraging all students and faculty to vote “yes” in bringing football back to ETSU. The reward of this will stand the tests of time, and current students will be able to look back and say that they were part of helping the university that helped them out so much.
Be a part of something big and cast a “yes” vote for the return of Buccaneers football.

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