June 14, 2005
Old Dominion to add football by '09
The Board of Trustees of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, voted Tuesday to add football as a varsity sport at the I-AA level by 2009 if all "triggers" (including pledges of $8 million by next June) are met. The Monarchs would join the Colonial Athletic Association. The CAA will be currently playing in the Atlantic 10 in 2007.
Foreman Field will be renovated to include luxury suites. A head coach would be hired by 2008. The city of Norfolk will assist facilities renovations and construction to include football practice fields. A marching band and a cheerleading squad will also be formed.
No male athletic scholarship sports will be cut because of Title IX considerations. Instead, ODU will add women's rowing, softball and volleyball.
There have been rumors that George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, will follow ODU's lead and upgrade football from a club team to a varsity sport.
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Jeff said:
posted on June 18, 2005 4:23 PM — 24.197.126.228 — link — abuse?This could result in some reshuffling of the middle atlantic and northeastern conferences.... it may even impact the Big South or SoCon from what I'm hearing.