George Mason Football
In March of 1992, the discussion of adding a college football team to George Mason University became a point of contention across the University. Between student government, faculty, and the administration, everyone had differing opinions. Student leaders at the time organized a rally event outside of SUB I to show their want of a football team. The rally is set to replicate the kind of student support that would be seen at potential football games, including a band and several speakers. The student leaders are as invested as even putting together a 40 page, 10 year long plan on the investment of a football team. This plan included the administrative budget for the project of $1.2 million and reduced the number by 66% with a one time student fee of $12.50. The student proposal included benefits like student employment opportunities, the addition of other benefits such as merchandise, community benefits, and outreach programs that could be similarly fitted to benefit the university. At the rally, student leaders from the Coalition for GMU Football showed their support. A member of the coalition, Richard Hayden, said to the reporter, “football is the vehicle through which we are exercising our right to representation,” when discussing the importance of holding the administration accountable for spending habits at the expense of the students.
In response to the rally and proposal, President Johnson spoke in the Broadside Student Newspaper, stating that in relation to adding a football team, the idea “should be put on hold indefinitely.” He continued to state reasons against the football team, discussing funding, logistics, faculty disapproval, as well as Title IX violations. Later in the article, the inequality between women’s and men’s sports, stating that if a football team is added to the university, it would greatly affect women’s sports with funding. He also explained that in 1978 a decision set a president to not let athletics come before academics.