Touchdown Eagles! Those are two words no Kirkwood Community College student has ever heard but many would like to hear. Students at Kirkwood have been clamoring for a football team for many years, yet we still don’t have one.
A big reason students want a football team is because they want another athletic team to support. On top of that, football is the most popular sport in America. And, it is the most popular sport within the majority of colleges and universities that have a football team.
According to Christina Gough in College Sport (NCAA) – statistics & facts, “A 2023 survey on the level of interest in college football in the United States found that more than half of respondents were either casual or avid college football fans that year.”
Some naysayers may say it isn’t worth it because of how much it may cost. But considering the amount of money it would end up making for the school, it would be worth it.
Adding a football team would give more opportunities to potential athletes at Kirkwood. According to NCSA College Recruiting, junior colleges are allowed 85 players on their football teams and are given a maximum of 85 scholarships.
This is beneficial to Kirkwood students because more students would have access to sports-related scholarships and thus be able to attend Kirkwood without worrying about tuition.
Students who weren’t necessarily recruited to play football but walk onto the team could potentially get a scholarship because there is a maximum of 85 players and a maximum of 85 scholarships.
Finally, some dissenters may say it isn’t worth it because of the money it costs to run the program.
However, I would argue this by saying that three community colleges in Iowa already have football teams – Ellsworth Community College, Iowa Western Community College and Iowa Central Community College – and have already made a conference Kirkwood could jump into.
With that being said, it’s time for Kirkwood Community College to call an audible and run with having a football team.
Categories: Contributed, Opinion
