Why Adelphi Doesn't Have a Football Team..

For Adelphi University students, it’s the age-old question, why isn’t there a Panthers football team? University athletes for many years have excelled at a number of sports, including soccer, baseball and lacrosse just to name a few, even during the years when a football team existed here on campus.

Adelphi University’s first football team existed from 1947 through the 1953 season. It started up again as a club basis in 1965, became a half-varsity sport in 1968 and was discontinued in 1971.

Reasons for both discontinuations were due to a lack of financial support; the athletic department spent $75,000 annually in order to keep the program running. Rivals included Bloomsburg State College, Long Island University, Hofstra University, Bridgeport University, and Farmingdale State College, the first three respectively still having active football programs.

According the University’s athletic director Robert Hartwell, a number of circumstances would go into starting up the football team again. There would be a potential Title IX, a law enacted in 1972 banning sex discrimination in schools.

“Our campus is over 75% female. And to add another male sport would certainly continue to skew the numbers. It's a constant struggle to stay compliant now and we haven't dropped any men's sports, but we have add volleyball (1992), women's lacrosse (2001), women's bowling (2006) and field hockey (2008) as a way of trying to stay on top of our enrollment,” said Suzette McQueen, the athletic director at Adelphi.

Specialized needs for a team would have to go into effect if Adelphi were to reinstate the football program. A new football team would require a practice field and a spectator stadium; as of now, the University does not have enough facilities for such things. Two large locker rooms for team members, and a huge training room and a staff would also be entailed. A doctor would have to be present at all home games, and for away games. As well, two to three coaches must travel with the team to away games.

In 1988, after alumni and the student government at Adelphi brought up questions, and after expressed interest from high school football players that were talking to Hofstra University and C.W. Post, a study was created and researched to find what the benefits would be, if any, if the football program was to be reestablished on campus.

The study found that for the program to be created again, financial support would have to be elicited from students, alumni and faculty members. The final tally of expenses for a team would average around $142,000 dollars per year (keep in mind, this number was from 1988).

The study even polled students on campus, finding that 93% felt football would add prestige to the university, and that they were in favor of adding a program at that moment in time.

“The students were all very supportive and believe it would unify the student body and gave them something to look forward to in the fall,” wrote Michael Choate, the author of the research materials.

Another question looming currently is whether or not a football team would completely change the face of Adelphi athletics, and whether or not it would be able to bring in the amount of excitement and fans that students assume that it would.

“My question to you is why do we need [a football team]? So people could tailgate? I don't know how popular football is at other DII schools in the area, like C.W. Post, who actually competes in the Pennsylvania conference. We compete for so much of our audience being in the New York market with nine pro sports teams, numerous colleges, tons of high school sports, arts and entertainment, etc. Not sure if you would really draw in a lot of fans,” said McQueen.