Great article by Mr. Franks. Schools that have dropped football and, supposedly puts the money into basketball do not get any benefit from dropping a sport that brings the whole RMU community together. I can speak from actual experience having played football at Xavier University in the 60's. It is true Xavier dropped football in 1973 but previously had a very successful football program. My senior year we had victories over the University of Cincinnati, Miami of Ohio, Ohio University, University of Dayton, Villanova,, Quantico Marines, University of Toledo and Kent State University, all which were Division I or equivalent to FBS schools today. My freshman year Xavier beat the University of Kentucky. In the 50's Xavier played in the Salad Bowl, I believe against Arizona State. Colleges that dropped football prior to Xavier included the University of Detroit and Marquette. The University of Dayton kept football but dropped to Division III and recently back to Division I. They really did not see any benefit from discontinuing the sport. Xavier had a really bad year in 1972, losing to Marshall, who had lost their football team previously in a plane crash. I think that really was one of the primary reasons for Xavier deciding to drop football. The Xavier basketball program has always been successful going back to the 1950's, when they won the NIT, which at the time was the big tournament. Dropping football really had nothing to do with the current successful basketball program. It has more to do with excellent coaches and recruiting.
Since graduating in 1966 I have been to only one school reunion, which was prior to Xavier dropping football. The school's efforts to get everyone on campus for a reunion similar to the ones they had prior to dropping football have not been as successful.
As Mr. Frank's points out, RMU gives a lot of athletes the chance to continue their education and succeed on the football field. Talk of dropping football will discourage talented athletes from committing to Robert Morris.
Coach Banaszak is totally committed to the program, and I am certain will be successful, and have a very successful 2015 season, and career as head football coach.
Since graduating in 1966 I have been to only one school reunion, which was prior to Xavier dropping football. The school's efforts to get everyone on campus for a reunion similar to the ones they had prior to dropping football have not been as successful.
As Mr. Frank's points out, RMU gives a lot of athletes the chance to continue their education and succeed on the football field. Talk of dropping football will discourage talented athletes from committing to Robert Morris.
Coach Banaszak is totally committed to the program, and I am certain will be successful, and have a very successful 2015 season, and career as head football coach.
