Football Coming to Kennesaw State

Score one for Kennesaw State.

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia today approved Kennesaw State’s request for a football program.

"Touchdown," Kennesaw athletic director Vaughn Williams said.

The decision comes a little more than one month after the board decided to take Kennesaw State’s request for a football program "under further study."

At the time, board spokesman John Millsaps said "the number of athletic-related fee requests being submitted by institutions is an indication that a more systematic and coordinated approach to the review of such requests is in order."

Kennesaw officials, who were so sure that the board would OK their request that they prematurely scheduled a briefing to formally announce the football program, had to quickly cancel it.

School leaders were more cautious this time and refrained from releasing details about any formal announcements until after today's vote.

With today's decision, Kennesaw State can increase athletic fees from $152 to $252 per semester to launch a football program and Title IX women’s athletic programs. The fee increase will be effective fall semester 2013.

The school can also begin a national search for a head football coach and staff as soon as possible.

Area stakeholders lauded today's announcement.

"We're very excited to begin celebrating with KSU," said John Loud of LOUD Security in Kennesaw. "It's going to be such a transforming impact to Kennesaw and the whole community. We are ready to score with KSU."

According to figures reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, KSU is projecting football revenues of around $5.7 million for fiscal 2014 against expenses of $4.2 million.

KSU, who plays in the FBS, will be playing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Football Championship Subdivision, which offers a maximum of 63 football scholarships.

Georgia and Georgia Tech compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision, with a limit of 85 scholarships.

Kennesaw State also will be looking for a conference affiliation for football since the Atlantic Sun Conference, in which other Owls teams compete, does not sponsor the sport.

Kennesaw State has scheduled a press conference for 4 p.m. Thursday at the KSU Convocation Center to formally announce its football program.