How D-III football schools profit from football no one watches

[bonarae]

Another interesting read, somewhat connected with the previous thread I posted here on the Other Sports forum.

http://deadspin.com/how-division-iii-colleges-profit-from-football-no-one-w-1440369611

It is interesting that there is also a set limit on how a student-athlete gets his tuition fix from loans. The difference between student-athletes' and non-athletes' loans should be no less than 4%.

[Franks Tanks]

This has been happening for some time, and sort of surpised it took so long for people to figure this out. Many small liberal arts colleges that lack prestige, or former women's colleges have difficulty attracting young men to campus. Adding a football team is a sure fire way to get an extra 100 or so boys to attend your school. Here in PA 2 former all female catholic colleges have started football recently. Misercordia in D-III and Seton Hill in D-II. Seton Hill going D-II is rather atypical for schools in this situation, but I asssume they felt D-II would bring a bit more "publicity" in addition to warm males bodies.

[ngineer]

This has been happening for some time, and sort of surpised it took so long for people to figure this out. Many small liberal arts colleges that lack prestige, or former women's colleges have difficulty attracting young men to campus. Adding a football team is a sure fire way to get an extra 100 or so boys to attend your school. Here in PA 2 former all female catholic colleges have started football recently. Misercordia in D-III and Seton Hill in D-II. Seton Hill going D-II is rather atypical for schools in this situation, but I asssume they felt D-II would bring a bit more "publicity" in addition to warm males bodies.

I assume that is how Mary-Harden started. Always thought it a strange name for a school with a D-III football powerhouse.

[Skyhawk71]

I assume that is how Mary-Harden started. Always thought it a strange name for a school with a D-III football powerhouse.

Mary Hardin Baylor was the women's branch of Baylor University- went Coed in 1971

[ngineer]

Mary Hardin Baylor was the women's branch of Baylor University- went Coed in 1971


I can imagine the poor players get a load of crap on their name and some great 'double entendres' ...(;-)

[Gil Dobie]

Actually going to a DIII game Saturday :)

[blukeys]

I live about 3.5 miles from the field that is home to Wesley College football. Wesley is consistently ranked in the top 10 of D-3. Typically, they go deep in the playoffs beating the Mary Hardin Baylors but losing to Wisconsin-Whitewater and Mount Union.

The games are a fun atmosphere with a high percentage of students in attendance.

My friends in the Wesley Development Office inform me that the success of the football team is the best selling point when soliciting contributions from alumni.

Wesley gets a significant number of students from New Jersey (as does UD and DSU). The football team gets considerable free advertising from smaller newspapers when playing schools such as Rowan or Montclair State. Local TV stations cover Wesley when it plays its biggest rival Salisbury (MD.)

Wesley consistently expands every year. It gets free media due to its football program.

As George Carlin said "A college is not really a college unless it has a football team."