Delaney: football at UNF must carry itself

University of North Florida President John Delaney tells WOKV they're still looking at the numbers to see if it's possible to establish a football program, but he says the numbers look "pretty tough."

"It's really inevitable for UNF," Delaney says.  "It's just a question of when."

He says he's long said when the school hits 25,000 students in enrollment, there would be enough attendance, ticket revenue and student athletic fees to support a football program.

Right now the school enrolls about 17,000 students.

"The math's a little tough," Delaney says.  "We'll know more about that in the next couple months as we run some numbers."

He recognizes that there's enthusiasm for it: saying that about three-quarters of the students would like to see a football program while the other quarter enjoys having a school that isn't focused on it.

"In reality, the decision is gonna kinda make itself just based on the budget," he says.  "Is there a way to make the revenue work to bring it on?"

If the program happens, Delaney says it has to carry itself.  He doesn't want to take any money from academics or other exisiting athletic programs.

"So it's gotta kinda be its own corporate entity with its own revenue and expenses," he adds.

Delaney expects the school to hit 25,000 students about 10 or 15 years from now.