Georgia State in Atlanta is the latest school to add football and the team is scheduled to kick off its season in 2010.
The school is expected to play in the Colonial Athletic Association along with Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. The Monarchs kick off their inaugural season this fall.
But, as the New York Times article states, there are some disadvantages to adding the sport. Georgia State's student fess increased by $85 a semester.
UNC Charlotte is also adding football and the school faces a significant increase in student fees.
Both Georgia State and Charlotte are in metropolitan areas with multiple professional and amateur teams. Both teams would need to have significant support in their communities and that's a tall task for new programs. For the 49ers, they're in Atlantic Coast Conference territory and share the Queen City with the National Football League's Carolina Panthers.
I think it will be wise for both schools to stay in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Div. I-AA). The schools might receive more exposure, but they will spend more money, too.
If a school makes the move to the top division too early it will be nothing more than a glorified practice squad and whipping boy for one of the "major" schools to play in the first couple of weeks of the year.
Football is a great sport, however, I don't think it's a magic cure for any school's problems.

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