Danny Powell, Hendix's athletic director, said Tuesday the biggest issue in the discussion of the college reinstating football among staff and athletes concerned a level playing field.
The college's board of trustees has directed the administration to reinstitute a football program on the Division III level as soon as start-up funds are raised from external sources.
"The main concern of our athletes and coaches was that a football program not detract from what they're doing," Powell said. "There was an initial fear that it might take over and dominate. They didn't want to add a sport if we were going to take 10 percent out of all their budgets to do it.
"The athletes and coaches didn't want their sport pushed back because of football. But that's never been our philosophy in any sport. We work really hard across the board to give everybody in our athletic program the same kind of experience, whether it's travel or equipment or how we do things. Maybe it's from my background as a cross country runner, but in my mind, a golfer should be treated the same as a basketball player."
Powell said it is too early in the process to estimate the cost of adding football.
"This is different from adding field hockey and lacrosse because in the back of my mind I've known for a couple of years we would probably do that," he said. "We don't have a dedicated and defined plan right now for football. We're going to have to sit down with some people and also talk to some fellow Division III institutions and develop a working plan. But what we do will be at the same level of quality that we try to do everything else."
Hendrix's new field for lacrosse and field hockey, which has artificial turf, can also be used as a football field. But that field would need bleachers, scoreboard, a fieldhouse that could also be used for several of the other outdoor sports and other enhancements such as a concession stand.
Powell initially estimates that at least four football coaches will be added to the staff, including a head coach, offensive and defensive coordinator and special teams coach.
"We'll have to take a look at what a Division III football staff looks like at other places," Powell said. "Probably most of these coaches will serve as assistant coaches in other sports. Our current coaches are excited about possibly getting some additional staff."
Powell said that, as far as personnel, he will have to look at additional athletic training staff as well as office staff and support personnel.
"Laurie Smith (athletic administrative assistant) has been doing this since we had a staff of six, and now we've grown to a staff of 20," Powell said. "It might be time to give her some help. We'll just have to look at the overall situation."
No timetable has been set for the implementation of either football or women's lacrosse. Hendrix officials estimate that it will take a minimum of two years, depending on how quickly funds are raised, to develop the football program for play in the Division III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, which currently has nine football-playing members.
"It'll be a lot of work a lot of work but it will be fun," Powell said. "I'm excited about the opportunity to have about 80 more guys and giving them another way to add a meaningful college experience."
