There has been a lot of talk, off and on, over the years about the possibility of UT Tyler getting a football team. On one hand, it’s strange to think that a university held in a town like Tyler doesn’t have football. Football is king in Texas and there have been a lot of professional athletes out of East Texas, and Tyler is the biggest town in East Texas. Tyler is home to Robert E. Lee High School, the biggest high school in East Texas and the only 6A school in East Texas. One would think the University of Texas at Tyler would compete on the gridiron on Saturdays.
But then when you think of it, maybe that’s exactly why UT Tyler doesn’t need football. The high school competition is above par. If you want to catch a college game, you can at least watch the Tyler Junior College Apaches or make a short trip to a nearby city or town to see college ball.
As a football fan, I think it’d be neat to be able to see UT Tyler get a football team but there are several factors you have to consider. It starts with a stadium. Sure they could play at Rose Stadium until they get their own but that would mean they share it with two high schools and a junior college. That would mean more wear and tear on the place and isn’t exactly convenient.
Then of course you get into the costs of things. The cost of tuition of the school would rise significantly and those attending there don’t want to pay for that kind of thing when they won’t reap the benefits.
Starting a football team is a several-year project. You need a coaching staff that’s willing to wait. You need a team and recruiting the proper players is no easy task. Equipment is certainly not cheap and the team itself won’t be anything to write home about in the first couple years.
There’s nothing wrong with the quality of football in this town as we speak. If it ain’t broke, let’s not try to fix it by adding a Division III school with a mediocre team at best to start off.