Texas Wesleyan President Frederick G. Slabach called it the “worst kept secret” on campus on Wednesday when he officially revealed the return of football to the east Fort Worth university.
Texas Wesleyan last played football in 1941. After World War II ended the program didn’t return, but in recent years Slabach said it’s something he heard students were missing on campus and officials had been working to resurrect.
The TWU Rams hope to hire a coach soon before recruiting up to 75 players. At first there will be 16 scholarships available for those players who will be enrolled at school for the 2016-17 academic year and training for the football team.
The Rams will play their first games in the 2017 season in the NAIA’s Central States Football League.
“The word is out and the community is responding,” Slabach said. “And we want to play our part in continuing that excitement. We want to make sure the game experience is very community focused and family friendly.”
The team will play its first games in a local high school stadium, similar to other NAIA schools that have started up football programs.
But in the long run the school plans to build a football stadium on campus, likely west of the existing Fine Arts building.
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“We would like to have a stadium on campus as soon as possible,” Slabach said.
That stadium will likely be a partnership with someone.
No numbers were revealed as to how much starting a football program costs.
The return of football also means growth in the musical programs at TWU, with a bigger band and more cheerleaders.
