Xavier University Announces Decision On Bringing Back Football Program
CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 14: The Xavier Musketeers mascot performs during the game against the Seton Hall Pirates and the Xavier Musketeers on February 14th, 2018 at The Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It's been 50 years since the Xavier Musketeers fielded an NCAA football team. But there have been rumors lately that it could be coming back...
However, it doesn't appear that the program is coming back any time soon. According to Shelby Dermer of The Enquirer, Xavier Vice President for Institutional Strategy and Director of Athletics Greg Christopher has said that while the school is exploring it, reviving the football program isn't happening soon and the school has other priorities for the time being.
"We've gotten to a point where we realize it is not gonna happen in the near term," Christopher said. "We're still interested in it, still exploring it, but the reality is the College of Medicine is the higher priority for the university right now."
Christopher has said that while there is interest in reviving the Xavier football program, they don't have facilities to move forward with such an idea. For now, their priority is the school's College of Medicine.
"There are a lot of people interested in it (football). At the end of the day, we need a facility in order to move it forward," Christopher said. "From a facility-planning priority standpoint, the College of Medicine is a higher priority. Hopefully we can get a shovel in the ground on that next year."
The Xavier football program ran from 1901 to 1973, going 302-222-22 and winning their lone bowl game in 1949.
The program produced several future first-round picks in the NFL Draft.
Will Xavier ever bring its football program back?
