Sports Buzz: My hockey team can beat up your football team

In recent years, many UCCS students have wondered why the university has not considered creating a UCCS football team. The student population is growing, revenues are higher, and the university seems to be focused on one thing: growth.

At its current rate of growth, it's not far-fetched to think that by the end of the decade, UCCS could rival CU-Boulder in student population. So, why then, has the University not even seriously considered the idea of having a football team? One simple reason: We don't need one.

Sure, I would love to have a football program at UCCS. It would be fun to go to "Mountain Lion Stadium" every Saturday and cheer on my Mountain Lions. Yet, actually having a football team just really isn't in the cards for the school.

UCCS would rather spend money on things that they need: parking facilities, building renovations, new housing and better technology. Despite the fact that the university continues to expand and is trying to meet student needs, it seems that students will not be satisfied until the UCCS fields its own football team.

Well, I have a great proposition that may not solve the student's want for a football team, but may be a quick solution to a fresh face for UCCS athletics. What UCCS really needs is an NCAA recognized hockey team.

We already have a club hockey team that is vastly improving, so why not make that official and ask for it to be recognized by the NCAA?

UCCS already has great rivalries brewing in basketball, soccer and softball. Why not add hockey, a huge rivalry sport, to the mix? It would be great for the school and give us a new sports team to cheer for in the winter and spring.

Hockey has already become a huge hit at crosstown rival Colorado College and I am sure with the right amount of money, UCCS could become just as big in the next decade.

Being from Minnesota, I was born and raised to like and play hockey. I know how big of a sport it can become and that is why I want to see it at UCCS.

In proposing this idea, I really have nothing against the winter and spring sports teams we already have here. The basketball teams are improving and show signs of being conference contenders. But while they are developing, why not start a new team at UCCS that will be fresh and something the students have never seen before?

A football team, and all that it comes with, will take a decade to just start. It is more expensive, needs more planning, and is a sport that requires a massive amount of support.

A hockey team, on the other hand, is much simpler. We already have the basic outline of a squad in our club hockey team. We would have a place to practice and play (World Arena) and we would also have a set of natural rivals in Colorado College and Air Force.

Football may be what everyone wants, but hockey could be the cheaper, easier option.