TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ? A Tampa lawmaker proposed legislation Thursday that would lift a longtime ban on

the state's community colleges playing football.

 

The proposal (HB 505) would amend a subsection of Florida statutes to give com?munity college presidents and their trustees authority to administer the school's athlet?ics program, including foot?ball.

 

"My bill won't require com?munity colleges to start foot?ball programs, but it will give them the option,'' said Rep. Bob Henriquez, a Tampa Democrat sponsoring the mea?sure. "All this would do would be open it to discussion.''

 

A companion measure (SB 1356) is being sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres.

 

House Speaker Allan Bense said Thursday he was open to the proposal.

 

"I think we should be care?ful that we begin spending millions on football programs at community colleges,'' Bense said. "But, by the same token, if it helps generate some reve?nues and keeps some of our

students here in Florida as well, then I'm going to look at it.''

 

Startup costs for a new pro?gram were estimated between $176,000 and $212,000 by Charles F. Smith, administra?tive coordinator for the Flor?ida Community College Activ?ities Association.

 

Budgets for the existing 68 junior college programs over?seen by the NJCAA ranged from $90,000 to $632,650 in 2004, Smith said.

 

Former state Rep. James L. Watt, a trustee at Palm Beach Community College, joined Henriquez to add Florida to 17 other states who now have junior college football pro?grams. All but California come under the National Junior Col?lege Athletic Association that sanctions 73 programs nation?ally and conducts a playoff.

 

Watt said not all the Florida schools would want to add football, but that at least 10 schools would have to start programs for to have a viable, affordable schedule. He pre?dicted that adding football would spark enrollment at those schools.

 

Another consideration, however, is women's sports. New programs would have to be added for women at any schools starting a football pro?gram to meet gender equity requirements.

a prep system for the big schools is a great thing and would be useful.