The greatest return for your donation is the satisfaction of knowing that you have had an impact on the lives of student-athletes. These young men will one day walk in your footsteps and be called upon to continue the legacy.

The Legacy of Champions Annual Fund, the only athletic support group for Central State university, is the pride and spirit of our athletic program. The financial contributions are at three levels: Marauder ($100 to $499), Return the Legacy ($500 to $999) and Join the Team ($1,000 or more). In appreciation for your support, The Legacy of Champions Annual Athletic Fund donors are entitled to special benefits and privileges.

Football in 2005

Dear Alumni, Friends and Supporters:

We write to inform you of the status of the return of Marauder Football. In June 2001, the Central State University Board of Trustees passed a Resolution to return Marauder Football. The terms upon which the program was to return were outlined in a report entitled, “The Athletic Department Five-Year Vision with a Plan for the Restoration of Intercollegiate Football” (the Plan).

This Plan was designed to transform Central State Athletics and included moving from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II. With respect to Marauder Football, the Plan was designed to deal with the significant budgetary concerns the Board had with the return of football and the lack of sufficient funds to support the program. The Plan called for private funding for the return of the program with sufficient funds to maintain it for two to three years, as enrollment grows to where the program could become more self-sustaining. Thus, the Plan called for football to return as a non-scholarship sport.

The Board-approved Plan called for a total of $1.5 Million to be privately raised to support the program without the use of Education and General Funds. The Plan envisioned the return of football in either 2004 or 2005. With that understanding, the Plan set two milestones for the restoration of football. Milestone one: once $500,000 was raised the University would hire a coach. The milestone was reached on June 30, 2003 and subsequently, Theo Lemon was hired as the Head Football Coach. Milestone two called for the actual fielding of a team once an additional $1 Million was raised, for a total of $1.5 Million.

On April 1, 2004, a meeting was held that included University President, John W. Garland, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Tony Fairbanks, Athletic Director, Theresa Check, and Coach, Theo Lemon. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of fielding a team in Fall 2004. After hearing from all concerned President Garland concluded that several factors mitigate against attempting to field a team in Fall 2004. First, and foremost, the University is $700,000 shy of the $1.5 Million goal. Second, potential competitors were finalizing their non-conference schedules, as well as Bowl games, and needed a firm commitment from Central State by the end of the week. Obviously, being short of our goal, we could not commit. Other factors included the timetable for making ready the football facilities, the hiring of assistant coaches, uniform purchases, and other logistical matters.

We know the delay of the return of Marauder Football engenders disappointment among both the University community as well as Alumni. The issue here is, strictly speaking, money, or a lack thereof. The Board was firm and we must show resolve to raise the funds. We are committed to the return of football and in May you will see a new, focused kickoff of the campaign. I encourage everyone to continue making your donations and to encourage your friends and colleagues to do likewise. I know I will see each of you in Fall 2005, at the first game of Marauder Football.