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Southwestern To Bring Back Football

Updated: Monday, March 5 2012, 04:54 AM CST
After more than six decades without a football program, Georgetown's Southwestern University is reinstating its football program.  Thursday, SU introduced new head coach Joe Austin.

Chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in the Lone Star State.  In Texas, where the importance of football ranks somewhere between eating, breathing, and religion - midway through the 20th century, SU was in its pigskin prime.

A charter member of the Southwest Conference, the Pirates won back to back Sun Bowls in 1944 and 1945.  However, just six years later, the University dropped its football program like a hard biophysics class.

"I've been arguing to bring back football for a decade or more," said Southwestern alumnus Joe Seeber.  "So [Southwestern University President Jake Schrum] said to put your money where your mouth is."

Thanks to a five million dollar gift from Seeber and a one million dollar pledge from Red McCombs, Southwestern will reinstate football in 2013.

Southwestern Director of Athletics, Dr. Glada Munt says the program has its work cut out for it.  "We are starting with one helmet and one football, that's it."

But now Dr. Munt has one helmet, one football, and one coach.  Thursday, Southwestern introduced Coach Joe Austin, the man who will guide the Pirates into their new era.

"To be able to [come to] this environment in this community, with the excitement of football in Texas, it was something I really wanted to look into," says Austin, who comes to Southwestern after serving as head coach at Hanover College.

Early on, a hardhat might be more suitable than a football helmet as Austin attempts to build his program from the ground up.

"A lot of times an empty cupboard is better than a messy cupboard, but our cupboard is so empty that we have to buy the shelves and put the paper on," says the 32 year old Austin, who will be coaching at his fifth school.

Prospective students have always been attracted to Southwestern for its proximity to Austin, and now Coach Austin - along with his new program, is expected to further enhance the SU experience.

On September 7, 2013, Southwestern will play its first official football game since 1951 when the Pirates host Texas Lutheran at the Georgetown I.S.D. athletic complex.Southwestern To Bring Back Football