Does Gonzaga have a football team? Closer look at latest conference realignment move by Bulldogs
The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been in the news throughout Monday as there have been conflicting reports about the program heading from the West Coast Conference to the Pac-12 Conference. Brett McMurphy of The Action Network initially reported that the Zags would be headed to the Pac-12, but several reporters have refuted this.
Gonzaga athletic director Chirs Standiford has also shot down McMurphy's report.
“That is not accurate reporting,” Standiford said.
People are certainly familiar with the dominance of the Gonzaga Bulldogs on the basketball court and if they do join the Pac-12 Conference, it would be a welcomed addition.
However, the question that has continuously popped up is asking if the Zags have a college football team. Let's take a deeper dive into the school's college football history ahead of their potential Pac-12 involvement.
Does Gonzaga have a football team?
No, the Zags currently do not operate a football program in their athletics program. However, the school did at one time have a college football program. The program began in 1892 and was halted in 1941.
Per the Spokane Daily Chronicle, the reasoning behind cutting the program was the fact that the program went on hiatus during World War II in April 1942. After the Second World War concluded and the United States soldiers returned home, the school administration decided to seize the football program due to financial restraints the program had dealt with prior to World War II.
What would Gonzaga joining the Pac-12 mean going forward?
It is important to reiterate that notable journalists have had conflicting reports on if Gonzaga has agreed to join the Pac-12 Conference on Monday. Going under the assumption that this will happen, there are a few notable things that this would signify.
The massive news is the fact that this would not factor into the NCAA's ruling of the Pac-12 being an official league in terms of college football. The conference has to have eight full members before the 2026 season. However, the Zags would not count as they do not have a college football program to join the conference.
However, this would be a significant boost to college basketball on the men's side specifically. The Bulldogs have consistently made the NCAA Tournament and been a higher seed so that will be a great sign in the viability of the new-look Pac-12 Conference.
Moreover, McMurphy's report stated that the Zags would still receive a full conference revenue share despite their lack of a football program. That would be a major boost to the school if true.