CHARLOTTE -- UNC Charlotte is one step closer to getting a football team, as, after 10 months of work, the school’s football feasibility committee voted unanimously to recommend the creation of a football program.

"The information that we reviewed and the data that we looked at told us that it does make sense to pursue having a football program at UNCC,” said committee member Krista Tillman.

Friday afternoon the committee cast their votes, and the decision was unanimous. All 10 members voted to recommend the creation of a football program to Chancellor Phil Dubois and the Board of Trustees.

"When you take your time and you look at the facts, you can feel confident that you are making the right recommendation and that's what I think that says,” said Tillman.

The committee will recommend the team start out in the Football Championship sub-division, formally known as Division 1AA. They could possibly play at a renovated Memorial Stadium.

The goal is to eventually raise enough money to build a new football facility on campus and move to the highest division.

"And hopefully you think any decision that would be made in this manner would enhance what we already have and be a real positive,” said Athletic Director Judy Rose.

If they decide to move forward, it will be up to Dubois and the Board of Trustees to decide how to fund the program. The money is expected to come from a combination of a student fee increase as well as outside money.

"I do want it to be somewhat of a combined effort from corporate sponsors and alumni,” said Jay Atkinson, a student representative on the committee.

A final draft of the recommendation will be presented in the new year. Committee members said it would be about four years before a 49er football team could take the field. The plan would be to model the program after other colleges with new successful teams like the University of South Florida.