Charlotte ... What are you thinking?

Obviously the Board of Trustees and UNC Charlotte Chancellor Phil Dubois must know something the rest of us don't.

While most institutions of higher education are discussing ways to stop the financial bloodletting that is taking place on many campuses as the nation's economic news worsens each day, what does Charlotte announce today?

The 49ers are going to start a football program. One catch that I hope Athletics Director Judy Rose noted during the announcement. Her department is charged with raising $15 million. With $5 million from personal seat licenses and $10 million from corporate donations. The Trustees are also demanding another $25 million on top of that before the 49ers can proceed with football by 2013.

Charlotte plans to begin in the lower-tier Football Championship Subdivision. The school's goal is to eventually play at the highest level of Division I and follow in the footsteps of South Florida, which is now in the Big East and has cracked the rankings the past two years.

To its credit, Charlotte has raised $4.1 of the $5 million in PSLs. However, someone please tell me how the development office is going to raise another $35 million in this market. Let's also remind the 49ers that Charlotte, N.C., is a haven for the banking industry -- one of the main groups who got us in this mess. Not sure they'll be ponying up to much cash.

Hey Charlotte alumni ... not sure I'd take this one to the bank just yet.