College football: 'State of Shawnee Football Plan' a go, says Snyder

The plan is the driving piece toward Shawnee State’s initial foray into football, which the Bears, who will join the Mountain East ...

BELLEFONTE, Ky. — The State of Shawnee Football Plan has officially been engaged. That’s what Shawnee State coach Mark Snyder calls what might be, for many coaches, a once-in-a-lifetime project and opportunity, in remarks at Bellefonte Country Club on Tuesday.

The plan is the driving piece toward Shawnee State’s initial foray into football, which the Bears, who will join the Mountain East Conference and NCAA Division II ranks on July 1, look to start two years from now. As Shawnee State’s football program prepares to commence in 2028, Snyder has two years to formulate the building blocks. That’s a challenge that the former Marshall coach, South Point, Ohio, native, and coaching veteran of more than three decades welcomes.

“That’s what made the job exciting was that challenge,” Snyder said. “After about a month, month and a half (into the job), I figured out that I needed to quit starting at the starting point, and work my way backwards from Game 1, because I know what that’s going to look like. So it’s all about the things that we need to get to Game 1, and working backwards from there.