CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- At least 1,000 students and alumni braved the rainy weather to march through the campus of UNC Charlotte Tuesday afternoon. They chanted and carried a huge yellow goalpost to show their support of starting a football program.

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip DuBois will not announce his decision until Thursday morning, but he spoke to the crowd of supporters at Barnhardt Arena Tuesday night.

"I know whatever decision you're gonna support this university going forward," DuBois said.

Derrick Eure, a sophomore student, said a football program would ramp up school spirit.

"A lot of athletic programs on our campus, I mean they do promote school spirit but most people on the weekends look to have football," said Eure. "Especially in the college life."

Despite the estimated $80 million price tag, Jim Duncan, president of the Charlotte Football Initiative just hopes Chancellor DuBois makes the right decision.

"We need to do it now," Duncan said. "There's never going to be the perfect time. The school's never going to be sitting around with a big pile of money."

Once Chancellor DuBois announces his decision Thursday, it will go to the Board of Trustees. The board may not vote on having a football program until November.