VANCOUVER — In response to the news on Tuesday that Simon Fraser University has shut down its football program, the BC Lions have issued the following statement:
“THE BC LIONS ARE DEEPLY SADDENED AND DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THE NEWS ABOUT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY’S FOOTBALL PROGRAM. TODAY’S NEWS IMPACTS SEVERAL DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS, IN PARTICULAR THE STUDENT-ATHLETES, COACHES, STAFF, COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS, PARENTS AND, OF COURSE, ALUMNI, WHO TIRELESSLY DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THE SFU PROGRAM.
THE LONG AND RICH HISTORY INCLUDED A VERY PROUD CHAPTER THAT HIGHLIGHTS ITS BOND WITH OUR TEAM AND LEAGUE. LUI PASSAGLIA, RICK KLASSEN, NICK HEBELER, GLEN JACKSON, SEAN MILLINGTON AND ANGUS REID ARE JUST A FEW OF THE GREATS WHO CAME THROUGH SFU, BUILDING A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES TODAY WITH CURRENT LIONS MICHAEL COUTURE AND JORDAN HERDMAN-REED. THE BC LIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT AMATEUR FOOTBALL AT ALL LEVELS IN THIS PROVINCE.”
I wonder how much getting turfed from the second NCAA division they joined had to do with this.
Is it just "saving face" rather than going back to Canadian University play?
I've posted about this before. SFU didn't like playing in CIS/ USport because of travel costs. The writing has been on the wall since they got turfed from their division. They were having trouble recruiting players in any case, so this is all face saving. The program has been a disaster for years.
this isn't surprising unfortunately but sad all the same.
That would be odd to me as the NCAA divisions they played in required more travel then CIS. Who knows though. They may get rid of all the people who made it a disaster and rejoin the CIS again.....
Yes, in recent years it is true they had longer travel. Football programs are expensive overall and this could just be a face saving cost cutting measure.
Exactly.
This is about an American obsession, and SFU’s issue with same. The travel excuse is a red herring
I am saddened to hear this news about SFU cancelling its football program - our football game is as unique as our education system. If SFU can't support Canadian culture, then maybe they need to re-think their role in our educastion system.
SFU didn't play Canadian rules, they have played US rules since the 60's. And I'm really confused as to what dropping a football program that competed in the States has to do with supporting Canadian culture.
SFU played in U-Sports from 2002-2009. Your statement is factually incorrect. Also lots of Alumni went on to play in the CFL. Canadian rules and American rules have very little difference. All BC High Schools play American Football. Quite a few in Ontario play American rules. Quebec High Schools play 4 downs. All football loving youth play American rules when it comes to video games. American Football is a bigger part of Canadian Culture than Canadian football.
Hello Tedchinook - thanks for your response. If you read the statement from the BC Lions it explains much of what I said - SFU has a long history with the CFL and I am sorry to see it end.
Its good news disguised as bad news. It was always a goofy idea for a CANADIAN school to play in the NCAA. Simon Fraser needs to return to USports in 2024. That would give Canada's third largest city two university football programs, just like Toronto (Toronto & York) and Montreal, which has three (Montreal, Concordia and McGill). Any change that supports Canadian rules over U.S. rules is a good change. Make it so.
But the question remains would they want to return to U Sports?
I wasn't sure it was a good idea when they joined the NCAA back in 2010 and now you might see the consequences of that decision.
I'd heard that Simon Fraser would have to give up their entire NCAA status if they joined USports Football program
You can't have both
They would have to move their entire program
Mens and Womens
Basketball
Soccer
Track and field
Volleyball
Golf
Swimming
etc.
You forgot Ottawa with two big universities
This news is really sad for me. I love the game played by the CFL and losing a source of Canadian football players can only be a blow to the CFL given the rise of XFL and USFL who need players as well. The Canadian Talent is small enough without losing another source. And the CFL game gives me an opportunity to be proudly supporting Canadian talent over American. I fear if this is a trending situation the CFL will disappear all together.
???
Travel costs?
They would pay less to play in CIS*
*After posting this I googled; apparently the only reason NCAA was cheaper was team rode the bus (NCAA) vs needing to fly (CIS)
Its also odd the comment on recruiting since about a decade ago they also claimed that was a main reason to join NCAA (elevate recruiting status)
Having looked at their divisional opponents I have to ask, how much support does this "Great Northwest" actually get?
The Alaska universities I can understand drawing good support as It's their highest level of college sports, but for everyone else (especially casual fans)?
Why support the Washington schools when you have Washington and Wash. State in D1?
Same for Western Oregon?
Frankly unless you literally live in the university's home town, are you going to obsessively follow D2 over D1 in a major sport like football or basketball?
As for the supposed move to the Lone Star Conference (?!) yes that will REALLY keep down the travel costs...
Yup
Sadly this is not as easy fix.
I do wonder assuming there is even an once of desire from SFU to rejoin U Sports but football, who's rule is it that the whole athletics program has to belong in one or the other?