Bob Copeland, who was the University of Waterloo鈥檚 athletics director during one of the most turbulent times in the school鈥檚 history, will help determine the future of Simon Fraser University鈥檚 embattled football program.
On Thursday, SFU announced the appointment of Copeland, the senior vice-president of McLaren Global Sports Solutions, as special adviser to review the program. The school ceased football operations on April 4.
鈥淚 felt it was really important to find someone who鈥檇 want to be independent, who understood football, who understood university varsity athletics,鈥� SFU president Joy Johnson said in a telephone interview. 鈥淚 am just totally blown away by the fit.
鈥淗e and the firm he works with have just done incredible work. We are so lucky he鈥檚 available. We definitely feel he鈥檚 the right person for this 鈥� we鈥檙e excited about moving forward.鈥�
Johnson said Copeland and McLaren CEO Richard McLaren will be on campus next week to convene preliminary meetings. The school said in a statement a final report will be shared in September.
Copeland will provide an assessment regarding the viability of resuming SFU football in 2024 or later. There will also be an evaluation of support for exhibition games in 2023 鈥渁s a means of transitioning to a potential new operating model and league in 2024.鈥�
Copeland was Waterloo鈥檚 athletic director in 2010 when the university suspended its football program for a year after nine players tested positive for steroids. It was Canadian university sports鈥� biggest doping scandal.
But Copeland was lauded for his handling of the situation. He received Taylor鈥檚 Award by the Taylor Hooton Foundation for his work with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport in ordering a test of the football team after a player was arrested and in possession of steroids.
Taylor鈥檚 Award is presented to an individual who has made an impact in educating and protecting youth from anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. It鈥檚 named after Taylor Hooton, a 17-year old Texas high-school baseball player whose suicide in 2003 was linked to anabolic steroid use.
Johnson announced April 4 that Simon Fraser was discontinuing its football program, effective immediately. She added the decision wasn鈥檛 financially based, rather on the Texas-based Lone Star Conference鈥檚 announcement it would not renew its football affiliation with Simon Fraser past the 2023 campaign.
That prompted five SFU football players to file a lawsuit seeking an injunction in the Supreme Court of British Columbia to reverse the university鈥檚 decision. But on Thursday, Justice K. Michael Stephens dismissed the application.
鈥淭he court is cognizant of the plaintiffs鈥� understandable deep disappointment at SFU鈥檚 termination of the football program,鈥� Justice Stephens wrote in his ruling. 鈥淭his court does not trivialize the hardship they feel from the cancellation of the football program and associated cancellation of the upcoming football season.
鈥淲hat is sought here by the plaintiffs is a mandatory injunction that would, in effect, order SFU to reinstate and run a currently cancelled varsity program. The plaintiffs have failed to satisfy the legal requirements 鈥� and they have not satisfied the court that a mandatory injunction is available at law, just, and appropriate in the circumstances.鈥�
Johnson was pleased with the ruling for two reasons.
鈥淚鈥檓 pleased he understood the position of the university,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 also really pleased that he understood just how hard this has been on our student-athletes and I think that鈥檚 important.
鈥淢y heart has really gone out to our student-athletes. This has been very, very, tough and we knew that we needed to start to find a path forward.鈥�
Johnson added she spoke with Mark Bailey, the president of the Simon Fraser University Football Alumni Society, on Wednesday night and the two sides are working together.
鈥淎fter Dr. Johnson鈥檚 statement today, we are satisfied we can take the first steps toward a new working model for football at SFU,鈥� Bailey said in a statement. 鈥淲e believe we are on a constructive path to finding a conference to play in 2024 and beyond.鈥�
There鈥檚 certainly a huge fence to mend as the school鈥檚 decision came under tremendous fire because the team had a place to play this season.
The abrupt cancellation of the program not only drew the ire of alumni across Canada but condemnation from CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie, CFLPA executive director Brian Ramsay and Football Canada president Jim Mullin.
鈥淚 know people are passionate about football but I think the fact that it鈥檚 been nationwide has surprised me somewhat,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淎nd the depth of passion has been quite remarkable.鈥�
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