The Simon Fraser Football Alumni Society outlined details Friday of a proposal it sent to the school regarding the future of its football program.
School president Joy Johnson announced April 4 that Simon Fraser was discontinuing its football program, effective immediately. Johnson said the decision wasn鈥檛 based on financial reasons, but 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 players to file a lawsuit against the school in an effort to have the program reinstated. Afterwards, Simon Fraser said it would bring in a special adviser to examine football鈥檚 future but reiterated the team wouldn鈥檛 be playing this year.
The players and school attended a hearing Monday in B.C. Supreme Court but Justice K. Michael Stephens reserved decision on an injunction until a later date.
On Friday, the alumni society said it delivered a proposal last week to Johnson 鈥渁sking to engage on the football program鈥檚 future.鈥�
The proposal called for the university to immediately reinstate the football program and open talks with Canada West and U Sports about playing football next season. It also asked for the school鈥檚 athletic department to collaborate on a 鈥�23 football schedule with the alumni society and Football Canada.
The society is also calling on the school to maintain the scholarship amounts for its football student-athletes and rehire the program鈥檚 coaches and support staff at their previous salaries.
As well, the alumni asked the school to open discussions with the U.S.-based National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The school played football in the NAIA from 1965 until 2001.
On Friday, Simon Fraser University acknowledged having received the proposal.
鈥淎s this matter is currently before the courts, the university has offered a meeting with the president to discuss it further following the conclusion of the legal proceedings,鈥� it said in an email statement. 鈥淪FU announced on April 20, 2023 that an adviser will be appointed to review and make recommendations about possible sustainable options for football.
鈥淭his has been a very difficult situation, and our hearts are with the football student-athletes and staff who have had an incredibly challenging time over the past few weeks.鈥�
The Alumni Society added an independent schedule of at least eight games is available this year should the program be reinstated. The contests would be against teams in both Canada and western United States and options for 2024 and beyond exist with Canadian and America-based partners having emerged.
The Alumni Society said the school鈥檚 decision to cease football has created difficulties for players to both transfer credits and secure alternative scholarship funding. Reinstatement, it said, would 鈥渂e the best path for student-athletes to satisfy the objectives of an athletic scholarship with minimal affect studies and athletic development.鈥�
鈥淭he SFUFAS looks forward to engaging the president in a constructive dialogue focused on solutions for our current student-athletes,鈥� the Alumni Society added. 鈥淎nd promoting SFU football, a foundational program as old and storied as the university it represents.鈥�
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
