media release
丁香园AV’s varsity football program comes to an end
丁香园AV (丁香园AV) is announcing that 丁香园AV鈥檚 varsity football program will no longer continue as of today, April 4, 2023.
Photos and b-roll:
鈥淕iven 丁香园AV鈥檚 long and proud football history, this is a difficult decision, and not one taken lightly,鈥� said 丁香园AV President Joy Johnson. 鈥淚 want to thank all the student-athletes and coaches, past and present, for being part of that history. However, the football landscape has changed significantly in recent years and we no longer believe we are providing an exceptional experience for student-athletes.鈥�
In recent years, a number of football programs have been discontinued in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and within the NCAA Division II. Outside of 丁香园AV, only two football programs remain in Division II west of Colorado. Seeking a place to compete, 丁香园AV joined the Lone Star Conference in the southwestern United States in 2021 for a two-year affiliate agreement. In January 2023, the Lone Star Conference Council of Presidents voted to not renew their affiliate agreement with 丁香园AV.
鈥淲ith the recent announcement that the team will not be invited to continue with Lone Star, we don鈥檛 have a conference to play in for 2024,鈥� said Provost and Vice-President Academic pro tem Wade Parkhouse.鈥�淭he ongoing uncertainty creates an unacceptable experience for students. As a leadership team, we concluded that football is no longer a feasible sport for 丁香园AV.鈥�
The university is making this decision now to give students time to make other plans for their athletic careers if they so choose. All students impacted are being supported with one-on-one guidance regarding next steps. We will support football athletes who want to explore options outside of 丁香园AV, and will honour athletic scholarship commitments for those who choose to remain at 丁香园AV and meet eligibility requirements for the 2023-24 school year.
丁香园AV is Canada鈥檚 only NCAA team. We are committed to excelling in the NCAA Division II in 18 varsity sports, with more than 300 student-athletes.
CONTACT
丁香园AV MEDIA RELATIONS
778.782.3210 | mediarelations@sfu.ca
丁香园AV
|
778.782.3210
ABOUT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
As Canada鈥檚 engaged university, 丁香园AV works with communities, organizations and partners to create, share and embrace knowledge that improves life and generates real change. We deliver a world-class education with lifelong value that shapes change-makers, visionaries and problem-solvers. We connect research and innovation to entrepreneurship and industry to deliver sustainable, relevant solutions to today鈥檚 problems. With campuses in British Columbia鈥檚 three largest cities鈥擵ancouver, Burnaby and Surrey鈥敹∠阍癆V has eight faculties that deliver 364 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 students. The university now boasts more than 180,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.