SFU Alumni Society confident football team could return
Posted May 9, 2023 5:54 pm.
Last Updated May 9, 2023 5:56 pm.
After ending their football program in early April, Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Football Alumni Society says they are confident the school’s program can live on as a Canada West and U SPORTS Football team.
However, according to the alumni society’s president, it might look quite different than when SFU football functioned in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).
“We realize that to be included in U SPORTS and Canada West, an exemption as an affiliate member must be granted. We have been strongly encouraged to submit our applications as both associations could benefit from adding another team,” said Mark Bailey in a statement Tuesday morning.
Bailey adds other leagues, like the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which also plays in the U.S., would be well-suited for SFU’s football program.
“We believe in the expansion of opportunities for youth across Canada to participate in sport and compete at the highest levels if they have that thirst for excellence.”
Bailey and the alumni society say they’ve received positive feedback from stakeholders across Canada in shifting to the national sports organization.
The football program does still have a major obstacle, which Bailey describes to CityNews as a bit of a sit-and-wait situation.
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This is in regard to reinstatement either through cooperation with SFU Administration or by court order.
A case is currently before the BC Supreme Court, yet it’s still unsure when a decision will be made. However, Bailey says it could happen by the end of the week.
“Right now the student-athletes, they’re holding steady, they’re they’re still committed to the process.”
Bailey says the SFU football program has new pieces and facilities to function and play right away.
“There are resources here that are not being utilized,” he said. “The program hasn’t even played an entire stadium because of COVID (happening) when the stadium was built.”
“There’s a $1.2 million locker room that hasn’t had a complete season that the program hasn’t even been able to utilize to its full capacity either … you start thinking about those little assets, and you’re like, how, what is happening?”
Bailey says if the worst-case scenario were to happen and the team isn’t reinstated in any form, the alumni and stakeholders are “absolutely committed” to supporting the players and ensuring they have somewhere to go.
