On Tuesday, Simon Fraser University, Canada’s only NCAA member announced that after 57 years of Red Leafs football, the university is disbanding the program. The University will continue to sponsor 18 NCAA Division II sports
“I am saddened to share that we are announcing the end of SFU’s varsity football program. Simon Fraser University is incredibly proud of our long football history, student-athletes, coaches, and alumni,” said President of Simon Fraser University Joy Johnson.
“This is a difficult decision, and not one taken lightly. With the recent announcement that the team has not been invited to continue in the Lone Star Conference, we do not have a conference to play in beginning in 2024. The ongoing uncertainty creates an unacceptable experience for students. The university has carefully considered all available options and as a leadership team we concluded that football is no longer a feasible sport for SFU.”
The Red Leafs were a member of the Lone Star Conference of NCAA Division II. However, the conference recently announced that the Red Leafs would not be invited back. Before the Lone Star Conference, Simon Fraser was a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
Unfortunately, the conference stopped its football program after the 2021 season and the Red Leafs transferred to the Lone Star Conference. The conference has 17 teams, of which seven play football. Simon Fraser did not belong at that conference to begin with.
When Simon Fraser University started in 1965, they were a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics until 2001. In 2002, they switched to the Canadian game when they joined U Sports Football for Canada West. They would play there until 2010 before returning to play American football.
As a member of the NCAA, the Red Leafs had an 18-39 record. Furthermore, in Canada West, they finished 16-47-2. Their best season came in 2003 under Chris Beaton when the team finished 5-3 and went on to win the Hardy Cup but lost the Uteck Bowl.
This is a devastating loss for Canada. The University produced many players over the years that went on to play in the CFL and NFL. Names like Doug Brown, Dave Cutler, Dan Ferrone, Michael Couture, Lemar Durant, Jordan Herdman-Reed, Justin Herdman-Reed, Ante Milanovic-Litre, and Nathan Shepherd have all played at Simon Fraser.
Opinion: Simon Fraser University is important not just in football but for Canada. I feel terrible for everyone involved and now have to go elsewhere to play football. I think Simon Fraser should’ve tried to get back into U Sports, Canada West, NAIA, or join the Northwest Conference.
Just like what happened to the University of Birmingham-Alabama in 2014, when the university shut down its football program. Many fans were not happy with the decision and took action. With a combination of public opinion and fundraising of more than $27 million toward the football program, UAB was revived in 2017.
This situation has the same feeling to it and I think many fans, alumni, and writers will do what they can to try to get Simon Fraser back up and running in the future.
