The fight to reinstate Simon Fraser UniversityB次元官网网址檚 football program has become a legal battle.
The Simon Fraser Football Alumni Society will file an injunction against the Burnaby, B.C. school to reinstate its football program. The litigation is scheduled to be filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday, with the Alumni Society doing so on behalf of seven players on the team.
B次元官网网址淣ormally, an injunction is something you seek before the action is taken,B次元官网网址� said Glen Orris, a Vancouver lawyer and former SFU football player whoB次元官网网址檚 also the director of the SFU Football Alumni Society. B次元官网网址淭he action will be for breach of contract.
B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檙e saying is by terminating the program, theyB次元官网网址檙e breaching the contract they had with the student-athletes.B次元官网网址�
The move comes a week after school president Joy Johnston announced Simon Fraser was discontinuing its football program, effective immediately. Johnston added the decision wasnB次元官网网址檛 based upon money, rather the Texas-based Lone Star ConferenceB次元官网网址檚 announcement it would not renew its football affiliation with Simon Fraser past the 2023 campaign.
Simon Fraser posted a 1-9 record last year. But in March, the football team promoted Eric Taylor to offensive coordinator and hired Samuel Richard as its special-teams coordinator.
SFU is the only Canadian school in the NCAA and has had a football team since 1965.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping the matter will be resolved quickly without having to deal with the legal issues,B次元官网网址� said Orris, a former receiver at Simon Fraser who also spent three seasons with the CFLB次元官网网址檚 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. B次元官网网址淎s a lawyer, my view is going to court is your last option when all else fails.
B次元官网网址淏ut the difficulty weB次元官网网址檙e getting here is we donB次元官网网址檛 have any feedback from the university. WeB次元官网网址檝e asked the question: B次元官网网址業s it about money?B次元官网网址� TheyB次元官网网址檝e said, B次元官网网址楴o, no, it has nothing to do with money. The issue is we canB次元官网网址檛 find a conference.B次元官网网址� Our position is, B次元官网网址榃ell, you can find a conference. We can find you one, weB次元官网网址檝e got one.B次元官网网址� Canada West hasnB次元官网网址檛 committed but theyB次元官网网址檝e been very clear that they would greatly appreciate an application and theyB次元官网网址檇 look upon it favourably.B次元官网网址�
The schoolB次元官网网址檚 decision has come under fire because the football team had a place to play this season. WhatB次元官网网址檚 more, Simon Fraser fielded a football squad in U Sports, the governing body of university sport in Canada, from 2002 to 2009, posting a 16-47-2 record.
Now, hurdles exist for a return to U Sports as the organizationB次元官网网址檚 bylaws donB次元官网网址檛 allow members to belong to other conferences. SFU reportedly had a conversation with Canada West officials late last month but an application to join doesnB次元官网网址檛 appear to have been made.
Less than a week later, the school announced the cancellation of its football program. Simon Fraser moved to the Lone Star Conference in 2022.
Simon FraserB次元官网网址檚 varsity teams have been competing against NCAA Division II schools south of the border since 2010-11. While the football program ceased, Johnson said SFU will continue to field teams in 18 NCAA Division II sports.
Simon FraserB次元官网网址檚 football team competed within the Division II Great Northwest Atlantic Conference (GNAC) from 2010 to 2021. Before that, it played in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1965 until 2001.
Since the schoolB次元官网网址檚 decision, thereB次元官网网址檚 been a lot of support for SFU football.
Last week, CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie issued a letter to U Sports CEO Pierre Arsenault, Canada West managing director Rocky Olfert and all Canadian university athletic directors and head football coaches petitioning that SFUB次元官网网址檚 program be allowed to continue in Canada.
On Tuesday, both Football Canada and the CFL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association followed suit with similar letters condemning the school for its decision and asking the program be reinstated.
B次元官网网址淚t is beyond devastating that the program ended so abruptly without any outreach or calls for support,B次元官网网址� CFLPA executive director Brian Ramsay wrote in an email to Johnston. B次元官网网址淵ou, in effect, have ended not just the program but the careers of aspiring athletes to the professional ranks.
B次元官网网址淲orse, you allowed spring practices to occur, knowing you had already decided to cancel the program. I am told during those practices; players also suffered severe injuries. There is a huge, untapped groundswell of public support not to have the SFU football program cancelled. The CFLPA is happy to work with you to establish a coalition to find a new conference for the SFU Red Leafs, to salvage the season, and get the athletes back on the field where they can develop their potential and aspire to the professional ranks. You owe your students that much.B次元官网网址�
Football Canada president Jim Mullin, in a letter to U Sports schools playing football, asked they find a way to allow Simon Fraser to continue playing in Canada.
B次元官网网址淪ince 1965, SFU has been one of our countryB次元官网网址檚 innovators in college football,B次元官网网址� Mullin said. B次元官网网址淲hether itB次元官网网址檚 playing Canadian or American football, they have contributed significantly to the culture and growth of our sport.
B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, the current administration of Simon Fraser is not viewing that contribution through the same lens as Football Canada. Please find a path to welcome Simon Fraser football back to Canadian competition and to the 162-year tradition of Canadian football which was started by and is currently led by CanadaB次元官网网址檚 universities.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擠an Ralph, The Canadian Press
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