Bob Copeland, who was the University of WaterlooB次元官网网址檚 athletics director during one of the most turbulent times in the schoolB次元官网网址檚 history, will help determine the future of Simon Fraser UniversityB次元官网网址檚 embattled football program.

On Thursday, SFU announced the appointment of Copeland, the senior vice-president of McLaren Global Sports Solutions, as special adviser to review the program. The school ceased football operations on April 4.

B次元官网网址淚 felt it was really important to find someone whoB次元官网网址檇 want to be independent, who understood football, who understood university varsity athletics,B次元官网网址� SFU president Joy Johnson said in a telephone interview. B次元官网网址淚 am just totally blown away by the fit.

B次元官网网址淗e and the firm he works with have just done incredible work. We are so lucky heB次元官网网址檚 available. We definitely feel heB次元官网网址檚 the right person for this B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e excited about moving forward.B次元官网网址�

Johnson said Copeland and McLaren CEO Richard McLaren will be on campus next week to convene preliminary meetings. The school said in a statement a final report will be shared in September.

Copeland will provide an assessment regarding the viability of resuming SFU football in 2024 or later. There will also be an evaluation of support for exhibition games in 2023 B次元官网网址渁s a means of transitioning to a potential new operating model and league in 2024.B次元官网网址�

Copeland was WaterlooB次元官网网址檚 athletic director in 2010 when the university suspended its football program for a year after nine players tested positive for steroids. It was Canadian university sportsB次元官网网址� biggest doping scandal.

But Copeland was lauded for his handling of the situation. He received TaylorB次元官网网址檚 Award by the Taylor Hooton Foundation for his work with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport in ordering a test of the football team after a player was arrested and in possession of steroids.

TaylorB次元官网网址檚 Award is presented to an individual who has made an impact in educating and protecting youth from anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. ItB次元官网网址檚 named after Taylor Hooton, a 17-year old Texas high-school baseball player whose suicide in 2003 was linked to anabolic steroid use.

Johnson announced April 4 that Simon Fraser was discontinuing its football program, effective immediately. She added the decision wasnB次元官网网址檛 financially based, rather on 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.

That prompted five SFU football players to file a lawsuit seeking an injunction in the Supreme Court of British Columbia to reverse the universityB次元官网网址檚 decision. But on Thursday, Justice K. Michael Stephens dismissed the application.

B次元官网网址淭he court is cognizant of the plaintiffsB次元官网网址� understandable deep disappointment at SFUB次元官网网址檚 termination of the football program,B次元官网网址� Justice Stephens wrote in his ruling. B次元官网网址淭his court does not trivialize the hardship they feel from the cancellation of the football program and associated cancellation of the upcoming football season.

B次元官网网址淲hat is sought here by the plaintiffs is a mandatory injunction that would, in effect, order SFU to reinstate and run a currently cancelled varsity program. The plaintiffs have failed to satisfy the legal requirements B次元官网网址� and they have not satisfied the court that a mandatory injunction is available at law, just, and appropriate in the circumstances.B次元官网网址�

Johnson was pleased with the ruling for two reasons.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 pleased he understood the position of the university,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 also really pleased that he understood just how hard this has been on our student-athletes and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 important.

B次元官网网址淢y heart has really gone out to our student-athletes. This has been very, very, tough and we knew that we needed to start to find a path forward.B次元官网网址�

Johnson added she spoke with Mark Bailey, the president of the Simon Fraser University Football Alumni Society, on Wednesday night and the two sides are working together.

B次元官网网址淎fter Dr. JohnsonB次元官网网址檚 statement today, we are satisfied we can take the first steps toward a new working model for football at SFU,B次元官网网址� Bailey said in a statement. B次元官网网址淲e believe we are on a constructive path to finding a conference to play in 2024 and beyond.B次元官网网址�

ThereB次元官网网址檚 certainly a huge fence to mend as the schoolB次元官网网址檚 decision came under tremendous fire because the team had a place to play this season.

The abrupt cancellation of the program not only drew the ire of alumni across Canada but condemnation from CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie, CFLPA executive director Brian Ramsay and Football Canada president Jim Mullin.

B次元官网网址淚 know people are passionate about football but I think the fact that itB次元官网网址檚 been nationwide has surprised me somewhat,B次元官网网址� Johnson said. B次元官网网址淎nd the depth of passion has been quite remarkable.B次元官网网址�

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