Players and supporters of the Simon Fraser University football team expressed optimism about the programB次元官网网址檚 return after a court hearing Monday.

The Burnaby, B.C. university announced the dissolution of the football team on April 4 of this year after their affiliation with a National Collegiate Athletics Association conference was ended.

Lawyer Peter Gall, representing the players, told the court on Monday that his clients are seeking: reinstatement as athletes, reinstating coaches to their former roles, take good faith steps to find a new conference for the team to play in, or find an alternative schedule for the team next season.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much support not only from the existing team that wants to play next year but support from the community and across the country for the continuation of the program,B次元官网网址� Gall said after the hearing. B次元官网网址淚 hope the university will really take to heart how committed the players, coaches and the community are for restoring this program.B次元官网网址�

Gall said the university has shown B次元官网网址渓ittle regardB次元官网网址� for the players and their well-being, adding their rights have B次元官网网址渂een run roughshod over.B次元官网网址�

Gideone Kremler, who played defensive back for the team, said the decision to cancel the program didnB次元官网网址檛 take the affect players and coaches into consideration.

B次元官网网址淲e as players and coaches havenB次元官网网址檛 been given a voice,B次元官网网址� he said.

Emily Kirkpatrick, the lawyer representing the university, refuted that statement saying there is no evidence to support that notion.

Kirkpatrick said the school took reasonable steps to inform the athletes and coaches of the programB次元官网网址檚 demise.

B次元官网网址淭here was a characterization of the evidence, there was plain overlooking of some of the evidence and in my submission, there was liberties taken with what that evidence actually says,B次元官网网址� she told the court.

The end, said Kirkpatrick, was brought about by the Lone Star Conference revoking the universityB次元官网网址檚 programs citing the cost of travel and low competitive performance. The team went 1-9 last season and 1-7 in the 2021 season.

SFU joined the Lone Star Conference in 2021 for a two-year term and the budget allocated to running the team in the upcoming season would have been $950,000.

Kirkpatrick also argued that the university did not have a contract with players to continue the program and questioned how the university could restart the program.

But, Gall said, there is still a chance to save the football program.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not too late,B次元官网网址� he told the court. B次元官网网址淭he players want to stay and play here. The coaches are still available and they can be reinstated. ThatB次元官网网址檚 not an insurmountable hurdle.B次元官网网址�

Mark Bailey, the president of the football alumni society, said thereB次元官网网址檚 an application to speak to the universityB次元官网网址檚 governors on May 25 to speak about the issue.

Justice K. Michael Stephens reserved a decision on the injunction until a later date.

B次元官网网址擭ick Wells, The Canadian Press

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