Hofstra Sacks Football Program

Hofstra University has decided to cancel its football program. President Stuart Rabinowitz said, "The cost of the football program, now and in the future, far exceeds the return possible from an FCS program, which does not generate significant national interest. Given that, along with the low level of interest, financial support and attendance among our students, our alumni and the community, the choice was painful, but clear."

Newsday (subscription required) reports, "The program, which has a net cost of roughly $4.5 million annually, had been in a tailspin for much of this decade, with its last NCAA appearance coming in 2001 under Joe Gardi. Dave Cohen took over in 2006 and produced one winning season, 7-4 in 2007. In Cohen's four seasons, the Pride were 18-27, including a 5-6 record in 2009." ESPN adds, "The Pride, which has competed in the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) since 1991, is the second member of the Colonial Athletic Association to drop its football program in the last 10 days. Northeastern University in Boston announced it was dropping its football program after 74 seasons on Nov. 23."

Athletic director Jack Hayes said, "My priority is to implement a plan that assists the student-athletes and coaching staff with their efforts to move forward. We recognize that some team members will choose to complete their degree at Hofstra, and we encourage them to do so. Others may choose to continue their playing careers at other institutions. Whatever their decision, we are here to assist them."

A reader, whose brother plays on the team and was devastated by the news, tells us: "The players were told this morning. They were given the option to keep their football scholarships if they decide to stay. There is a similar meeting with the lacrosse team this afternoon, apparently."

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By Jen Chung in News on December 3, 2009 12:10 PM

Comments [rss]

Jim

This is seriously one of the most heart warming things I've read all week. America may have already crossed into some sort of abyss, but at least one school had the courage to do something right. And boo hoo for the players. I think they all have bigger things to worry about -- like how am I gonna find a job with a degree from Hofstra, a less than stellar GPA (most likely), and 10%+ unemployment? And Chebret can shove it. Does that guy even remember where he went to school after 70 odd concussions?

revsone

Since the school is going to save $4.5 million annually, can I get a rebate or an adjusted bill?

cgee

Yes, I would imagine that the departure of the Jets must have had a significant negative financial effect. The team not only paid for a professional-caliber practice facility for the school, but paid millions to the school in rent over the past three decades.

Also, Hofstra was the alma mater of Wayne Chrebet, the undersized and undrafted player who became one of the most effective possession receivers in the NFL (his ability to pickup 3rd down conversions was uncanny), as well as one of the most well-liked players in Jets history. If it had not been for the fact that the Jets had their training camp at Hofstra, it is unlikely that Chrebet would have even been given a look. Of course, it also helped that it was during Rich Kotite's miserable tenure as the Jets' head coach -- the team was so bad that it could give playing time to a walk-on rookie.

BongoBoy

The NY Jets used to have their training facilities at Hofstra and were subsidizing the program. Too bad.

Also sad that the school give up the nickname "Flying Dutchmen" as a p-c move a few years ago. William Hofstra who the school was named after was of Dutch ancestry.

And one of Bill Cosby's funniest bits from the '60's centers on when he was at Temple University and they played Hofstra.