One team USF will never "Flip"

[Jim Johnson]

Hofstra makes 'painful but clear' choice to drop football

Dec. 3, 2009

CBSSports.com wire reports

Presented by Epson

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Hofstra University is dropping its football team, citing high costs and low interest from the college community.

In a statement obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday, university president Stuart Rabinowitz says "the choice was painful but clear."

He says factors include the cost of running the football program and the team's inability to generate significant interest, financial support or attendance.

The decision follows a two-year review of sports spending at Hofstra. Rabinowitz says there are no plans to cut any other sports at the Long Island school.

Last week, Northeastern University in Boston dropped football after 74 years.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/12609980/hofstra-makes-painful-but-clear-choice-to-drop-football/rss

---

Yeah, I know they were an FCS team and we probably wouldn't have played them anyway... but they are among the few FCS teams USF never beat... and now we never will.

Hostra beat USF 42-23 in the last game of the 1999 season... it was USF's last home loss before a 21-game home winning streak.

NOTE: For those new to the Bulls Pen, the "South Florida Flip" dates back to the early days of the program... in those days USF would lose to a team the first time we played them, but "flip" and win subsequently.  So you may see people refer to "flipping" a team from time to time - especially when discussing possible opponents ... like South Carolina in the PapaJohns.com bowl - a team we owe a "flip."

[South_Florida_Flip]

Poor 3r20

[tbbulls]

was this the school with the visa logo at midfield?

[Minotaur]

Poor 3r20

Thats the first thing I thought. I haven't spoke to him since he was doing the bucket brigade at ground zero. Hope he is well.

3r20  3r20 is online now

Walk-on

 

Default Re: Hofstra to drop football

while I would rather see them drop down to the PFL, I cannot disagree with this decision

no more 3r20

http://boards.caazone.com/showthread.php?t=87376

Wow. Would never guess he would take it so well.

[usf97]

was this the school with the visa logo at midfield?

Yes they were the team with the "Visa" logo. Now why they didn't call us for a pay game I'll never know because I would have love to see us flip them. Now we need to invite Georgia Southern.

[TyBull]

 

HOFSTRA TO END INTERCOLLEGIATE FOOTBALL PROGRAM TO INVEST IN ACADEMIC INITIATIVES 

Courtesy: Hofstra Athletic Communications

            Release: 12/03/2009

   

  Open Letter to the Hofstra Community 

 

Hofstra University, Hempstead, N.Y. - Hofstra University's Board of Trustees has decided to eliminate Hofstra's Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly known as Division 1-AA)  intercollegiate football program, and reinvest those resources into new academic programs and need-based scholarships, President Stuart Rabinowitz announced today.

The Board, acting on a recommendation from Rabinowitz, voted unanimously to end the football program, effective immediately, at a meeting on Wednesday night. The decision was the culmination of a comprehensive review of all university spending to determine the best ways to build on Hofstra's successes and reach the highest level of academic excellence, nationally and internationally.

"As we continue to improve our academic programs and reputation, and plan the University's future, we have to consider the investment we make in all of the University's programs," 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."

"In the long run," Rabinowitz said, "we can touch and improve the lives of more students by investing in new and enhanced academic initiatives and increasing funds for need-based scholarships."

Rabinowitz said there are no plans to cut any other sports. Hofstra will continue to compete in 17 intercollegiate Division I sports, at a national level, as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association.  "We know this is a difficult time for our football team members, their dedicated coaches and loyal fans, and we will do everything we can to help them navigate this transition as smoothly as possible."

"Athletics is a vital part of campus life, and we are proud of the contributions all our student-athletes make to our community," Rabinowitz said. "This was not an easy call, but for the future of the University, we believe it was the right one."

Marilyn B. Monter, chair of the Board of Trustees, said that the Board had recently concluded a two-year study of the athletic program, and she noted that nationwide, many colleges and universities are examining spending on sports. "Hofstra is not alone in taking a hard look at athletic spending, and we have a concrete plan for reinvestment in academics," Monter said. "This isn't about spending less money, it's about how we allocate our resources and invest in all of our students."

All current football team members who remain at Hofstra will keep their scholarships, and those who transfer will be eligible to play immediately. The football team has 84 student-athletes from 15 states, and 11 coaches.  The net cost of the football program is approximately $4.5 million, including scholarships, and the savings generated will be redirected to fund new faculty lines, academic programs and need-based scholarships.

Athletic Director Jack Hayes met with team members and coaches this morning to inform them of the decision and to discuss how the University would assist them during the transition.  On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the President, he thanked them for their efforts and loyalty to the University.

"My priority is to implement a plan that assists the student-athletes and coaching staff with their efforts to move forward," said Athletic Director Jack Hayes. "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."

The football team finished this season 5-6, with a 52-38 win over the University of Massachusetts on Nov. 21 at James M. Shuart Stadium. The timing of the decision was made to give team members, prospects and staff a chance to make future plans. The University will honor head football Coach David Cohen's contract, and all assistant football coaches will receive assistance with their job transitions.

Football began at Hofstra in 1937. In 1991, Hofstra moved up from Division III to Division I, and 2009 was the University's third in the CAA.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 150 undergraduate and 160 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education, health and human services and honor studies, as well as a School of Law.

                                                                              ###

http://www.gohofstra.com/ViewArticle.dbml?PRINTABLE_PAGE=YES&ATCLID=204843540&DB_OEM_ID=22200

[Guest BasketBull.]

Anyone remember the one Hofstra fan who came on here way back when and posted a lot of stuff back and forth? I remember calling him R2D2.

That's too bad for them. It's a sad day for sports fans everywhere when a program dies of euthanasia.

[CoralSpringsBull]

Hofstra, who we played in football when we were a 1AA school, dropped football today. I was hoping we would get revenge against them one day. I remember a Hofstra fan named 3r20 who hassled us. Too bad for their fans.

[BULLfreak]

Hofstra drops football after 69 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ESPN.com news services

Hofstra University, which has fielded a football team for the past 69 years, is dropping the sport.

The school said it cut the program because of costs and fading interest and will use the $4.5 million spent annually on the team on scholarships and other priorities.

The board of trustees voted unanimously Wednesday night to shut the program, which had been in existence since the Long Island school's founding in 1937. The coaching staff was told Thursday morning, sources told ESPN.com.

 

Saints receiver Marques Colston is one of five Hofstra players taken in the NFL draft since 1991. 

Hofstra, 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 past 10 days. Northeastern University, in Boston, announced Nov. 23 it was dropping its program after 74 seasons.

"The cost of the football program, now and in the future, far exceeds the return possible," Hofstra president Stuart Rabinowitz said Thursday. He added that despite Hofstra having sent several players to the NFL, the program does not attract enough national attention.

"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."

Four former Hofstra players are now in the NFL: New Orleans Saints star receiver Marques Colston, Kyle Arrington of New England, Stephen Bowen of Dallas and Willie Colon of Pittsburgh. One of the best-known Hofstra players to have played in the NFL was receiver Wayne Chrebet of the New York Jets.

"I am both saddened and shocked to hear the news that the Hofstra University football program has ceased," Colston said. "I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the university, my coaches and my former teammates and I am sure that they share in my disappointment."

Rabinowitz noted that even on the Hofstra campus, there was little interest in the team. He said students were offered free tickets to games, but an average of only 500 students attended games at the 13,000-seat campus stadium, and that included cheerleaders and a pep band. Hofstra has a student body of 12,500, but only 4,200 live on campus. The average attendance this season -- students and nonstudents -- was 4,260.

Rabinowitz said the stadium would still be used for NCAA lacrosse matches, where crowds sometimes top those at football games. It also will be used for high school football playoff games and possibly outdoor concerts.

The decision follows a two-year review of sports spending at Hofstra. Rabinowitz says there are no plans to cut any other sports at the school.

He said the 84 players were told of the decision Thursday. All players were told they can keep their scholarships if they remain at the school. Those who transfer will be eligible to play immediately.

"It's devastating," redshirt junior linebacker Rashad Swanson of San Francisco said. "Football is pretty much our lives here. There's some guys who are thinking about staying. But me, personally, I'm thinking about leaving. I can't be here if I can't play football."

Keith Ferrara, a junior from Queens, said his teammates were shocked.

"It was the last thing I was expecting them to say," he said. "I had no idea it was coming. I want to play football, so I'm probably going to transfer out."

School officials told ESPN.com that athletic director Jack Hayes and coach Dave Cohen were unavailable for comment Thursday morning.

CAA commissioner Thomas Yeager was unavailable for comment, conference spokesman Scott Meyer said.

The Pride went 5-6 this past season, tying for third with a 3-5 record in the CAA North. Hofstra has produced five NFL draft picks since 1991, including Colston and Colon. Former Pride quarterback Giovanni Carmazzi was a third-round choice of the San Francisco 49ers in 2000.

Arrington, who went undrafted coming out of Hofstra in 2008 but was able to join New England's practice squad this fall, found out about Hofstra's decision when a reporter approached him at his locker Thursday morning. As soon as he turned on his cell phone, it began buzzing with text messages from friends relaying the same news.

"The worst we heard was that Cohen was on the hot seat," said Arrington, who was elevated to the active roster Nov. 5 and has appeared in three games. "That was it. ... I can't believe it. We have to get football back."

Bowen was a two-year starter at Hofstra.

"I didn't see it coming at all," he said Thursday. "All the money our school has, a priviate school, it just doesn't make sense to me. I don't know what to say. It kind of hurt me a little bit. It's terrible. It makes me not even want to go back there. It's like I didn't play there."

Hofstra's last game was a 52-38 home win over UMass on Nov. 21. The program has an overall record of 403 wins, 268 losses and 11 ties.

ESPN.com football writer Mark Schlabach, ESPNBoston.com, ESPNDallas.com and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[TyBull]

well there goes our chance of revenge