A Question of Money : Pierce Coach Threatened Boycott If Football Program Was Slighted

Jim Fenwick, Pierce College’s head football coach, says his team was ready to turn down an invitation to appear in its own inaugural Brahma Bowl because not enough of the proceeds from the game were going to the football program.

The situation was resolved, according to Fenwick, when school officials agreed to earmark for football the proceeds from concession stands and half of the Brahma Bowl money received by Pierce.

But several administration officials maintain that the financial agreement would have been the same, even if there had been no threatened boycott.

“It really didn’t mean a thing,” said Bob O’Connor, Pierce athletic director, of Fenwick’s ultimatum. “It just would have made him look bad. I think somebody would have coached the team if he didn’t want to.”

Said Fenwick of Saturday’s Brahma Bowl matchup with Moorpark College: “Playing in this game meant two more weeks for my players of working out and preparing. To ask them to do that and then have the money go elsewhere didn’t seem right. I felt it was a time to be heard.

“Originally, this was going to be a fund-raiser for spring sports. Here was a football game with the football team not getting the benefit. I talked about all of this to the players and they all agreed we should not play the game if we were not going to get something back for our program. We’re talking about what is fair.”

Forty percent of the proceeds from the Brahma Bowl go to the California Assn. of Community Colleges, the remaining 60% to the sponsoring Kiwanis Club, which donates it back to the school. Half of Pierce’s 60% will go to Fenwick’s football program.

Moorpark Coach Jim Bittner said his school receives no share.

“I don’t think a determination had been made concerning the distribution of proceeds from the Brahma Bowl at that point,” said Bill Norlund, Vice President of Administration. He was referring to when the boycott threat was made two weeks ago, following Pierce’s final regular-season game.

“I was very disappointed with Jimmy at the time,” said Leonard Streva, Brahma Bowl Commissioner. “But the more I think about it, it was a very positive move. You can’t have a program if you’re going to starve it to death. He was very discouraged with the program. The school was taking everything away from him. I think they’re going to take care of him a little better now.”

Fenwick has been the Pierce football coach for five years. The last three seasons, the Brahmas have been in the Southern California Conference, dominating the opposition with a 16-1 mark. They completed last year’s regular season at 10-0 before losing to Taft College in the Potato Bowl. This year, they are 8-2 (5-0 in conference) heading into the Brahma Bowl.

But, Fenwick maintains, while the success on the field is continuing, the funds for his program are dwindling.

“When you consider the success we’ve had,” Fenwick said, “we’re just not being treated right. We would have been cheated out of money if they had used the Brahma Bowl as a fund-raiser for other sports.”

The athletic budget at Pierce this year is $90,000. Coaching salaries take up $70,000 of that. Football is supposed to get approximately one third of the athletic budget. But in past years, when Fenwick needed additional funds, he could present his case to the Associated Students Organization. Last year, the ASO donated an additional $11,000 to the football program.

This year, the rules have been changed.

Under the directive of former college president Herbert Ravetch, all ASO funds for sports must now go through the athletic director, who determines which sports will receive money. Fenwick says that under the new system he has received a very small amount this year, certainly not $11,000.

“He got more,” O’Connor said. “He just didn’t know it. The trouble is, some of the money from the budget was used for other sports and then replaced with ASO funds. The problem here is how to keep ahead of the bill collectors.”

A shortage of money is a problem throughout the community college system. Several years ago, funds for the state-supported schools were at a peak. The Los Angeles Community College District budgeted $200 million for its nine schools. Pierce received $23 million.

The district budget is down to $150 million this year. Pierce received $18 to $19 million. Additionally, the district is saddled with a deficit of about $2 to $3 million. Last year’s deficit was $5 million. Funds from the state lottery, it is estimated, could bring in $3.3 million, which would only offset the deficit.

“Maybe we have too many sports,” Fenwick said. “To try and please every coach and not be left short-handed is impossible to do.”

O’Connor said that he, personally, has contributed $12,000 to the athletic program.

“I will resign,” he said, “before I cut a sport.”