Cal State Fullerton’s Gordon Says Scholarship Limit Is Not Racist

Cal State Fullerton President Milton Gordon, after returning from the NCAA Convention in San Antonio, said Wednesday that he voted against adding another men’s basketball scholarship and that he does not think the decision to keep the limit at 13 was racist.

“Absolutely not,” said Gordon, who is black. “I talked with a number of my friends (at the convention) about it and the presidents are ultimately responsible for budgets. To me, this has nothing to do whatsoever with race. It’s a cost-containment measure.

“You can especially understand it here in California. We’ve got to consider cost and rein it in.”

Gordon said the vote is part of a cost-containment trend.

“Going back over the last three years that I’ve been president (at Fullerton), the presidents as a group have really tried to rein in costs in athletics in general. We made a tough decision to bring this about.

“I supported it at the time and I still support it. I voted against (increasing the scholarship total to 14).”

As for threats that Black Coaches Assn. members will boycott games and, in some instances, withhold their players from playing, Gordon said he doesn’t think it will happen.

“I don’t think it is going to occur,” Gordon said. Titan Coach Brad Holland and assistant Chris Brazier, who is black, both said Fullerton plans to play its game at Utah State on Saturday as scheduled.

“As assistants, our jobs are not going to change, I’ll guarantee you that,” Brazier said. “Even if (Arkansas Coach) Nolan Richardson boycotted, he would still have his assistants on the road recruiting.”