What Makes Sense for Football?

Should Cal State Northridge continue to fund Division I-AA football?

With millions to raise to build a controversial new stadium, a consent decree to improve women’s sports, frequent turnover of coaches and athletic directors and a self-imposed probation, students, administrators and the surrounding community all have raised the question.

Opponents of keeping the Matadors a Division I-AA gridiron team cite the $8 million to $10 million the stadium will cost, the strain on the budgets of other university sports and the lack of other Division I-AA football in the area, among other concerns. Proponents note the benefits of sports programs to students and to school spirit and community pride.

PAMELA DAVEGA CARR put the question to a community member, a student and two professors.

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JOYCE BOONE

Clerical manager, Chatsworth

Being the mother of a son in high school football, I am in favor of having CSUN remain a [Division I-AA] football team in our community. . . . It is just as important for students at CSUN as it is for students at UCLA and USC to have that kind of a football team available to them.

I say put all of the money into football. I love the game, and it has done great things for my son. He used to be an introvert and its done wonders for him. Sports can make a great difference in the life of a kid.

You never know; maybe having a stadium here might increase revenues for places in the community because of football, and that would be great for everybody. Whatever we can do to build up the [San Fernando] Valley, I’m all for, and football might be able to do that. The money can be raised for a stadium, and I think CSUN can do it somehow. If that’s what the kids need, then I think they should get it.

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GARY KATZ

CSUN psychology professor

I am firmly on the fence on this issue. On the one hand, I would hate to take an opportunity away from the football program. I have a couple of football players in one of my classes and I think they are great. I think having a team is nice because it builds campus spirit and it helps students take pride in their school, more so when they have a good team on their campus.

As for a stadium and the congestion it might cause, parking has always been cited by students as a problem. I don’t think a stadium would add to that because most games would be played on the weekends. And I think the football games are primarily for the football players.

I am concerned that we are not sure where we are going with the team, though. Football is a big sport, but then again so is baseball. I also think the money involved could be better spent elsewhere. Especially when we have buildings that still are in need of repair or that need to be constructed, and faculty members could use pay increases.

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LISA GALLAGHER

CSUN student, Burbank

I don’t think they should continue to fund the football team because a lot of people don’t even know that they are a [Division I-AA] football team.

It seems unfair to put all of this money into just the football team, and then it takes away from the other sports. I’d put the money from football into other sports.

If CSUN’s team were No. 1 . . . then I would say yes, fund the team. . . . But at the rate they are going, that doesn’t seem likely.

Why throw the money away on something that isn’t bringing in what it should? It should go to other sports and they should have a chance.

I’m not saying that all sports should have equal money allotted; it just depends on what they bring in.

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RONALD McINTYRE

CSUN philosophy professor

No, I don’t think that CSUN should continue to fund a Division I-AA football team. Football is far too expensive a sport for the university to fund. I think the money should be given out to the other sports.

There is no demand for football, from the university or from the community members. There is no demand for football except from the athletes and their family members. All I can say about the stadium is that I don’t think there is a need for a new stadium.