By Caryn Hirshhorn
With only two more credits left to graduate, Cherif Nicolas wasn’t contemplating transferring to a different university.
But the recent news of sacking Carleton University’s football team has this linebacker, and other players on his team asking themselves if they are ready to sit on the sidelines.
“I feel like a promise has been broken,” said Nicolas, a third-year student.
“You pick a school for the whole package. I could have gone to any school for just academics.”
Carleton president Richard Van Loon recently announced funding cuts would mean the end to an athletic program that has been with Carleton for more than five decades.
“I am well aware that there is some considerable support for football and that this decision will come as a bitter disappointment to current and former players,” said Van Loon.
Now Ravens football players are left wondering what they should do.
“Some players are thinking about concentrating on academics and taking a year off football,” said Nicolas.
“But many are looking into other schools to go to.”
Rookie quarterback Jon Clemont is one of those players looking for a new team.
The news of the funding cuts to football did not come as a surprise to Ravens football Coach Donn Smith.
“The overall impact won’t be known for years to come,” said Smith.
“I can’t see how this is going to enhance the overall image of the school.”
Anticipating his team was about to be benched, Smith surveyed his players and found 50 out of 59 would leave Carleton if football was cut.
Since the cuts to varsity football were made only a month away from the end of the school year, athletes will not have to take the mandatory year off before transferring.
Once accepted by another school team, they will be able to transfer immediately.
“We felt since the beginning that the administration had no intention of keeping us (the football team) alive,” said Nicolas.
This decision marks an end to a gruelling review process dating back to March 1997 when two committees were established to investigate athletic funding.
“There are solutions out there,” said Smith.
“There just isn’t the will to pursue them.”
A referendum was recently held asking Carleton students if they were prepared to pay another $11 in fees to support athletics.
At a time when students were protesting a 10 per cent hike in their tuition, the referendum was easily defeated.
Van Loon said the referendum was not the determining factor, but he acknowledged it was an influence.
Another factor was the team’s dismal success in recent years — 13 wins, 58 losses and one tie over the past 10 years.
But Van Loon, a former Ravens football player, emphasized Carleton’s main concern is academics.
For Smith, who will remain a Carleton employee despite the loss of his team, there is a deep sadness to the announcement.
“Carleton has lost 53 years of heritage, 53 years of the fabric of this school. It is like they have taken a big chunk out of themselves.”