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Show WSU football recoven from near fatal By Chris Wirick Signpost staff writer What do the California condor, the spotted owl, and the Weber State University football team have in common? How about an official spot on the endangered species list? Football was hot talk at WSU fall quarter. No, we're not talking about NCAA championships, although the team finished with a respectable 7-4 overall record, marking its third consecutive winning season. The controversy was over whether or not the football program at WSU should be dropped entirely due to university budget restraints. The problem stems from basic economics. Football makes money and football costs money. The dilemma in this case is simple: the football program at Weber State spends more money than it brings in. A lot more. In the 1994 season, the Weber State football team generated $122,734 in revenues. The expenses, however, totaled $1,030,696, creating a deficit of $907,962. The shortfall has run close to this figure each year since 1991. For many schools, including in-state football powerhouse BYU, football generates a tremendous profit. Weber State cannot compete with the larger schools as far as profit margin is concerned. Consequently, Weber State sinks more tax dollars into its athletics programs than any other school in Utah. With money for education becoming ever more scarce, spending cuts were an inevitable evil. The Board of Regents told WSU in July 1992 that its tax-dollar funding for athletics must be cut by $1.8 million. The football program topped the list for cuts because of its size combined with its lack of revenues. Another factor dealt with gender fairness. 65 percent of athletic scholarship funds go to men's programs. Across the board cuts could be made to all 14 of the school sports, but President Paul Thompson felt uncomfortable about the idea of weakening all school sports for the sake of one or two programs that were the obvious culprits in the budget deficit. The ultimatum given to Coach Arslanian and the Weber State football team didn't mince words: come up with $500,000 . or face the ax. A daunting prospect for any organization. Unshaken, the . 1 D Q team quickly mobilized to save the program. Football players could be seen in local malls, drumming up support through pledges for season passes for the 1994 season. Volunteers manned the phones seeking support from the community. The response was encouraging. The program received 2,158 pledges for season tickets and over $140,000 in private donations. Wildcat football was determined to survive. Coach Arslanian remains upbeat and determined about keeping the Weber State football tradition alive. A press conference was held Tuesday, outlining the strategic plan that has been developed to generate the support needed to save the program. Current progress was discussed as well as plans for the upcoming season and beyond. The team depends on the follow-through of the commitments they received last season as well as new pledges of support to be sought this summer and fall. "The fate of football is contingent on what happens this coming fall," Arslanian said, stressing the fact that people don't want to donate to a cause that they feel is doomed. Ultimately, everyone agrees, it is up to the students to decide whether or not football should remain a part of Weber State University. No support plan, promotion, fund raiser or marketing strategy can breathe life into a program without the full support of the student body. It is up to you and me as students to decide if football remains a Wildcat tradition or a Wildcat memory. We can support our team now. Or perhaps one day we would ffum photo illustration by CHRIS WIRICK rather take the little ones to a university croquet tournament, only to hear, "Wow grandpa, you mean Weber State used to have football?!" TAYLOR MASOr-2. Ventriloquist Cj P1MTV. Comic Strio Liver i if it I if if 1 AiYl ITU X Pro ball carries share of ups and downs By Jared Page Signpost sports editor Life can be full of ups and downs, for some the hills are little higher and the valleys a lot lower. Such is the case of Former Weber State forward Al Hamilton who was released by the Chicago Bulls after being chosen for the team less than a month earlier. "It's crazy," Hamilton said. "I thought I had it. You can be released at any time." Bulls General Manager Jerry Krause called Hamilton into his office during practice in early November and was informed of the trade. "I was all set to head on the road trip until nine o'clock that morning. He told me that they made a trade and had to let me go-" Hamilton, a 6-foot-7 forward from Dallas, averaged almost eight points per game in the w 1- 1 (Sings Billy 7. Bulls eight pre-season games. Chicago finished exhibition play with an even 4-4 record. The Bulls decided to keep veteran center Bill Wennington over Hamilton. The La Crosse Catbirds hold the rights to Hamilton if he chooses to join the Continental Basketball Association. . " I talked to the La Crosse coach this morning, and they are set for me to go there," Hamilton said. "Right now I'm just going to go home and gather my thoughts for a while," he said. "After that, there's a lot I can do. " "I can play overseas or go to La Crosse. I haven't decided yet. I'm leaning toward going to La Crosse. I'll have a better chance of getting into the NBA that way. " "I'll be back, there's no problem there. I'm not down and out by a long shot," he said. vfjf mi T II CARL R0SEP2 MllfilM4 1 miniuan c Joel, Elton Johncr .and more) 1 |
