Football Above All

Perhaps one of the most unfortunate consequences of SJSU�s continued membership in Division I-A is that other student athletes must pay the price of maintaining football.  The Knight Commission report notes that because of budgetary concerns and gender equity requirements, many universities must cut other sports in order to maintain football (Knight Commission 2001, 17).  The Knight Commission Report � which was endorsed by the SJSU Academic Senate in April 2002 -- deplores this phenomenon, yet it has happened at SJSU.  In 1997, the men�s tennis and gymnastics programs were both eliminated, despite the fact that both were highly competitive (Killion 1997).  In 2001, the administration floated the idea of eliminating men�s soccer and replacing it with lacrosse, despite the fact that the men�s soccer teams was one of the top-rated teams in the nation (Wilner 2001).   The university continues to discuss the idea of dropping some additional sports and replacing them with less expensive sports (Bell 2002).

One is left with the impression, that football is the only sport that really matters, and that these other teams only exist in order to help SJSU achieve the NCAA rule that Division I-A schools must field 16 teams.[i]  The administration seems not to care what these teams are, just as long as they don�t cost much money so that the maximum amount of funding is available for football. 

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[i] see http://www.ncaa.org/eligibility/faqs/faqs_general.html

Killion, Ann. (1997).  �Unfortunately, Reform Brings Anguish at SJSU.�  San Jose Mercury News  May 13, 1d

Wilner, John. (2001).  �SJSU Considers Cutting Sports; Soccer, Gymnastics Programs Most-Threatened, Source Says.�  San Jose Mercury News.  June 14. pg. 1d