OFFICIAL: Simon Fraser OUT after 2023

[CWU Wildcat Nation]

Simon Fraser is OUT after the 2023 season. The LSC will not retain SFU as a football affiliate after the 2023 season. This is unfortunate for the Red Leafs, but it make total sense for the LSC. Not only is travelling up to Canada from Texas is a logistical nightmare, especially for DII programs, but SFU's continued struggles at the DII level don't help either.

If SFU wants to continue American football, they would have to do so as an independent at this point, or drop down to NAIA. Or just switch to Canadian football.

https://athletics.sfu.ca/news/2023/2...-football.aspx

[Great White Buffalo]

Simon Fraser is OUT after the 2023 season. The LSC will not retain SFU as a football affiliate after the 2023 season. This is unfortunate for the Red Leafs, but it makes total sense for the LSC. Not only is traveling up to Canada from Texas a logistical nightmare, especially for DII programs but SFU's continued struggles at the DII level don't help either.

If SFU wants to continue American football, they would have to do so as an independent at this point or drop down to NAIA. Or just switch to Canadian football.

https://athletics.sfu.ca/news/2023/2...-football.aspx

I watch the CFL and find it much more entertaining than the No Fun League.

[CWU Wildcat Nation]

Playing Canadian football makes the most sense, though they would have to change coaches and would lose many of their American athletes. But moving down to NAIA would also work since travel to Montana and Idaho to play their NAIA teams would be much easier. SFU already plays 1-2 of those NAIA teams each season. I don't see them cutting their program just yet especially after the renovations they just made to their stadium.

[WT_TKW]

I am sorry to hear this. I thought if we could schedule them in September or October I might go to a game in BC. However, I appreciate them stomping WT in that last game, because without that loss we would surely still have Hughes as coach.

Best of luck to Simon Fraser!

[ASUPops]

I am actally VERY GLAD. They didn't belong in the LSC and they would do MUCH better as an NAIA.

Having a whipping board from Canada in the LSC sucked.

Having a Sul Ross makes much more sense.

Also, hearing there may be 2 other teams moving to the LSC by 2025. We'll see.

[QB11111]

I am actally VERY GLAD. They didn't belong in the LSC and they would do MUCH better as an NAIA.

Having a whipping board from Canada in the LSC sucked.

Having a Sul Ross makes much more sense.

Also, hearing there may be 2 other teams moving to the LSC by 2025. We'll see.

Which two schools?
D3s moving up?
North American?

[IronOre]

Simon Fraser is OUT after the 2023 season. The LSC will not retain SFU as a football affiliate after the 2023 season. This is unfortunate for the Red Leafs, but it make total sense for the LSC. Not only is travelling up to Canada from Texas is a logistical nightmare, especially for DII programs, but SFU's continued struggles at the DII level don't help either.

If SFU wants to continue American football, they would have to do so as an independent at this point, or drop down to NAIA. Or just switch to Canadian football.

https://athletics.sfu.ca/news/2023/2...-football.aspx

CWU and WOU need to drop out too, then. The relationship with the GNAC school is more important than a bunch of whiny Texas schools that don't want to get passports and will kick out CWU and WOU as soon as another team joins D2 in Texas.

[WT_TKW]

CWU and WOU need to drop out too, then. The relationship with the GNAC school is more important than a bunch of whiny Texas schools that don't want to get passports and will kick out CWU and WOU as soon as another team joins D2 in Texas.

If you read what I wrote earlier, you know I am sorry that SFU is leaving, and I would hate to see CWU and WOU leave too. We have played CWU many times and I have enjoyed the rivalry. I also appreciate that WOU and SFU helped end the Hughes era.

Despite all of that, it is a long way to travel for D2 schools with limited budgets. Even travelling to remote Alpine, TX is not easy for WT.

[tsull]

SFU has struggled greatly in football and men's hoops, are very good in many minor sports. I still have never understood their NCAA membership and it's something they brag about up in Canada. Having spent some time in Vancouver, wondering how many people even notice that NCAA membership. That said, SFU has built a nice, new football stadium and I think the GNAC should keep them in for all sports and they should play Canadian collegiate football. Knowing the NCAA, which allows schools to tamper on other schools' rosters, they would nit-pick that and not allow them to be a GNAC member. Gee, maybe they could give the Oregon lineman a 10th year of eligibility since he's getting 9 (I'm serious) or new Baylor QB Tristan Gebbia an 8th year, since he's getting a 7th.

I get the Texas schools not wanting SFU, it's a tough, international trip.

As I noted on the hoops board, I think D2 independent might be WOU's best option financially. I'd much rather see them have play West Coast schools, Simon Fraser, two Big Sky (FCS) teams, regional NAIA teams Southern and Eastern Oregon (if they'd let them), and some LSC in non-con; save travel money and put it into football infrastructure, not travel ... but that's just me. I'm sure someone will tell me Indy is death, but so is travel. WOU has been to three national playoffs (all NAIA) in the last 50 years, it's not like the LSC is changing things for the Wolves.

[LSC Fan]

I thought it was cool to have SFU in the conference. But it was evident they were in a huge competitive disadvantage. They might have started an upward trajectory, but that’s a very long term project up there and it might be best to do it with their Canadian counterparts. Having a losing program year after year gets old and nowadays can be more of a drag on a school and it’s image than years past.

[tsull]

I thought it was cool to have SFU in the conference. But it was evident they were in a huge competitive disadvantage. They might have started an upward trajectory, but that’s a very long term project up there and it might be best to do it with their Canadian counterparts. Having a losing program year after year gets old and nowadays can be more of a drag on a school and it’s image than years past.

They barely recruit in the states, this won't hurt their recruiting and the guys they get from the states have resulted in really, really bad records, so they're not good. They should focus on Canadian football and hopefully keep GNAC membership, I don't know why that shouldn't be allowed as most GNAC schools don't have football.

[cwfenn]

SFU has a tough decision to make if they want to stay in the NCAA. They just opened a new stadium, in part for football, and now they are without a conference. Being independent isn’t realistic as there is only one right now in D2 that isn’t going to a conference soon, and they (Post) played mainly the NE-10 last year. Maybe SFU can cobble together some games against NAIA, D1, CWU, WOU, and some RMAC teams, but who knows how sustainable that is. Canadian football may not be an option either since SFU has really pushed being an NCAA school hard. NAIA might be their best option if they want to keep playing American football.

[tsull]

SFU has a tough decision to make if they want to stay in the NCAA. They just opened a new stadium, in part for football, and now they are without a conference. Being independent isn’t realistic as there is only one right now in D2 that isn’t going to a conference soon, and they (Post) played mainly the NE-10 last year. Maybe SFU can cobble together some games against NAIA, D1, CWU, WOU, and some RMAC teams, but who knows how sustainable that is. Canadian football may not be an option either since SFU has really pushed being an NCAA school hard. NAIA might be their best option if they want to keep playing American football.

I don't get why the NCAA wouldn't let them play D2 in all sports and Canadian football, it's like having a club football team. Why not? D2 indy would be a mash-mash of FCS, D2, D3, and NAIA opponents. Who freaking cares? SFU is NEVER going to the D2 playoffs, not in a million years even if they doubled down on D2 football. WOU takes their football seriously, well, not scholarship-wise, but there's a good contingent of fans and alums who want to win ... and they've been to THREE post-season playoffs in 50 years, all in NAIA. Being Indy would mean losing what? A 100 to 1 shot at making the playoffs? It's worth that to bankrupt the athletic dept. with flights to Texas? Makes no sense to me, not one iota.

[ASUPops]

Which two schools?
D3s moving up?
North American?

Can't say. Not finalized yet. Not North American.

[ASUPops]

CWU and WOU need to drop out too, then. The relationship with the GNAC school is more important than a bunch of whiny Texas schools that don't want to get passports and will kick out CWU and WOU as soon as another team joins D2 in Texas.

BYE FELICIA! You needed us more than we needed you!