For three years, you have given hours and hours to the sport you love. You have lifted, trained and practiced to make yourself a better player. You have lived and died with your team through every game. But now because of budget cuts, your team and a part of you is gone.
“Right now, the fate of the football team is unknown,” Athletic Director Eugene Doris said last week. The news caught players and students by surprise.
The athletic department has had a tough budget year, according to Doris. In a budget meeting on February 5, the fate of the [football] team was decided.
Many of the Fairfield University football players are facing this difficult scenario. Waiting for the destiny of their team and a part of themselves to be decided. So players are already trying to prepare themselves for the worse: the disbandment of their football team.
“I don’t think it’s fair,” said running back Rishawd Watson ’04. “I will be really upset if the team gets cut, especially because it’s going to be my senior year.”
All the effort, time and dedication these juniors have put into before their senior year. All of that commitment that these players have given could be taken away right before their final year.
“It would hurt if we lost our team,” said offensive lineman Connor Dowling ’04. “I have put a lot of effort and time into this sport, and now it may be lost right before my senior year.”
If football is axed, some players may have to make the decision if they are going to stay at Fairfield or transfer to play at another school. Players like Watson only came to Fairfield because of football. A negative decision by the university would change some players’ lives.
“The team shouldn’t get cut, and, if it does, it’s for all the wrong reasons,” said Dowling. “There are too many dedicated people on this team, and it wouldn’t be right to disband the program.”
Nick Totaro ’04 said it would be impossible for him to transfer, considering it will be his senior year.
“It’s not like we [the junior class] can leave and play somewhere else,” Totaro said. “I’ve made a lot of friends here and wouldn’t be able to leave at this point.”
Football is the most expensive varsity sport at Fairfield because of the number of players the team has. In 2001, the university allotted the program over $170,000 to cover team expenses, according to the Fairfield University Athletics Disclosure Act documents.
Fairfield has been amongst the top defensive teams in Division I-AA. The Stags finished 2nd in the MAAC this season with a 5-6 overall record. And now this team on the rise may be cut down before it can reach its potential.
“It hurts to think about it,” said Watson. “My whole class has been through it all together, and now it may have to end.”
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