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Hofstra University dropped its football program this morning. I can’t say I’m surprised. Attendance was always an issue, especially after the school expanded the seating capacity of Hofstra Stadium (now James M. Shuart Stadium) from 7,000 to 13,000 in 1996. There was little buzz – people talked about Hofstra football only when Wayne Chrebet and others became stars in the National Football League – and the program treaded water since Shuart – a former Hofstra player – left his presidential post in 2001.
I will say I am disappointed. As you can image many of my fellow alumni, many of whom attended the school with me, are stunned. In a statement obtained by the AP, current university president Stuart Rabinowitz says “the choice was painful but clear.” Of course, it came down to money. Factors included include the cost of running the football program and the team’s inability to generate significant interest, financial support or attendance. Marilyn B. Monter, chair of the Hofstra Board of Trustees, said that the Board had recently concluded a two-year study of the athletic program, and noted that nationwide, many colleges and universities are examining spending on sports.
“Hofstra is not alone in taking a hard look at athletic spending, and we have a concrete plan for reinvestment in academics," Monter said on a release posted on Hofstra Athletics’ Web site. "This isn't about spending less money, it's about how we allocate our resources and invest in all of our students."
You can read Rabinowitz’s open letter here. And while poor attendance is a legitimate factor, during my days the program was on the rise and playing with the bigger boys of Division I-AA. In 1990, Joe Gardi’s first season and a year before I enrolled as a freshman, Hofstra went 10-0 despite being marred by the Rhory Moss steroid scandal. Three years later, the Flying Dutchmen’s (now the Pride) first full-fledged season in I-AA, they went 6-3-1 and 8-1-1 in 1994, good for No. 22 in the nation but narrowly missing the postseason. That tie came at rival Delaware, when Chrebet tied Jerry Rice’s I-AA record with five touchdown receptions, yet their lone loss at home to Towson State ended up costing them a playoff berth.
Many players followed Chrebet to the NFL, including Lance Schulters, Dave Fiore, DiMingo Graham, Giovanni Carmazzi, Willie Colon and Marques Colston. Gardi followed Colston out the door in 2005 and the program became nondescript. This past season the Pride went 5-6 (3-5 in the CAA). Their final game was a 52-38 home win over UMass on Nov. 21, ending a 73-year run with an overall record of 403 wins, 268 losses and 11 ties.
What it came down to is university executives having eyes bigger than their stomach and eventually no longer spending money to make money. For those with a current or lifetime investment in the program today is a damn shame. Tomorrow can bring better days for basketball if the team can get to the level it enjoyed during the Jay Wright/Speedy Claxton years. That’s up to Tom Pecora’s recruiting and coaching prowess. The rest is up to the university’s athletic backbone, one that no longer exists on the gridiron.
UPDATE 4:26 p.m.
Stuart Rabinowitz appeared as a guest on Mike Francesa's show this afternoon to explain his side of the story. You can watch the clip here.
