CC cuts football, 2 other sports

Colorado College football coach Bob Bodor never expected to spend Tuesday afternoon calling coaches around the country, trying to find new homes for his players.

Before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Bodor never considered the possibility of CC's football program, which dates to 1882, being eliminated. But the college decided to discontinue the sport - along with softball and women's water polo - after this school year.

Economic issues led to the cuts. By eliminating three Division III sports, the athletics department cut about $615,000, or 10 percent of its budget for the 2009-10 seasons. Bodor said he respected the decisions, but that didn't help when he told his players at an afternoon meeting.

"It was the most difficult moment of my professional life," he said. "You stand in front of guys you recruited and brought here to build something special, and you have to look them in the eye and tell them you were wrong."

CC's board of trustees said spending needed to be reduced by $8 million-$12 million during the next fiscal year. School president Richard Celeste said almost every combination of sports was considered. The school said football had an annual cost of $450,000.

Large travel expenses were a problem, Celeste noted. Many of the varsity teams compete in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, and the closest member is more than 600 miles away. Celeste said that in a school year, athletes, coaches and other team staff take 1,700 flights.

Those affected by the cuts included 54 male athletes, 22 female athletes, four full-time and 12 part-time staff. Celeste said the coaches' contracts would be honored.

"Obviously, parents are very concerned about their children," athletic director Ken Ralph said. "The students, it's come as quite a shock to them. We're helping them process this information and also working with staff members, who have seen a major life change."

Bodor said he wasn't worried about himself but felt badly for the student-athletes. They are not on scholarship but now don't have a team for which to play. Bodor said he would help those who want to keep playing find another school, a sentiment echoed by the administration in an open letter to the community.

"The first thing that went through my mind is our players," Bodor said. "That's what we're here for, to educate them and give them a great college experience."

Cutting football was difficult, Celeste said. The program had a long history, including seven championships during its 54 years in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Former CC quarterback Earl "Dutch" Clark is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"That's the toughest part of it because we have a tradition that dates back almost to the beginning of the college," Celeste said.

Ralph said CC's Division I sports briefly were discussed, but the school decided to keep investing in them because men's hockey generates revenue for the rest of the programs and women's soccer doesn't have high operating costs.

The open letter to the community said hundreds of hours of research and evaluation led to the cuts. The letter also expressed hope the sports could be restored someday.

"This is not a day we're going to celebrate," Celeste said. "It's one of those tough moments."

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CC DIVISION III SPORTS DROPPED

Football

Highlights: Program started 1882; member of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 1909-1963 including seven league or co-championships; Earl "Dutch" Clark is a member of the NFL, college football and CC halls of fame; one winning record (1993) in past 32 seasons; down to fewer than 40 healthy players last fall; last NCAA playoff appearance 1975.

Softball

Highlights: Started as varsity sport in 1996, a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference as is football, has 11 members on its roster. In 2006 won seven of last 10. In 2007, went 8-8 vs. Division III opponents.

Women's water polo

Highlights: In its sixth season, also has 11 players and was able to schedule just one home game this spring. Went to nationals in 2008.

Overall: Cuts involve 54 male and 22 female players, as well as four full-time and a dozen part-time staff positions. CC is the only Division III school in the Mountain Time Zone. Colorado College has not discontinued a sport in the past 15 years, however, several varsity sports that were offered that have been previously eliminated include baseball, wrestling, skiing, field hockey and golf.