Canyons Panel to Study Return of Football

College of the Canyons has appointed a committee to study the feasibility of reinstating its football program, which was dropped after the 1980 season because of financial reasons.

The committee, which comprises administrators, alumni and community members, will conduct its initial meeting Monday. The panel will discuss the estimated cost of restarting the program, the estimated annual cost of continuing the program and finding a guaranteed source of funds outside the college’s operating budget.

“There’s nothing really solid right now. It’s more of a search and attempt to get some answers,� said Lee Smelser, athletic director at Canyons. “We get so many questions and inquiries year in and year out concerning football, we just felt there was a need to take a look at it.�

Al Adelini, head counselor and the former dean of student activities at Canyons, was responsible for game management when Canyons had a program. Adelini said the committee will examine all of the financial considerations as well as the impact football would have on academic programs.

“Football isn’t something that you start up for one year to see how it goes,� Adelini said. “If we had football again it would have to be done right or not at all.

“I wouldn’t want to see football reinstated at the expense of our academic programs.�

Eric Robinson, executive director of the College of the Canyons Foundation, which provides financial aid to various academic programs, said a board meeting will be held next Wednesday to discuss the feasibility of involving the foundation in the reinstatement study.