@ Guy — Personally, I don’t care all that much for Title IX. It doesn’t present quite the level field that some claim that it does. Don’t think for a moment that Hofstra will deep six additional program at this point. That would be too controversial of a move for the administration.

Guy

Again, you spend the time to do a two year study, you have your info, but then you don’t do anything to remedy the situation? I think alumni, especially former players like myself we angry that we didn’t have a chance to help or save it. Then again, i think the way this was carried out is a clear indication that Rabinowitz did not want to save it. Hofstra is notorious for closed door decisions, this is the same way the forced a change in name from Flying Dutchmen to the Pride. No student or alumni feedback, it just came from the top and people were told to deal with it.

Clearly, if *any* school wants to maintain their football program, then they would take whatever steps necessary to improve it. One way would be to tap Hofstra’s vast alumni base, telling grads that the program is threatened and how it could be helped.

Unfortunately, not too many 1-AA programs can make money unless they have a strong fan base. But with the football program gone, I imagine that other sports programs will be vulnerable, particularly since a sport for male athletes has been cut.

Bottom line, the program has never had tremendous support in marketing it to students and fans, but it used to have the support of President Shuart. When Stuart Rabinowitz came in, he never had an interest in football and many felt he would ultimately be responsible for its demise. The U did a two year study and showed a lack of student interest, if the move to drop was not financial as Rabinowitz indicated in his statement, why not be a true leader and put in an effort to fix the problem. This was a calculated plan by Rabinowitz who stood by and used this program to dupe his minions (i.e. the board of trustees) into going along and dropping the sport. If he wanted to have football, the university would have it.

Agreed, other programs may be vulnerable notwithstanding assurances made by the administration that these programs won’t be cut.

When you take down sports programs in order to preserve money for academic programs, then you know that this may be the first shot offered by the school.

On a similar note, I see that Northeastern has also discontinued their football program. Two fewer teams for the CAA next year, though Old Dominion and Georgia State will join in 2011 and 2012 respectively.