The Weber State University football program will remain alive for at least another season if the board of trustees listens to the advice of the school's president Friday.
"I will carry forth to the board of trustees the recommendation made by the athletic board," Weber President Paul Thompson said Wednesday after the athletic board unanimously recommended keeping the football program.The trustees, who meet Friday afternoon, will have the final say in whether football stays or goes, but usually the president's recommendation carries a great deal of weight. "I would be surprised if the trustees don't approve the recommendation," Thompson said.
Faced with a spending deficit of $900,000 per year, Thompson announced three weeks ago that the football program would be dropped unless it could come closer to balancing the books. Thompson said $500,000 each year in new revenue or budget cuts would be the minimum for the program to stay afloat.
Since that time a groundswell of support for the football program, headed by coach Dave Arslanian, has evolved. Last season the Wildcats averaged a 20-year low of 4,812 fans per game, with 1,500 season-ticket holders. Arslanian said Wednesday that the football program has 5,000 firm commitments for season tickets for next season.
With the season-ticket sales and private donations, Arslanian said the program has received more than $400,000 in commitments in the past three weeks. A proposed student fee increase would raise an additional $100,000.
The athletic board, made up of students, faculty, staff and community leaders, voted 15-0 in favor of the motion to keep the football program. The motion also called for taking a proactive approach in putting in place a quality athletic program with financial responsibility. It did not get specific as to dollar amounts that should go to football or the other sports.
Dan Jones and Associates surveyed 401 Weber County and north Davis County residents Dec. 8-11 and found most feel a football program at Weber is important. While 62 percent of those polled said they hadn't been to a Weber State football game in the past two years, 89 percent responded that football was somewhat or very important to the vitality of the university.
In a Jones survey of 200 Weber State students, 78 percent responded that football was important to the vitality of the university. Fifty-four percent of the students said they haven't been to a Weber State football game in the past two years, however.
Weber State's Strategic Planning Task Force will look into how the overall athletic program can be strengthened and where money can be saved over the next several months. In addition to the football program, the task force will take a closer look at gender equity issues and facility improvements.