Tag: Football cut

Unknown beginnings

Editor’s Note: Lumberjack reporter Ju’Wan Murphy is on the Humboldt State University football team.

After the final game against Simon Frasier, Humboldt State University coaches set up a showcase to help players show off their talents

Forty plus coaches came from near and far to scout HSU football players as they showcased their agility and athleticism. Coaching staff, Josh Irvin helped set up the event for his players.

“It was an opportunity for college players to perform and interact with teammates, regardless if they weren’t able to play in games this year,” Irvin said. “They’ve fought for me all year long, and I’m not going to stop fighting for them until they found a new home.”

The coaching staff also sent out an updated list to almost every college in the nation. The list had athletic accomplishments, academics, and eligibility standing. Players, fortunately will not receive the normal transfer penalty of being forced to sit out a year. Instead, they will be granted full access as soon as they enroll in the new college. Players also met with the compliance officer to explain the process. Irvin believes the showcase went well and is committed to mentoring players that need it.

“It’s always an honor when players trust you enough to ask your opinion about the future,” Irvin said.

The next few weeks are critical for players because, decisions will be made and new homes must be decided. Many factors are at play for athletes including year, eligibility, out of state tuition, and scholarships. All this before they step on their new team’s field.

For junior defensive back Ereon Nash, the time of football ending isn’t ideal. He’ll have to navigate credits and scholarships he’s received are all out of state schools in South Carolina, Nebraska, and Colorado. Nash had a season in which his numbers doubled in important defensive back stats like pass deflections and tackles.

“I got to make the best of it,” Nash said. “My plan is to go somewhere my units transfer over so I’m not too far behind in school and where I would be good financially.”

Family is also important to Nash’s decision because of the distance away from home.

“My family thinks this whole situation is unfortunate but they will support me no matter where I choose,” Nash said. “I’m still undecided if I want to leave in January or after the spring semester.”

HSU Lumberjack gets tackled by Western Oregon opponent on Oct. 27. | Photo by Matt Shiffler.

Other players like redshirt sophomore linebacker Demetrick Watts could find success in the change due to his eligibility for two more years. Watts had a breakout season getting his first opportunity this year to start all 10 games and left his mark in all of those in some fashion. Watts finished this season with one defensive touchdown, second in tackles, and made the first team all-conference.

“The situation that happened with the program is messed up, I’m the type of person to finish what I start and I won’t be able to do that here,” Watts said.

His decisions during the break will be looking over his official division two offers from Central Washington, Central Missouri, and the University of Central Oklahoma. These schools are a high caliber of division two football but Watts will wait till just past Christmas to decide. The division one schools are his main focus right now because of the year he had at the Redwood Bowl.

“Just keeping my options open,” Watts said. “Sam Houston, Portland State, and Samford are on the list.”

Freshman defensive lineman Tajma Magee was a walk-on in the spring earned his playing time this fall and has to start that process all over again. Magee is not like Watts or Nash who was recruited, he chose Humboldt out of high school for academics. Magee had a nice spring which propelled him to come back in the fall and for the 2018 season. Now Magee is just like the other athletes searching for a new home. Magee has been in contact with a few schools but the only schools that offered scholarships are Ottawa University, Tabor College, and Kansas Wesleyan University.

Even though Magee has to start his recruitment process all over it he feels like it’s an honor being wanted by other universities after overcoming everything he has been through.

“Coming out of high school I didn’t really have any schools interested,” Magee said. “Now having the opportunity to have school paid for is a blessing in disguise.”

Redwood Bowl is nearly empty at HSU football program comes to an end. | Photo by Amanda Schultz.

Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Jacks ball safe for now

By｜Keaundrey Clark & Skye Kimya

Through trials and tribulations, Humboldt State football will be playing another year in the Redwood Bowl, as was announced by President Lisa Rossbacher and Interim Athletic Director Duncan Robbins on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

In front of HSU students, athletes, boosters, administration and coaches, it was announced that the team will return after months of doubt by Rossbacher.

“Through a lot of work by the boosters and the community,” said Rossbacher. “Alumni generating pledges for support make this possible for next year. “

President Rossbacher said she was impressed by the passionate group of boosters who led a recent fund drive. This convinced her they could bring in the resources needed to help continue the football program.

Six months of doubt have been put to bed for now, as boosters led by Jim Redd and Ceva Courtemanche worked endlessly to provide a solution to HSU Athletics financial woes. Redd and SaveHSUAthletics were able to confirm that almost $511 thousand in pledges and donations for 2017-18 has been reached.

“Not all of this is local community, there are previous athletes from all over the United States that have donated,” said Redd. “People that have just heard about our cause that have donated. It just speaks volumes, that athletics and the student athletes are very important to this community.”

The future of Jacks football, which is the University’s most expensive athletics program, had been in question due to financial challenges.

The Athletics Department, Office of Advancement and the boosters struggled to maintain a balanced and working relationship to find a solution to the department’s financial woes. In terms of balancing the budget, the University is working to address an ongoing structural deficit that has been on Rossbacher’s plate for a few years now.

With an additional $395 thousand for year two, $375 thousand for year three, $355 thousand for year four and $335 thousand for the fifth year, the community of Humboldt showed how much HSU football means to them.

“We never gave up,”said Redd. “We kept fighting until the very end and the community support is absolutely unbelievable.”

Several players walked away from the Redwood Bowl Plaza this afternoon with plenty of appreciation for their community and Rossbacher.

“It feels great, it feels like I got a lot of relief off of my shoulders. Now I can get ready and focus for next season,” said returning player Jamere Austin.

Plenty of players have been worried about where they would have headed next, but they are looking forward to continuing in their first step foward after today’s decision – Spring Ball.

“President Rossbacher made the right decision,” said returning player Joey Sweeney. “Next year should be a really good year.”

Head Coach Rob Smith held a meeting with players, urging them to notify their families that the team will be back. He understands that because of the uncertainty surrounding the program some players won’t return. But he hopes players will stay and be a Jack for life.

“Most coaches and most players had kind of checked out, they saw the writing on the wall, anticipated the program not being here next year and were preparing for life after this,” said Smith. “Now we all kind of need to get together and figure out how to move forward.”

One of HSU’s best defenders, junior linebacker Curtis Williams, is excited for the prospects of a great season next year.

“It feels great,” said Williams. “Knowing we have another season is a great feeling.”

Humboldt State has been playing football for decades. The prospect of losing the team is something the players, coaches, school and community couldn’t face. Head Coach Rob Smith has his work cut out for him next season.

“Coaches will come and go, Presidents will come and go, but this team belongs to Humboldt State,” said Smith

Tuesday, December 5, 2017
An alumnus perspective on being Lumberjack football player

Over the last few weeks, a lot of rumor, fear and misinformation have been circling about the possible loss of Lumberjack football next year. As a 40 year old alumnus and former football player, I felt it is important to share my perspective on what it meant to be a student athlete, and more importantly, a student athlete at Humboldt. I speak from my perspective, however I would imagine many other guys feel the same way. I think this is important for three main reasons.

First, to let the administration know how much that Redwood surrounded stadium and campus means to all of the alumni. Secondly, to offer perspective to the student body and community who may not be football fans. Finally and most importantly, to publicly ask for answers from the administration that is making this decision.

All alumni have different levels of involvement with the program. My personal involvement is of course as a fan, but also as a booster. I have always tried to support the program when I can and always will. I proudly share my alma mater in my living room with my 6 year old son just about every Saturday in the fall. So at 40 years of age, with kids, wife, a demanding career, why such a die-hard connection? The answer is simple; pride and connection. I am proud of where I went to school, I am proud to have worn Humboldt State on my chest for 21 Saturdays, I am proud of the work I put in with Drew to prepare myself, I am proud to share my university with my children. Most importantly, I am connected. I am connected to men who did the same thing as I. I am connected to these men for life. I am connected to men from Compton, Santa Rosa, San Diego, Hawthorne, Eureka, and Reno. I am connected to men from a myriad of backgrounds that I would have never known had it not been for football. I now realize this is what matters. Yes, winning games is important and feels great. As you get older, what will become more important are the relationships you have built. One thing is certain, as a student athlete you will build relationships with people from backgrounds you would otherwise never be connected to. As a professional in a highly-competitive field that has made a great impact on my life for the better, I have been outside of my comfort-zone. I am able to appreciate other world perspectives. I have shared in different peoples life experiences. I don’t want that valuable opportunity erased from campus.

So with such positive experiences why is there talk of cutting football? We are being told budget. Well, according to the research study commissioned by the school, cutting football would not relieve the budget issues. Why are athletics not budgeted out of the general fund? We are being told enrollment is down. Why are there 1,500 applications not being looked at? By no means do I claim to be a CSU budget expert, none of us are. So why isn’t the administration having a public forum to discuss the possible loss of an obviously beloved part of the community? Are they looking at better ways to budget? Are we actively seeking out corporate sponsorships? Can athletics do a better job of reaching out to alumni? Why is attendance at football games being underreported? These are all great questions. Why are there no answers? I don’t have the answers, unfortunately those that do remain silent or give noncommittal statements. I would like something from the AD and President as to what the plan is. Is the plan to cut the program and they’re too cowardly to admit it now? Are they looking at ways to budget correctly? I don’t know, we don’t know, I am frightened they may not know.

I am not a professional writer, I am not a seasoned College administrator, I am a former mediocre college athlete who loves his Green and Gold brothers, and loves his University. My goal in writing this is to try and let those understand the importance my college experience has played in my live. Learning how to compete, how to work, coping with failure, instilling empathy for different life experiences. All of these things have made me a better person. College is about academics but it is also about learning to be a better person. I ask you to evaluate the importance of football not on your love for the game but on your appreciation for the importance of connection. I ask that all my brothers, the community, boosters, students, stand up and speak and fight any attempt to erase this program. I ask the administration to communicate with us. Involve us in the process, let us help, we want to fight with you not against you.

Respectfully,

Jarrod Klein

Class of 2000

GO JACKS!!!!!

Saturday, September 23, 2017
Future of Jacks ball in doubt

It’s Saturday night at the Redwood Bowl. The fog and mist comes over the trees, suddenly 7,000 screaming fans echo off the trees like owls in the night. Daunting to any opposing team, especially when the chainsaws roar as Humboldt State scores.

In the midst of a historic season, this could all be gone as of Nov. 1, when Humboldt State administration will decide on the fate of HSU Football as they continue to handle the school’s intercollegiate athletics program and its financial deficit.

“We’re not just looking for pledges for the first year, we also hope to get pledges for the next five years,” said Athletic Director Duncan Robbins. “We don’t want to just save football for a year, we want to plan for the future as well.”

Robbins and the Office of Advancement are working together with alumni and community volunteers to raise the needed initial funds and future pledges by the November deadline. The suggested number being around $500,000 before the deadline.

“We know what we need to raise to remove the red ink from our budget,” said Robbins, “so we have a definitive target from what we need from HSU’s campus and community members on saving the program.”

The goal is to save the program with options of cutting or putting the team on a two year hiatus.

As a program that has gained national recognition from the New York Times and Sports Illustrated, there’s a noticeable crazed fan base in this community. With that comes the emotion and outrage of potentially not having a football team at Humboldt State. Former players like Taylor Mitchell want President Rossbacher to know they won’t let the program go silently.

“The program means everything to me, the opportunity to play out my dream of playing college football,” said Mitchell. “It’s the heart of the community.”

There’s a sentiment from a few players on this year’s current team that Rossbacher and Robbins aren’t doing everything in their power to keep football at HSU.

“Lisa Rossbacher and Duncan Robbins, if they wanted to fix it, they could,” said senior lineman Jarred Layel. “They’re trying to kill the program.”

Head Coach Rob Smith’s not just coaching a group of football players, but a group of young men that are growing and developing everyday as Jacks, something that goes beyond the field.

“Frustrated, disappointed, a touch of anger at the work these kids are putting in on a daily basis,” said Smith.

Coach Smith believes there’s value in college sports, the value it brings to the community, to the students on campus. If it wasn’t for the school’s athletics program. Getting the community of Humboldt County onto the campus would be difficult.

“There’s value to community, our players and our student body,” said Smith. “There’s entertainment value.”

You go to the games, you see kids asking for players autographs. That’s when you know the impact has been made. This football program doesn’t belong the current AD, president or coach. It belongs to Humboldt County. It was here before them and the hope is it will be here when they are gone.

“What other program on campus brings in 7,000 people from the community on to this campus,” said Smith. “This community appreciated us.”

Going from playing and hosting a Division II playoff game in 2015 (the first time since 1968) to getting its program cut sounds like a cruel and unusual punishment. It’s a realization that all the success in the world can’t save the team from what looks like insurmountable debt.

“The deficit isn’t of our doing,” said Smith. “It has to do with enrollment and what I believe is a flawed funding in the way athletics is funded at HSU.”

There’s an understanding between athletic director Robbins, President Rossbacher and Head Coach Rob Smith that preserving what historically has been a rich tradition at HSU is a good thing for the community. HSU has lead the conference in attendance since coach Smith has been here.

Players will also have the option of transferring to another school without facing an eligibility penalty because HSU dropped the program.

“Our goal if the worse thing happens would be to place the players and coaches in the best situations possible.” said Robbins.

Robbins and Smith both have reiterated that the coaching staff and athletic department would work to help players find new schools if they want to keep playing.

“I think with a segment of the community that would be a huge loss,” said Robbins. “That’s why there’s so much passion to save the program.”

The community’ support for the team, alumni and boosters have a tall task in front of them to keep football in Humboldt.

“We’re have a specific plan for fundraising, we’re out making phone calls and kissing babies,” said Robbins.

Thursday, September 21, 2017