A unique member of the college football universe is calling it quits.
Simon Fraser—the only Canadian school in the NCAA—is dropping football, according to a Tuesday morning statement from the university. The Red Leafs had played football in Division II since 2010—first in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and then in the Lone Star Conference in ’22.
"With the recent announcement that the team has not been invited to continue in the Lone Star Conference, we do not have a conference to play in beginning in 2024. The ongoing uncertainty creates an unacceptable experience for students," university president Joy Johnson said in the statement. "The university has carefully considered all available options and as a leadership team we concluded that football is no longer a feasible sport for SFU."
The university is located in Burnaby, British Columbia, in the Vancouver metropolitan area. Its enrollment of over 30,000 undergraduates made it the largest football-playing school in Division II at the time of the program's demise. Notable alumni include runner and Canadian national icon Terry Fox and Margaret Trudeau, wife and mother of prime ministers Pierre and Justin.
Simon Fraser will remain active in Division II in the 18 other sports in which it participates, according to Tuesday’s statement.
Before moving to Division II, the Red Leafs played American football in the NAIA from 1965 to 2001 and Canadian football in Canadian Interuniversity Sport from ’02 to ’09.
