by David Sutton
Sports Editor
Pomona-Pitzer has decided to withdraw its football program from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) in 1996.
In order to withdraw, Pomona has to maintain a certain number of sports in the SCIAC and meet all the bylaws of the conference. The two-year waiting period to withdraw was waived by SCIAC officials, allowing Pomona to withdraw in 1996.
Pomona-Pitzer Athletic Director Curtis Tong said, “We would like to have our players get a meaningful experience playing the game. We have had a long history of unpleasant experiences in the conference.”
Tong feels that competing with programs that are more parallel to theirs will allow players to get a meaningful experience and cut down on injuries.
“It is hard to play against teams with 80 or 90 guys towards the end of the year when we only have 25 to 30,“ said Tong.
He feels that the demanding admissions process to get into Pomona and Pitzer Colleges limits the amount of football players that come out for the team. “We get more people who like to play football then we get football players,” said Tong.
University of La Verne Head Football Coach Don Morel said, “I’m extremely disappointed. They compete in all other sports except football.”
With Pomona leaving the SCIAC, many of the schools will have to find other teams to compete against. This could be very costly to many programs because teams may have to travel. “It is a shame that the decision will cost us up to $25,000 for traveling,” said Morel.
The cost of the decision can be very high. Depending on how far the team travels, it can cost up to $15,000. Many of the trips will be by airplane.
Pomona will still compete against some of the SCIAC schools in the future. “We had a good relationship with the SCIAC,” said Tong. He added that he would like to keep that relationship.
“We really didn’t want to do this,” said Tong. He admits that there is a possibility that this may not work out, but he remains hopeful.
The protection of the team, both physically and mentally, is what he feels will be the rewards of the decision.
The 50-year rivalry between Pomona-Pitzer and La Verne appears to be over. According to Morel, Pomona will not play La Verne after they leave the conference.
With Pomona-Pitzer’s exit, there is now a possibility that another football team may join the conference.
Currently, Chapman College is trying to get accepted into the conference. According to Grayle Howlett, SCIAC sports information director, the process can take a long time. Howlett said, “I do not see it happening in the 1995-96 season.”
