Canadian University Football Down South

Despite a marvellous 5-2 record atop the Canada West Universities Athletic Association division of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the Simon Fraser University Clan will likely be playing National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II by the 2010-11 season, going down south after coming up from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II in 1997. While the ability to offer full ride athletic scholarships is key, something one can not do in Canada after several years of denial, its athletic director David Murphy believes it goes back to their traditions. Likely joining former opponents in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Clan may be going back to old traditions, but will lose out on our Canadian identity, especially if others follow suit, which I believe will likely be the case. The CIS should allow for the full ride for athletic scholarship like the NCAA, now that it has brought in athletic eligibility restrictions, you can not expect to act like the Americans in one area, then pretend to still be Canadian in another, either wear the Maple Leaf with pride or make academically based athletics open season for all.