WFC Athletic Directors OK Reduction in Scholarships

Athletic directors from seven universities, including Cal State Northridge, agreed Friday in San Jose to reduce the number of scholarships for the new Western Football Conference, a Division I-AA cost-containment league.

Scholarship limits were reduced from the numbers agreed on last spring, according to Commissioner Vic Buccola. He would not reveal the new limit until it is approved by the presidents of each university. The presidents are expected to decide before Jan. 1.

In the spring, athletic directors called for limits of 20 full athletic scholarships and 38 partial scholarships.

The I-AA maximum is 65 full athletic scholarships.

Until a decision is reached, Northridge cannot complete its 1993 schedule, much to the consternation of Coach Bob Burt.

“I just want a home for our program,” he said. “Let’s get a league and let’s do it.”

Meeting with Northridge’s Bob Hiegert on Friday were athletic directors from Cal State Sacramento, Southern Utah, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Davis, St. Mary’s and Santa Clara.

Athletic directors from Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach and Northern Arizona attended in a fact-finding capacity.

Fullerton currently plays at the I-A level but its program has been plagued by financial problems. Similar problems drove Long Beach officials to drop football last November. Northern Arizona officials, whose team plays in the I-AA Big Sky Conference, are looking for a less costly conference.

Last spring, Northridge, Sacramento, Southern Utah and San Luis Obispo joined the I-AA WFC. The conference was formed because of an NCAA regulation that requires members to play at the same level in all sports, beginning in 1993.