Value of the Program

• WWU has a rich tradition, and has been playing football since 1903. 
• Statistics bear out that WWU football program is ahead of the pack in terms of graduating players. WWU has graduated 83% of student athletes while University of Oklahoma and University of Florida football programs have graduated 46% and 68% respectively. 
• Currently 96 students play football at WWU.  Scholarship athletes and will be allow to keep there scholarship — which the university is obligated to do.
• Make no mistake that this will have a tangible impact on our region. WWU is one of, if not the, leading producers of teachers and coaches in the northwest. To remove this program will be to eliminate a large percentage of young male leaders in the classroom and the athletic programs in our schools. In a country already thirsty for male role models to impact our young people, this economically short-sighted decision could NOT have come at a more inopportune time.
• WWU decision is contrary to national trend. Since 2000, 27 Schools have added programs — 8, now including WWU, have dropped the sport
• Currently 96 student play football at WWU. The represents 24.7% of the total number of student-athletes at Western, the remaining ones which be able to experience, "excellence [in] all University intercollegiate sports."

Student Diversity

• Eliminating the football program will cut 61% of the minority student-athletes in the WWU athletic department. The footall program had 40 minority participants.
• All of the minority coaches paid by the university were in the football program, including the Head Coach, who is half Cherokee Indian. The remaining minority coach, in basketball, is paid for by the NCAA.
• As a result of the loss of this program, 14% of Western's overall African-American population will be cut.
• President Bruce Shepard has admitted in subsequent communications that the University will likely have to fund a special program or programs to encourage, entice or recruit minority students to the campus to replace the students due to the cancellation of its football program.

Title IX Implications

• The loss of nearly 100 student-athletes in the football program will have effects on opportunities for women in athletics. At least 31 roster spots will have to be cut across one or several women's programs.

What We Are Doing

• We have formed a community on www.savewwufootball.com. We have over 525 members, and with our large donor matching funds, over $1 million dollars in pledges.
• In order to show there is a will behind our want, we are taking pledges in the form of promises through our web site. Pledges will not be collected until the University rescinds their decision.
• Records show that the high water mark for donations and fundraising for football were $84,000 for a single year. In one day, we have collected pledges for the Operations and Endowment of the program for a combined total of over $250,000.
• People who wish to donate – any amount is appreciated, and you can note that you can stretch your donation out over five years – can do so on our web site, or by contacting our site administrator through the web site.
• We are raising awareness of how the actions of the University could impact everyone. There are diversity and Title IX issues. There is the perceived Overall Value of the University. There is an economic impact both to the University, the town, and the region.
• We want students to understand that if this can happen to one program, such a decision could happen to their own program, area of interest, or study. There was no discussion publicly about this action due to ‘confidentiality concerns’. We don’t know what that is or what issues they are describing, but clearly this was not done in a transparent manner. We are seeking the support of other programs, clubs and activities at Western and throughout the region, and pledge to offer ours in return should the need ever arise.