Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1977)
Football awaits board's decision Football at Clackamas Community Col lege is an issue waiting for the school board's final judgment. The controversy over organized athletics -- especially football -- began last year with a proposal to build "permanent spectator seat ing" on campus. This proposal was made prior to the bud get elections and was questioned because of the lack of large attendance at athletic events taking place on campus. "It (the controversy) evolved throughout the year," said Howard Fryett, assistant to the president of CCC. "Internally, externally and in the press it was a concern with some people and so the board felt that it might be a good thing to study and analyze." By Happie Thacker Of The Print The controversy came to a head at the June 8 board meeting when Dr. John Hakan- son, president of CCC, recommended that the board drop the football program at the end of the 1977-78 season. Chuck Hudson, director of athletics,point ed out that the college already had made commitments to students and staff who were expecting to play football at CCC. Hudson felt that abrupt termination of the program would have a negative impact on the college. Roger Rook, a CCC board member, was against continuing football because he had the impression that neither the community nor the college was ready for or interested in football. He said that he knew that the com munity felt very strongly against the program, and he had the impression that the student body was not supportive. Ralph Groener, another CCC board memb- ber, said that if the football program was a rallying point of negative voters as far as the Aug. 9 budget election was concerned, that he would have no choice but to vote to terminate it. He was also concerned about out-of-state recruiting and tuition scholar ships in football. At the July 13 board meeting the subject was again broached with Len Monroe, dean Df student services, speaking in favor of the program and asking that if the board voted to doscontinue football they do it immediate- y instead of waiting until the end of the 977-78 season, as had been originally pro- aosed. Monroe spoke in defense of the football orogram stating that he disagreed with Hak- anson's philosophy about the desirability of of having a competitive football program at CCC. He also felt that football was not much of a factor in the coming budget election but that the public is misinformed and unin formed on the subject. Monroe also referred to the potential loss of reimbursible funds should the board dis continue football. He said that each football player represents about $1,100 of budgetary supportfromstate reimbursement and tuition. According to Monroe the college would lose all out-of-district football players, most in-district players and the friends of these players if the program is dropped. Monroe said that he felt that college staff had not supported football, and that this negative attitude had done much to "create a monster" from the public's point of view, where none exists. Hudson agreed that the football program should be dropped immediately if it were going to be dropped at all because of low team morale resulting from the knowledge that this would be the last season. CCC board member Anne Nickel remarked that the comments she had heard in the com munity led her to believe that the objections were against the total athletic program, not merely football. She also said that for those students planning to transfer to four-year institutions and planning to become football coaches, CCC's football program is a curri culum offering, not merely a sport. Larry Wright, CCC board member, said that he felt football was not meeting local needs in that there are few local athletes tak ing part. The only way any athletics should be "sold" to the district is as a legitimate cu rriculum primarily for Clackamas County students, he said. Groener agreed, suggesting that football be retained, with emphasis made on local recruiting and being sure that everyone gets a chance to participate, no matter how many games are won or lost. Groener then proposed the formation of a Blue Ribbon Citizens' Committee to study the entire athletic program at the college and report back to the board with recommenda tions. Rook ended the discussion by saying that he would continue to be consistent in voting against retention of football at Clackamas because he thinks it is a recurring irritant to the voters. As a competitor, and a sports fan, he enjoys football, but thinks it will continue to be a problem with local voters in the dis trict he was elected to represent. The board then agreed to elect Groener's citizens' committee to study the prolfl The committee would be a balail presentation of attitudes towa^H athletics and a balanced represent® of age, sex and occupations. Board me® faculty and staff would not be allofl serve on the committee in othlthfl visory positions. The purpose of the committee will® study "all aspects of the existingcollefl letic program, its benefits to the ci® the college district, students and neffl to compare the program with that ofl community colleges and to makeffl mendations to the board about thef® CCC athletic programs," accordingj® board agenda. Fryett has been appointed liaisonbe® the college and the committee, I "My position," he said, "is to ma® that the committee meets and function® that it addresses the problem. I also® that the results are placed on paper™ board." However, Fryett declined to comme® the future of the football program® "It's really my opinion that myo® about athletics should not be reflect® said. As far as the recommendationsofthefl that the emphasis be on recrui^H players, there are only seven out of (II■ ers on the 1977-78 roster from the CM trict. Hakanson said that the mostIB players are recruited by the places® most to offer, with CCC among thosfl bottom of the desirability list. I "This is not to say that ClackaiH® second-rate football team," he said, "■ I'm saying is that if you're going toll football, you have to expect a sizableoutl district contingent on the team." I "It's virtually impossible to recruitfl 70 football players in our district. The® just not that many football players in| district," Hakanson said. "I feel certain that our coaches recfl the best they can of what's left (afterll major schools take their pick),'' he said, 1 if they have to go out-of-district." I The first meeting of the Citizens'Athl Study Committee was held Sept. 28, U meetings will be held on a weekly basis« those who are interested in attending. I The committee hopes to have final reco mendations before the board at the Jam» board meeting. Football team experiences new outlook The Clackamas Community College foot ball team begins the 1977 season with fresh optimism. For the first time in its brief his tory there is a new outlook surrounding the football program. Miller and Lucky Richardson; quarterback Rex Schade; defensive tackle Dan Clark; wide receiver Steve Humphrey, and defen sive backs Tom Connell, Steve Maynard, and all-American candidate, Mark Leroy. The first new look is the Cougars' new head coach, Gery Gehrmann. Among the freshman who should stand out for the Cougars are AAA Shrine game stars Don Fox and Marty Pinz at linebacker, running back Dan Hatcher, who Gehrmann figures to break the school rushing record, and wide receiver Kevin Scheehean. Gehrmann, whose 20 years in football include experience from high school to the Portland Storm, brings to the Cougars a new type of offensive strategy based on the quickness of this year's squad. Another new look will be the fact that for the first time, the squad will be play ing its home games at the college. Clackamas returns 14 lettermen; includ ing four starters on offense and five on defense, from last year's 5-5 squad. Leading returnees are running backs Don Page 10 Scheehean "is a credit to the game he plays because not only is he a great athlete but he is also a great person," said Gher- mann. Scheehean, while High School, was a He was co-captain in to being voted to the ball team. he was at Gladstone three-sport lettermen. basketball in addition state AA all-star foot Yet, despite the apparent optimism,th remains several questions still to be answ ed. A lack of depth in the offensive and! fensive lines and a large group of freshna combined with a new head coach, prea] problems which may make Gehrmann's I itial campaign a difficult one. "The school's problems hurt us in thaj we were n’t able to recruit as would I'M like to, and as a result we lost 10 good» players who might have otherwise comet Clackamas, most of which were linemen Gehrmann said. "Yet despite all this, we're still going have a highly competitive team that could win a good share of its games. Itall depena on how consistent a brand of football w play during each game. I guess we'll justhaw to wait and see," he.said. Clackamas Community Colle#