| Dark clouds and continuous rain did not deter an angry group protesting the elimination of SJSU's cross-country,
track and field. wrestling, and field-hockey teams Monday. |
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| Wrestling coach Kevin Hejnal organized the 3 p.m. rally to generate support for the minor sports with the goal
of getting them reinstated. |
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| "I'm not going to walk away and watch the (wrestling) program die," said Hejnal, speaking from the steps
of Tower Hall. |
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| The Athletics Board, led by Director Randy Hoffman, made a recommendation to cancel the sports due to lack of funding,
which SJSU President Gail Fullerton accepted on Thursday. |
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| Speaking to a crowd of approximately 100, Hejnal demanded in-person response from Hoffman and Fullerton. |
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| "Meet me!" demanded Hejnal of Fullerton. "Meet me face to face in a debate!" |
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| "(Minor programs) haven't been shown any honesty or integrity by Fullerton or Hoffman," said the wrestling
coach. "Please be up front with us--don't lie to me." |
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| Shouts of "Cowards!" "Screw them!" and "They're gutless!" could be heard throughout
the demonstration. |
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| Hejnal stressed that the issue was one of caring and of people. |
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| "If you don't believe in people, don't be athletics director; don't be president of the university. You're
not just cutting programs, you're cutting hopes and dreams of people," Hejnal said. |
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| Marshall Clark, SJSU's track coach, agreed with Hejnal that student support is necessary to reinstate the sports. |
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| "I don't think we can run through the streets and get this done. It's going to have to come from here and
the community," said Clark. |
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| Participants in the rally included athletes, SJSU students, high schoolers and parents. |
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| "I'm here to help support all the athletes, even though football didn't cut cut," said quarterback Ken
Lutz. "It's up to us to take some responsibility." |
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| Lutz said he doesn't think the other sports were cut to benefit the football team. |
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| "I don't think it's because of us," he said. "If there are people looking for a scapegoat, they
should point fingers at the administration." |
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| The reasons given by the administration for eliminating the sports are not valid, Lutz said. |
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| "I don't think it's fair to hire others. Why hire and academic monitor if there is no one to advise? I'd rather
take a cut from football for the full-time strength coach, but they should do that to all the teams that need one,"
Lutz said. |
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| Civil engineering major Mike Waara said he thought the move was intended to boost the football program. |
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| "It's a shame to take money away from them just to give football more," he said. |
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| Eric Nelson, a member of the baseball team, said he was there to support his friends on the minor teams. |
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| "I feel guilty that they're cutting other sports for ours. I think the school should have given them at least
a year's notice," he said. |
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| Hejnal claims Fullerton's cancellation of the wrestling program is the result of a "grudge" against a
former wrestling coach. |
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| "Are you telling me that she can cut athletic and academic careers because of a grudge?" asked Hejnal. |
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| Many present at the rally vowed to leave SJSU if the programs were not reinstated. |
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| "We're not very happy, especially with the timing--the fact that the announcement was so late," said
Gilbert Neito. "(Robert) is going to have to go somewhere else. He's been wrestling for eight years." |
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| The track coach said he wants to go to a program "where this doesn't happen to kids," he said. "if
it continues to go the way it is now, i feel sorry for SJSU." |
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| The university has suggested various options for the displaced student-athletes. They can receive a grant equal
to their current scholarship, choose to participate in another intercollegiate sport, or seek assistance in pursuing
education with another college. |
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| "We can't get to another school," said John Martin of the track team. "It's too late for next fall.
Even if it's reinstated i'm not coming back." |
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| Hejnal claims the administration has abandoned the athletes of minor sports. |
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| "A Stanford wrestling coach offered to donate $3,000 to the SJSU wrestling program--i couldn't believe it,"
said Hejnal. "Does Stanford care more about San Jose athletics than SJSU?" |
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| "I don't believe the decision is final," said Hejnal. "They tried this two years ago and wrestling
was reinstated with minimal pressure (from the public.) If you cut this, you're cutting tradition." |
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| However, not all members of the crowd were against SJSU's president and athletic director. |
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| "I have no idea what this rally (will achieve.)" said 1959 alumnus Bob Foy. "If tradition was so
strong with these sports, why is there no attendance? I love this school and will continue to contribute money
to it. I support Dr. Fullerton and Randy Hoffman's decision," said Foy. |
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