Mendocino College has decided to end its football program, according to college President Arturo Reyes.

In a letter to the Ukiah Daily Journal in today’s edition, Reyes explains that after lengthy in-house discussions and a review of the program, college authorities came to the conclusion that the program not only costs the college money, but that the football players themselves were not getting a positive outcome either.

“The early data show that over the past several years the program has attracted fewer students overall and out-of-state students have come to compose a greater proportion of the team. The data also show that students who participate in football are succeeding at a lower rate than most students,” Reyes writes. He adds that fewer than usual football players finish their degrees as well.

Reyes says also a disproportionate number of football players are using student loans to get through school. Add to that the housing problems that have been the center of local controversy, and the program is a deficit for both students and the college.

Reyes says the football program brings in $256,000 and costs $275,305, not including the cost of the Athletic Director, and department assistants, counseling services, financial aid services, and all the other costs the come with any student. In short, the college loses $19,000 a year on the football program,.

“While this may seem like a significant amount, it would be well worth the cost incurred if we were able to see students achieving consistent academic success,” Reyes writes.

The evaluation of the football program actually began three years ago, Reyes told the Daily Journal.

“Over the last three and a half years we have been concerned about the academic success of the students who participate in the football program,” Reyes said. “For the past three years we have been monitoring academic achievement patterns for these student athletes. Our initial review three years ago informed our decision to hire a new coach and to layout higher expectations for the program in all areas. Our review also moved the college to target student support services to many of the football student-athletes.”

The football program found itself in the spotlight last year when a large group of college football players moved into a former old age home on Ukiah’s west side. Reports of noise, partying, overflowing garbage finally ended in the eviction of all the 30-odd players, who were packed into a space made for no more than 24, where even hot water was unavailable for some of the time. Some players left the program, others moved to other short-term rentals, but 20 of the players were taken in by a local church and community service groups and others helped with supplies. Again, however, problems arose from the make-shift dormitory where the large group was disruptive. Most the athletes were evicted again, and found housing in smaller groups with community members, which seemed to work on a short term basis. By year’s end, however, all the athletes were on notice that they would have to find other housing for the new year and many of them left the program, some to invitations from other community colleges, and a few to four-year colleges.

Under state college rules, no college can provide housing or other benefits to one group of students that it does not offer to all students, Reyes points out. The college has no housing program for any of its students. The football players did get a kind of help from former coaches who made arrangements at local motels for football players and last year, arranged for the rental of the old age home.

(The college will host a board workshop to which the public is invited Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the college board room for a discussion of student housing for Mendocino College.)

In the next few days, Reyes, says, the college Program Advisory Team will pass its recommendation to end the football program to the college’s Educational Action Plan committee.

“The EAP will review the recommendation, consider input from their members, perform their due diligence, and forward a recommendation to the college planning and budgeting committee. The PBC will review the recommendation, consider the broader college interests, and make a recommendation to the Superintendent. In the end, the board may have an opportunity to weigh in on this matter,” Reyes said. “The entire process could take up to one academic year depending on the amount of data considered and the impact that a change to the program would have on the entire institution. In this case, I believe the final decision to make any change to the football program will be made by March or April.”

If the consensus is to end football at Mendocino College, Reyes said, then the college will proceed to try to find other schools for football players to go to, or, if they want to stay, help them with their academics.