In what I would call a surprise move Western Washington University killed it's football program today. The reason they gave was increased costs and the inability to schedule opponents close to home.
I guess dropping down to the same level as Pacific Lutheran and other Northwest schools was never considered an option since they wanted to remain a Division II member rather than slide down to Division III.
I think it was stupid on their part since Division III football in Washington state is alive an healthy. If it is a matter of cutting scholarships and going with grants in aid that was probably the best way to go to maintain the tradition that Western has had over the past 100 years.
The decision will put a lot of pressure on Central Washington to keep their program going. They have a strong program over there with an eye of joining Eastern Washington in the Big Sky some day.
This decision will force them one direction or another.
A couple years ago we all wondered why former Husky Rob Smith would quit with the program on the upswing and now we have our answer. He had to know it was headed in this direction.
Football began at Western in 1903 with the only stoppages being four years during World War I from 1917 to 1920 and three years during World War II from 1943 to 1945.
This is a sad day for football in Washington.