George Bailey and the Demise of Hofstra Football

By Paul Gotham

At one point in Frank Capra’s Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) encounters a dilemma. Prepared to “travel the world,” the youthful Bailey faces the prospect of his late father’s death causing the family’s building and loan to close. As the bank’s executive board decides on its viability, the movie’s main character warns: “this town needs this measly one-horse institution.” Bailey peered into the future and saw the possibility of his hometown run over by the evil Mr. Potter – a shrewd businessman looking for personal gain rather than the overall good of the community.

As the story goes, Bailey does not travel the world. Instead, he remained in Bedford Falls and ran the Bailey Building and Loan. Bailey’s sacrifice gave the townspeople a chance as he quipped: “to live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath.”

Leaders of college football could glean wisdom from Bailey’s experiences.

Earlier this week, Hofstra University announced they will terminate their 72-year old football program.  This decision comes on the heels of a similar move by Northeastern University that called an end to its football team after 74 seasons. Incapable of generating the excessive funds deemed worthy of a college football program, these “one-horse institutions”  could not survive.

Unfortunately, this news will register nothing more than a tiny blip on the radar screen of big-time college football. Hofstra and Northeastern, members of the Colonial Athletic Association, competed in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) – a far cry from the the six major conferences which generate the cash flow needed to support the BCS.

On the surface, 168 (84 players from each school) college football positions will go by the wayside. A tiny trickle-down effect will occur as these players seek spots at other schools. Each year this number will multiply as fewer and fewer student-athletes get an opportunity to play college football.

Speaking on the topic, Massachusetts Athletic Director, John McCutcheon, called the budget issues of late “a perfect storm of reduction.”

Could we see more reductions?

Beyond those raw numbers, how does one go about measuring opportunities lost? 20 current and former NFL players honed their skills on campus in Hempstead, New York.  In volume, that number fails in comparison to the total graduated to ‘Sunday games’ by the likes of Oklahoma, Ohio State, and USC – to name a few.

But consider that Marques Colston, the current leading receiver for the undefeated New Orleans Saints, and former New York Jet, Wayne Chrebet,   spent their college careers on the gridiron at Hofstra. Would these two players have found a place to play in college if not for the Hofstra Pride?

A similar case can be made for Northeastern which has sent 13 players to the NFL. Sean Jones and Keith Willis combined for 172 sacks in the NFL. Both played college ball at Northeastern.

As big-time college football becomes increasingly exclusive, the question of motivation arises. Are decisions made for the better of the game? Or are a few schools benefiting at the expense of the game?

Football needs “one-horse institutions” like Hofstra and Northeastern if for no other reason than to have a place for players to learn the game – players like Marques Colston, Wayne Chrebet, Sean Jones, and Keith Willis.

Ultimately, George Bailey looked out for the good of all. Can the same be said for college football?