Story by Alexah Guzman, Assistant Sport Editor
Photo Courtesy of Cypress College
Cypress College offers 13 athletic teams, including the number-one ranked team by the National Junior College Athletic Association, which finished the season with a 21-2-3 record. The Men’s Basketball team ranked 19th in the Orange Empire Conference and recently made the playoffs.
However, Cypress does not have a football team. The college once had a football program in the 1960s and early 1970s but was later cut due to being a two-college district that only needed one football program. Fullerton College continued to have a football team since they started their program before Cypress.
Athletic Director Wes McCurtis, shared his thoughts about Cypress creating a football team, “I love football, [and] I think it would add to the campus,” he continued by stating the benefits of a program would be increased school spirit, community engagement, and student connections.
However, McCurtis noted that maintaining a football team would require enough space to build a facility and have additional staff, more athletic training support, administrative support, and equipment. McCurtis emphasized that a football program could serve as a feature of campus life including a potential homecoming tradition.
Community colleges have limited funding. Cypress College prioritizes other athletic programs that have more student interest, cost less, and are easier to maintain. The college currently has successful teams in sports like baseball, basketball, and soccer, which require fewer resources than a football team.
Student enrollment is also a key part of determining what kind of programs align with student interests and are worth investing in, “Adding new programs […] shows our commitment to evolving with the needs and interests of our student body,” said McCurtis.
One sport that has been taking off in high schools and other community college athletic programs is flag football.
McCurtis would like to start a women’s flag football team next spring, “We have a strong tradition of excellence in our athletic programs, and we want to continue providing our students with the best opportunities for growth.”
As Cypress College continues to improve its athletic future, McCurtis and other administrators are focused on creating opportunities to enhance student life while staying aligned with the college’s resources in long-term goals.
