On Saturday, Hamline defeated Macalester’s football team 40-0. It was Hamline’s second win of the season.

Wait...before I continue with a bullshit article about how we played well in the losing effort (which I seem to write every week), allow me to use this space more creatively and provide my two cents worth on the plight of our football program. Think about that: 40-0. That sounds like a tennis score.

I know I am going to be accused of beating the proverbial dead horse, but I think that, yet again, the dissolution of our football team is an issue that needs to be addressed. The students, staff, alumni and administration reached a compromise less than two years ago that led to us graciously bowing out of the MIAC after being pounded by the opposition for yet another year. As a result, last season we played a bunch of schools facing the same predicament as us, went 5-5 and topped off the season with a victory over Carleton. This year we got off to a decent start. A narrow loss. A win. And now we’re back to what always made our football team so famous: losing. Badly.

There is only one good reason for dissolving our football program—money. However, it is a very important reason. At a time when a number of academic departments are in dire struggles for their survival, should we still be spending so much money on football uniforms, coaching staff and maintenance? Football is, after all, an expensive sport. Alumni do donate money for the express purpose of sponsoring our football team, but could those same funds not be better utilized buying books or periodical subscriptions for the library, funding research or hiring faculty?

It is true that every year a number of dedicated students put a great deal of time and effort attempting to become better football players. Unfortunately, that number is consistently negligible. Currently, our roster boasts a grand total of 29 players. Some are forced to play three different positions. Our backup quarterback is also a wide receiver and a defensive end.

Take a look at our starting line-up against Hamline—two players feature on both our offensive and defensive lines. Hamline brought on 30 more players during the game; we brought on four. Our players face a dangerously high risk of injury.

If someone really wanted to play in a great, competitive football team in college, would they really come to Macalester in the first place? Face it, football is not a facet of Macalester that appeals to most prospective first-years, even those who do play high school football.

It is possible that this year our team is just hitting a bad patch and the future will be more promising. We do have a young team with nine first-years and only eight seniors. But the class of 2005 had seven players on the football team two years ago and the current roster boasts only one junior. I, for one, do not foresee a particularly bright future.

I realize that members of our team love playing football and that it is an essential part of their college experience. But there’s always the possibility of starting a club team, or playing at the intramural level. Perhaps if we had a club team, more Macalester students would participate.