CFL commissioner Ambrosie asks for SFU football program to continue in Canada

CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie is petitioning for Simon Fraser University's football program to be allowed to continue in Canada.

On Thursday, Simon Fraser president Joy Johnston announced the school was discontinuing its football program effective immediately because it had nowhere to play following this year.

But in a letter Saturday, Ambrosie reached out to U Sports CEO Pierre Arsenault and Canada West managing director Rocky Olfert to allow Simon Fraser to continue playing football within Canada. The letter was also directed to all Canadian university athletic directors and football head coaches.

"I am writing to seek your support for facilitating the continuation of that program by allowing it to return to Canada West and U Sports competition," Ambrosie wrote. "Of course, it is well understood that the discontinuation of the Simon Fraser football program impacts student-athletes, coaches, staff, volunteers, fans, and others within the university community who have put so much effort and passion into that program.

"However, the decision also affects Canadian football as a whole, including the Canadian Football League. Our game and our league have been through challenging times, yet we stand at the precipice of a new era — the beginning of a new beginning."

What's more, there's talk Football Canada will also be issuing a letter regarding the SFU situation on Tuesday.

The Red Leafs moved to the Lone Star Conference in 2022. The team posted a 1-9 record last year but in March appeared poised to hit the field in 2023 with the promotion of Eric Taylor to offensive coordinator and hiring Samuel Richard as its special-teams coordinator.

Simon Fraser's varsity teams have been competing against NCAA Division II schools south