The State - News from June 19, 1989

Football would be dropped at Oakland public high schools--along with baseball, soccer, tennis, swimming and golf--under a cost-cutting proposal forwarded by the district athletic director. Oakland Athletic League Director Lou Jones said he made the proposal reluctantly after being asked to slash 10% from the school district’s sports budget. The district is struggling to avert a $12-million deficit projected in next year’s budget. Jones said the sports selected for proposed elimination--the district board will make the final decision--do not compete at the state championship level under sponsorship of the Interscholastic Federation. Under the proposal, basketball, track, volleyball and wrestling would be retained because they compete at the state level. Jones’ proposal was termed “ludicrous” by education board member Kathleen Crawford. “I can’t imagine us cutting football and I’m sure that, although there will probably be some cuts in sports, they won’t be anywhere near that dramatic.”