Cheyney University finally fumbles its football program

THORNBURY, Pennsylvania -- It’s been the subject of speculation and rumor for years, but it’s now official: Cheyney University is dropping football due to worsening financial constraints.

Head coach Chris Roulhac confirmed that Wednesday evening after meeting with Cheyney President Aaron Walton, the coaching staff and players.

“We were invited to a meeting with the president on Wednesday and told that due to budgetary restraints, the football program was being discontinued,” said Roulhac, who returned for his second stint as head coach at CU in 2015. “It’s been a very sad last 24 hours, but there is really nothing we can do about it. You hear rumors, but we always held out hope that the program could be saved.”

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference sent out a release Thursday about the move. Calls to the Walton’s office and Cheyney’s interim Athletic Director Sue Kilian were not returned. Nothing about the move was mentioned on the school’s main website or athletic website as of Thursday evening.

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PSAC STATEMENT ON CHEYNEY FOOTBALL

LOCK HAVEN, Pennsylvania --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is aware of Cheyney University’s announcement of dropping football from its sports sponsorship menu.

We have been in contact with Cheyney University President Aaron Walton as he and his staff deliberated potential actions. The communications between the Conference and President Walton have been objective and forthright on both sides.

These are very difficult times financially for many institutions of higher education in the country and the Commonwealth. Cheyney’s decision is a result of that.

The Conference Office will work with its member institutions to find potential opponents in the 10 now open dates in mandated league schedules.