Sports - Ski to Sea - Ski to Sea trainer

POSTED: Friday, May. 22, 2009

Downhill: WWU football boosters still fighting for return of canceled program

If determination in the face of long odds counts for anything, Ken Cox and his Western Football Valhalla teammates could be a factor in the Mixed Recreation Division of this year's Ski to Sea race.

As its name implies, this team and three other affiliated teams are using the race to promote their cause: saving the football program at Western Washington University. Besides Cox's team, there also is a women's open team called Western Football Valkyries, as well as two open division teams co-sponsored by Boss Construction.

University President Bruce Shepard announced the elimination of football in January 2009 as a cost-cutting measure, provoking howls of outrage from team boosters like Cox. But an effort to revive the program via the State Legislature went nowhere.

At this point, some people would be ready to punt. Not Cox. In fact, he won't even settle for a field goal. Even though most other college teams have wrapped up spring practice, Cox isn't ready to concede the coming fall football season - at least, not for the record.

"It would be tough but it would not be as hard as starting it up again four or five years from now," Cox said. "I recognize that this fall is so far out of reach that it's not at all likely."

With the Legislature adjourned and the university administration's mind made up, Cox and his allies decided to use the annual race as a way to keep their spirits up and their organization in place while they figure out what to do next.

"I saw a lot of football players and football alums who were getting downright depressed," Cox said. "We wanted to give them something fun to do."

Cox describes himself as an unemployed construction worker. He graduated from WWU in 1985 with a degree in economics. He often sounds bitter as he critiques the university's decision-making process, but he is quick to add that he and other football backers are ready to move beyond that.

"Being critical is not going to do us any good," Cox said. "We're going to agree to disagree, but we're going to be here for as long as it takes ... We're not going away."

Cox is a 10-year race veteran who will handle the downhill ski leg for his team. The football advocates also will be manning a booth in Fairhaven at the race's end.

Ski to Sea is a 90-mile, seven-leg relay race from the Mt. Baker Ski Area to Marine Park in Fairhaven.

"We're in this for the long haul," Cox said.

WESTERN FOOTBALL VALHALLA

Division: Recreational Mixed

Cross-country ski: Caren Crabtree-Grim

Downhill: Ken Cox

Run: Micki Hopkins

Road bike: Whitney Anderson

Canoe: Matt Cross and Melissa Cross

Mountain bike: Rick Hernandez

Kayak: Josh Thomson