Central Washington athletics officials have issued a reaffirmation of the school’s commitment to football in the wake of the announcement that fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference member Western Washington is discontinuing the sport.

“We are fully committed to our sponsorship of football as a Division II program,” said Central Washington Athletics Director Jack Bishop. “We will continue to offer the opportunity for student-athletes to come to Central to get a quality education and to compete in football at the highest level possible.”

The Wildcats will remain in the GNAC, which previously operated successfully as a four-team football conference from 2001 to 2005. Teams in the GNAC are Central Washington, Western Oregon, Dixie State and Humboldt State.

“While the cancellation of the program at Western Washington leaves a significant two-game void in our pending 2009 schedule, I have confidence in the program at Central Washington and in the GNAC,” said Central Washington President James Gaudino. “I look forward to another winning season for the Wildcats and look forward to being a part of the excitement next season.”

The cancellation of football at Western Washington also means the discontinuation of the annual “Battle in Seattle,” the event that pitted the two rivals at Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks. Since its inception in 2003, the Battle grew in popularity each year among alumni and fans. Central Washington won the last four meetings.

The Central Washington football team has won more than 65 percent of its games (71-38) since becoming a member of NCAA Division II in 1999. Of the eight universities in Washington that sponsor football, Central has the second-highest winning percentage during that span. The program has qualified for the Division II playoffs each of the past two years.

– Courtesy Central Washington Sports Information Director Jonathan Gordon