A group of Maricopa Community College students has filed a lawsuit in federal court in response the elimination of the Junior College Football program. 

Phillip A. Austin is an attorney representing 11 African American community college students suing members of the district’s governing board.

Austin says the decision to eliminate the football programs jeopardizes their future.

“They were student athletes," Austin said, "and football was a way that they sought to increase their education and their professional and educational development.”

Austin says the decision to eliminate the football programs means his clients will go without scholarships, "Which virtually for all of them means that they can’t afford college and will either require them to transfer or drop out of school.”

Austin said he has reviewed emails leading him to believe the decision to remove JUCO was based partly on race.

The lawsuit filed in federal court seeks to have the JUCO program reinstated. The community college district said it has not yet been served.

EDITOR'S NOTE: KJZZ is licensed by the Maricopa County Community College District.