January 30, 2009
MORE CHANGES FOR SLIAC FOOTBALL IN 2009; PRINCIPIA SUSPENDING FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was informed by Principia College President, Dr. Jonathan Palmer, late last week that the institution would be suspending operation of its football program for the 2009 season with intentions of resuming as soon as the 2010 season.

“This was a difficult decision to make but is based on several factors, including the small size of the team, the amount of experience among team members, the level of competition on the current schedule, and our ability to prepare athletes and coaches to compete effectively,” Dr. Palmer said.  “This decision has nothing to do with program finances, but rather reflects a recognition that our current program does not produce or provide Principia with the level of participation and competition consistent with our goals for intercollegiate athletics.  The preponderance of evidence from multiple perspectives, shared with me by coaches, program participants, and alumni, supports this decision.”

 “Principia has recognized a need to re-organize its football program to ensure long term viability of the program.  With nearly a century of history and tradition, and the support of numerous alumni that specifically credit the program for being the men they are today, I am sure the decision to suspend the program for a year, knowing the potential hardships it faces to resurrect it in the future, could not have been easy,” SLIAC Commissioner William J. Wolper said.  “As their partner in intercollegiate athletics, the SLIAC membership understands this decision, wish them success during the reorganization and look forward to their rejoining the Conference’s football line-up in the near future.

“We are now focused on ensuring the young men that play football for SLIAC schools have the same opportunity as their classmates that compete in other sports within the Conference…the opportunity to compete for an AQ to the NCAA Tournament,” Wolper said.  “Our administrators are committed to doing whatever it takes to provide that opportunity to those student-athletes as soon as possible.”

The NCAA awards automatic bids to the national postseason tournaments to Conferences with at least seven schools sponsoring the sport.  Conferences must serve a two-year waiting period before it is eligible for the automatic bid.  The SLIAC was on pace for an automatic bid in football following the 2010 season.  Having lost two football teams this month, the SLIAC has fallen below the NCAA-required seven teams.  Once the Conference returns to seven football schools, it will be required to serve a two-year waiting period before receiving the automatic bid.

SLIAC football coaches are currently pursuing non-Conference opponents to fill the spots opened by Blackburn dropping and Principia suspending their football programs.  A new 2009 Conference schedule will be released sometime following a February 5, conference call with the coaches.