Football program kicked out of Division III for winning too much could land in Division I
By Dave Holcomb
Published:
St. Thomas has done a lot of winning in recent years — according to some, too much.
The MIAC kicked the powerhouse Minnesota football program out its conference, and on Friday, St. Thomas announced its intentions to join Division I Summit League. Normally, schools must first play in Division II, but St. Thomas could make the jump from Division III to I by 2021 with NCAA approval.
“I do feel like our case is pretty compelling,” St. Thomas athletic director Phil Esten said according to The Star Tribune. “We’re dealing with extenuating circumstances that as far as I know, this is the first time this specific situation has presented itself. I do think that St. Thomas is uniquely positioned to make the move. When you look at the state of Minnesota, we’re one of only five states in the country that has one Division I school.”
However, the Summit League does not have Division I football, so Esten and the school is exploring other options for football, including the Division I Pioneer League or the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The Summit League would become the school’s home for its other sports teams.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
