The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced Wednesday that it is booting the University of St. Thomas because it wins too much.
In the name of athletic parity, the conference said the NCAA Division III school will be “involuntarily removed” in two years by the conference they helped found nearly a century ago, The Associated Press reported.
“After extensive membership discussions, the University of St. Thomas will be involuntarily removed from membership in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,” the conference said in a statement.
“The MIAC Presidents’ Council cites athletic competitive parity in the conference as a primary concern. St. Thomas will begin a multi-year transition immediately and meanwhile is eligible to compete as a full member of the MIAC through the end of spring 2021,” the statement added.
University President Julie Sullivan called MIAC’s decision “extremely disappointing.”
“St. Thomas expended tremendous effort to remain in the MIAC and stabilize the conference,” Ms. Sullivan said in a statement. “However, the presidents came to a consensus that the conference itself would cease to exist in its current form if St. Thomas remained.”
“Although our athletic conference will change, one thing will not: our commitment to continued academic and athletic excellence,” she added.
The Tommies have won 12 consecutive MIAC all-sports trophies on both the men’s and women’s side, AP reported.
In 2017, its football team shut out four of its conference foes by a combined score of 265-0, including a 97-0 win over St. Olaf.
The school could try to join another Division III league or move to Division II.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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