Lincoln Football to Join Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2014

Blue Tigers Join GLVC As An Associate Member; Remain In The MIAA In All Other Sports

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., KANSAS CITY, Mo. & INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Lincoln football team will join the Great Lakes Valley Conference as an associate member beginning with the 2014 season. The GLVC and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association made a joint announcement confirming the announcement on Wednesday (Oct. 2).

The MIAA and the GLVC, both NCAA Division II conferences, have entered into a Strategic Conference Football Scheduling Alliance (SCFSA) that will allow both Lincoln University and Southwest Baptist University to join the GLVC as associate football-only members. Both schools remain full, active members of the MIAA and will continue to compete in that league in every other sport.

The SCFSA will allow Lincoln more scheduling flexibility for the future and provides several benefits to both conferences. With the MIAA moving to a full conference-only schedule, Lincoln was limited in its opportunities to schedule non-conference opponents such as Grambling State, whom the Blue Tigers defeated in Kansas City, Mo., 47-34, on Sept. 14. The move to the GLVC gives Lincoln a greater ability to schedule more contests similar to The Missouri Classic as well as the chance to renew rivalries with other Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

With Lincoln University and Southwest Baptist University, which had also expressed an interest to schedule more non-league games, both moving to the GLVC in football, the MIAA is left with 12 football-playing members and can now create an 11-week schedule that allows all schools to play each other, allowing the league to crown a true conference champion. The SCFSA also allows the GLVC to continue to grow and stabilize its football membership while addressing challenges its membership had faced regarding scheduling non-conference contests.

"I am excited about this strategic alliance and believe it is a benefit to all MIAA institutions," MIAA Commissioner Bob Boerigter said. "Grant Teaff (Executive Director of the American Football Coaches Association) has encouraged Division II conferences to work together to help grow and sustain Division II football. GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich and I believe that this will help meet football scheduling challenges in both conferences."

Naumovich agrees with his MIAA counterpart regarding this mutually beneficial arrangement.

"Since beginning our sponsorship of football in 2012, our coaches and administrators have advocated for an increase in conference games, which then enables our schools to be both flexible and selective when it comes to non-conference scheduling," Naumovich said. "The Strategic Conference Football Scheduling Alliance not only meets our needs, but the addition of Lincoln and Southwest Baptist also gives us two programs located within the conference footprint that have been common opponents, and in some cases, rivals, to our current football schools. We are thrilled to embark on this unique venture with Commissioner Boerigter and the MIAA."

Besides Southwest Baptist, Lincoln will have the opportunity to play two other former MIAA members in Missouri S&T and Truman State. Additionally, this move will reduce Lincoln's travel costs, with six opponents - Southwest Baptist (Bolivar, Mo.), Truman State (Kirksville, Mo.), Missouri S&T (Rolla, Mo.), William Jewell (Liberty, Mo.), Quincy (Quincy, Ill.) and McKendree (Lebanon, Ill.) - all located within a three-hour drive of Jefferson City, Mo.

The SCFSA came about through discussions started by the presidents of Lincoln University and Southwest Baptist University. New LU president Dr. Kevin D. Rome was instrumental in starting the SCFSA and is very pleased with this inter-league arrangement.

"I am very excited about this move," Rome said. "I appreciate the MIAA and GLVC for both recognizing the unique situation of Lincoln University and jointly finding a solution."

Lincoln Athletic Director Betty Kemna is also excited about the scheduling opportunities that will arise due to the SCFSA.

"Our alliance with the Great Lakes Valley Conference allows our football program to play similar size schools within the footprint of our institution," Lincoln Athletic Director Betty Kemna said. "As a Historically Black College or University, it was our desire to have the opportunity to play other HBCU institutions that share our same mission. This alliance will enable us to schedule a few non-conference games within our schedule and it allows us to renew former rivalries with other HBCU's and still play for a conference championship."

In addition to the schools mentioned above, other current GLVC football programs include Saint Joseph's (Rennselaer, Ind.), Indianapolis (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Kentucky Wesleyan (Owensboro, Ky.). Lincoln head football coach Mike Jones is excited to compete against these new programs.

"This move is a great opportunity for Lincoln football," Jones said. "The Great Lakes Valley Conference is an excellent league, and I am very excited about the move."

The MIAA is expected to release its 2014 schedule by week's end, while the GLVC will announce its new-look schedule at a later date.

For more information about Lincoln football, visit www.LUBlueTigers.com of follow the program on Twitter at @GoBlueTigers. For more on the MIAA, log onto www.TheMIAA.com or find the league on Twitter at @TheMIAA. For more on the GLVC, follow the league online at www.GLVCSports.com or via Twitter at @GLVCSports.

By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS