UMAC announces Eureka's withdrawal as a football associate member
ST. PAUL, Minn.---The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced Friday that Eureka College will withdraw as an associate member for football following the completion of the 2017 season.
Dr. Jamel SC Wright, President of Eureka College, formally announced the decision, indicating the institution’s desire to reduce travel for the Eureka football program and provide budget relief by decreasing expenses.
UMAC Commissioner Corey Borchardt stated that after the conclusion of the 2017 season, the UMAC will move forward as a nine-team football league. Adjusted schedules for the 2018 season and beyond have already been finalized.
Beginning in 2018, the UMAC football schedule structure will feature conference play starting in the third week of the season and will conclude on the final week of the regular season. This change should provide an additional opportunity for UMAC football members to schedule non-conference contests in the second week of the season.
“We are disappointed to see Eureka College leave the UMAC as they have been a positive contributor to the fabric of UMAC football for the past eight seasons,” said Borchardt.
Eureka has been an affiliate member of the conference for football since 2009 and the upcoming 2017 will be the last for the Red Devils.
“This past season marked significant progress for the UMAC in football with our first-ever program ranked in the West Region of the NCAA Division III rankings,” said Borchardt. “I am excited to see the sport progress in our conference this season and look forward to seeing the continued success of our student-athletes on and off the football field for years to come.”
The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference is comprised of nine full members and five associate members located throughout the Midwest. Originally formed in 1972 as the Twin Rivers Conference, the league was renamed in 1983 to its current title. The UMAC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division III level. Eighteen conference championships are recognized by the conference. The UMAC strives to enrich the collegiate experience of student-athletes by offering a range of highly competitive athletic opportunities. The primary focus of the UMAC is student-athletes, with an uncompromising commitment to athletic equity and to the primacy of student academic progress. The UMAC and its member institutions seek to uphold the league’s five core values including positive student-athlete experience, sportsmanship, integrity, sports equity and commitment to the UMAC.