MIAA change has fans talking
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 2:00 AM
News
Pittsburg, KS
When the MIAA announced Wednesday that Lincoln University and Southwest Baptist University will play their football games in the Great Lakes Valley Conference instead of the MIAA beginning in 2014, it didn’t take long before there was a buzz among PSU fans about a possible extension of the “Fall Classic” football game at Arrowhead.
Director of Athletics Jim Johnson said today that PSU’s focus is on the season at hand, but that the new development will definitely be something university officials at both PSU and Northwest will want to discuss.
"Since the two schools were not scheduled to play in 2014 and 2015 in the previously-released MIAA schedule, absolutely no discussions have occurred at this point between the schools or with the Chiefs organization,” Johnson said. “This is obviously a very recent development.”
PSU and Northwest Missouri State University began playing each other at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City in 2002. The contract between the two schools and the Chiefs was set to expire this year because of a conference realignment that did not allow PSU and Northwest to play each other in 2014 and 2015.
“We will engage in discussions internally and with Northwest and the Chiefs about the future of the Fall Classic, but that will likely not take place until after the 2013 season concludes as both head coaches, both programs and both universities are focused on this season.”
According to the MIAA, Lincoln and Southwest Baptist will have associate member status in the GLVC and will play only football in that conference. The two schools will compete in the MIAA in all other sports.
Pittsburg State University President Steve Scott believes the decision will benefit all MIAA institutions.
“It really is a win/win situation,” Scott said. “It allows Lincoln and Southwest Baptist more flexibility with their non-conference schedule and allows every MIAA university to play one another in football. I know our fans will be happy to once again see our fellow Kansas’ universities on the schedule and so will I.”