SMWC Adds Sprint Football, Part of New League

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute will join five other colleges and universities to field a sprint football team starting in the fall of 2022. The team will be part of the newly-formed Midwest Sprint Football League and will be the school’s 16th intercollegiate sport.

The other charter members of the league include Bellarmine University in Kentucky, Calumet College of St. Joseph in Indiana, Fontbonne University in Missouri, Midway University in Kentucky and Quincy University in Illinois.

“In our planning to launch the new Midwest Sprint Football League, I have been inspired by conversations with each president,” said SMWC President Dr. Dottie King. “Together, we are committed to bringing something special to our institutions, our communities and to the Midwest. We will be offering wonderful educational opportunities to young men with a lot of talent who might not have otherwise been able to play collegiate football because of size regulations.”

The rules for sprint football are the same as those used in traditional American football. However, players must weigh below 178 pounds and will be required to weigh in before games to show they meet the weight limit.

Brennan Randolph, who oversees athletics and is vice president for enrollment management and institutional technology, said the addition of men’s sprint football will help increase enrollment and retention.

Randolph says the search for a head coach is being launched immediately.

“We plan to hire someone that can help us launch this new sport and realize the full potential for SMWC and for the student-athletes,” said Randolph.

SMWC says recruitment will also begin immediately with a minimum goal to recruit 40 players for the inaugural season.