Saint Peter's discontinues football

Jun 14, 2007 - 4:38 PM JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) - Saint Peter's athletic director Bill Stein announced Thursday that the school is discontinuing the football program, effective July 1.

Saint Peter's had sponsored football as an intercollegiate sport since 1971 when the program was Division III. But since becoming Division I-AA in 1993, the Peacocks have posted an abysmal 38-103 record.

The program also was suspended in 1984 and 1988 for having an insufficient number of players.

Things have been made more difficult for St. Peter's with St. John's, Georgetown and Duquesne all leaving the Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference. And with Fairfield, Siena and Canisius also not sponsoring football, the league no longer can provide a viable schedule.

The school had considered joining another league, but decided it was not feasible.

"It's too difficult for Saint Peter's College to become competitive in football," Stein said. "Recruiting in the area is nearly impossible without giving athletic scholarships due to very strong NJAC schools and other Division II schools in the area," Stein said. "In addition, we have no on-campus facility and it's becoming tougher to schedule opponents that are at our level of competition."