Per the News Gazette this afternoon, Champaign St. Thomas More (actual enrollment 281, weighted 463.65) has decided to go with 8 man football for this fall. As recently as January 3, STM told the News Gazette that they were not planning to go 8 man, despite having problems getting 30 players over the last few years. The STM last playoff team, in 2016, went to the quarters with only 27 players.
Per the News Gazette article, the 8 Man Association has gone from 16 schools for 2019 to 23 for 2020.
I'm not sure how stable the Illini Prairie is, or was, or will continue to be. Obviously 9 schools is a problem for scheduling. Travel isn't ideal. The merger of the two crumbling 5 team conferences several years ago continues to look questionable...but where do they go from here?
Per the News Gazette article, the 8 Man Association has gone from 16 schools for 2019 to 23 for 2020.
I'm not sure how stable the Illini Prairie is, or was, or will continue to be. Obviously 9 schools is a problem for scheduling. Travel isn't ideal. The merger of the two crumbling 5 team conferences several years ago continues to look questionable...but where do they go from here?