The Program Principia College has been competing in intercollegiate football since 1932. Principia College football continues to strive for and achieve athletic excellence. Year in and year out, young men take the field and seek the challenge of playing competitive intercollegiate football in an environment that values both athletic and academic excellence.
From its inception, Principia football has experienced considerable success, first as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and most recently as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. In fact, in the 1960s Principia won eight of ten Prairie College Conference championships and received national ranking among small college football teams. In the late '70s and early '80s, Principia was a member of the College Athletic Conference and competed regularly against and defeated such noted football programs as Washington University (St. Louis) and DePauw University (Greencastle, Ind.).
From 1996-1998, Principia football competed in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) against other NCAA Division III institutions in the Midwest. In 2000 Principia football plays its second season competing as an independent.Athletics in general are an integral part of Principia's "whole-person" approach to education. We believe that being a member of the Principia College football team is one of those educational experiences that will remain with our players for a lifetime.
Mission Statement:
The mission of Principia College Football is to achieve competitive excellence in a forum founded in Principle; that teaches life lessons; and demands growth physically, mentally, socially, spiritually and intellectually. This activity is exciting and challenging and creates opportunities for the student-athlete to break limitations through the realization of “God’s omnipotence and the healing power of divine Love in what it has done and is doing for mankind” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p.55).
The words of past alumni players reinforce this belief and remind us of the importance of athletic competition in the personal growth of the student athlete:
"Football at Principia has given me the opportunity to continue playing the greatest sport in the world at the college level. It has also allowed me to develop myself mentally, physically, and spiritually as well as to foster friendships with my teammates and coaches that will remain with me for the rest of my life. "— Dave Hollon ('01), Lima, Ohio
"You feel like you're part of a family when you play football at Principia College. Your brothers look out for you and you look out for your brothers while being as competitive as possible. It's an unbelievably great experience. "— Christopher Girbes-Pierce ('03), San Diego, California
"I thoroughly enjoyed playing football this past fall. I love Prin football because of the enormous amount of team unity we have and because I enjoy playing for such a great coach, who brings a winning attitude to the field every day. This causes the players to have a winning attitude too. "— Philip Moser ('03), The Woodlands, Texas
