5 Shocking Realities Of St. Cloud State Football’s Sudden End And Lingering Legacy

The St. Cloud State University (SCSU) football program, a fixture in Minnesota college athletics for over a century, is a story of tradition meeting harsh financial reality. As of , the program remains officially discontinued, a decision that shocked the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and the St. Cloud community when it was announced in December 2019, taking effect after the 2019–2020 academic year. This move was a dramatic pivot for the university, ending a legacy that began in the late 1800s and produced numerous professional athletes.

The decision to eliminate football, along with the men’s and women’s golf programs, was a direct response to a decade-long trend of budget cuts and the necessity of ensuring Title IX compliance within the university’s athletic department. The story of St. Cloud State football is therefore not just about touchdowns and tackles, but a modern case study in the financial sustainability of NCAA Division II sports.

The St. Cloud State Football Program: A Brief Biography and Timeline

The St. Cloud State Huskies football program was a long-standing member of the NCAA Division II landscape, primarily competing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Its history spans over 120 years, marked by periods of regional dominance and the development of notable talent.

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• First Season: 1895
• Final Season: 2019
• Primary Conference: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)
• Notable Conference Titles:
  • MTCC (Minnesota Teachers College Conference) Shared Championship: 1942
  • NSIC Overall and North Division Shared Championship: 2011
• Notable Head Coaches:
  • Noel Martin (First Head Coach)
  • Warren Kasch (Led the undefeated 1942 team)
  • Jim Lind
  • Les Luymes
  • Scott Underwood (Final Head Coach)
• Home Field: Husky Stadium (now primarily used for soccer and track)
• Athletic Nickname: Huskies

1. The $1.2 Million Budgetary Hammer and Financial Sustainability

The primary catalyst for the football program’s demise was the university’s pressing need to address financial deficits. St. Cloud State University was facing significant budget shortfalls, and the athletics department was not immune to the necessary cuts. The football program, being one of the most expensive to operate in Division II, became a target for elimination.

The university's administration, led by officials like then-President Robbyn Wacker, determined that eliminating the football, men's golf, and women's golf programs would result in a substantial annual saving. The total projected savings from these cuts was approximately $1.2 million per year.

This massive figure highlights the financial strain that a large, non-revenue-generating sport like Division II football can place on a university’s budget. The savings were not simply removed from the athletics budget but were intended to be reinvested into other areas of the department to ensure the financial sustainability and competitiveness of the remaining 18 NCAA Division II teams.

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2. The Title IX Balancing Act and the Rise of Men's Soccer

While budget concerns were the driving force, the elimination of football was also strategically linked to Title IX compliance. Title IX is a federal law that requires gender equity for boys and girls in every federally funded educational program, which includes collegiate athletics.

Football, with its massive roster sizes (often exceeding 100 players), creates a significant imbalance in the number of male and female athletes a university sponsors. To offset the elimination of the football program and the two golf programs, St. Cloud State announced the addition of a new men's sport: Men's Soccer.

This move was a calculated effort to maintain a proportional balance of athletic opportunities for men and women, demonstrating the university's commitment to gender equity while simultaneously addressing financial issues. The addition of men's soccer allowed SCSU to remain in compliance with federal law while still offering a new, lower-cost team sport.

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3. The Legacy of NFL Talent: From Huskies to the Pros

Despite its Division II status, the St. Cloud State football program had a remarkable history of developing talent that reached the highest level of the sport. This enduring legacy is a key component of the program's topical authority and a source of pride for the Huskies community. Several key players went on to professional careers:

• Todd Bouman: A long-time NFL quarterback who played for multiple teams, including the Minnesota Vikings, and remains one of the most recognizable alumni.
• Keith Nord: A former safety for the Minnesota Vikings, who played from 1979 to 1987.
• Ben Nelson: Played professionally with the Minnesota Vikings in 2004 and spent several years in the Arena Football League (AFL) with teams like the San Jose SaberCats and Colorado Crush.
• Harry Jackson: Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 11th round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
• Joe Brinkman: While not a player, Brinkman is a notable entity, having spent over two decades as an NFL official.

These professional athletes, alongside other figures like former players Eric Eidsness, Jeff Hazuga, and John Kimbrough, underscore the quality of coaching and development that existed within the Huskies program, proving that elite talent can emerge from the Division II ranks.

4. The Lasting Impact on the NSIC and Rivalries

The discontinuation of St. Cloud State football left a tangible void in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Huskies were a charter member of the conference and a perennial competitor, particularly in the North Division. Their 2011 shared NSIC Championship was a recent high point, showcasing their ability to compete with conference powerhouses.

The loss of the program also eliminated long-standing and intense regional rivalries. Games against opponents like the University of Mary, Southwest Minnesota State University, and other Minnesota-based NSIC schools were staples of the regional sports calendar. The decision by both SCSU and the University of Minnesota-Crookston to drop their football programs around the same time created a significant shift in the NSIC landscape, forcing scheduling adjustments and altering the competitive balance of the conference.

5. The Current State of St. Cloud State Athletics Without Football

While the football program is gone, St. Cloud State University's athletic department remains robust and highly successful, demonstrating that the university has successfully pivoted its focus and reinvested resources. The Huskies currently sponsor 18 NCAA Division II teams and remain a prominent member of the NSIC.

The university is particularly known for its success in other sports, most notably its nationally-ranked Men's Hockey program, which competes at the NCAA Division I level in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). Furthermore, the Volleyball and Men's Basketball programs have seen recent success, with the volleyball team achieving regional championship success and the basketball team competing in the 2025 South Division games.

The university also boasts the Husky Dome, a vital facility that continues to serve the university and the surrounding community for various athletic and recreational purposes, a testament to the fact that while one chapter closed, the institution’s commitment to athletics continues in a new form.