Two St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference institutions will not field football teams next season, though one of the schools, Principia, intends to resume the sport as soon as 2010.

Principia announced it is suspending its program for competitive, rather than financial, reasons. Principia’s action came just days after SLIAC member Blackburn cited budgetary concerns in announcing it no longer will sponsor a football program.

Blackburn made its decision in the face of a projected $750,000 deficit next fiscal year, which also prompted the college to ask each department to cut 5 percent from budgets and to consider a 2 percent decrease in faculty and staff wages.

The SLIAC hoped to gain automatic qualification to the Division III Football Championship beginning with the 2010 season but now has fallen below the seven programs required for AQ and will not be eligible until two years after meeting that requirement.

Principia cited the small size of its football team, level of experience of team members and ability to prepare to compete as reason for suspension of its program.

“This decision has nothing to do with program finances, but rather reflects a recognition that our current program does not produce or provide Principia with the level of participation and competition consistent with our goals for intercollegiate athletics,” said President Jonathan Palmer. “The preponderance of evidence from multiple perspectives, shared with me by coaches, program participants and alumni, supports this decision.”

SLIAC Commissioner William J. Wolper said the league understands the decision and looks forward to Principia resuming sponsorship of football.

“Principia has recognized a need to reorganize its football program to ensure long-term viability of the program,” he said. “With nearly a century of history and tradition, and the support of numerous alumni who specifically credit the program for being the men they are today, I am sure the decision to suspend the program for a year, knowing the potential hardships it faces to resurrect it in the future, could not have been easy.”

Blackburn officials reported on the school’s Web site that discontinuation of the football program will save the college about $150,000, “some of which will be spent in strengthening other aspects of the athletics department.”

“(The decision is) the result of thorough research, thoughtful negotiation and heartfelt compromise,” President Miriam Pride said in a statement. “(It) redirects our resources to focus on our strengths. We are committed to continuing the unique fulfilling educational experience of our students.”

If Principia is able to renew sponsorship in 2010, the SLIAC again would have seven football-playing members.

“We are now focused on ensuring the young men who play football for SLIAC schools have the same opportunity as their classmates that compete in other sports within the conference – the opportunity to compete for an AQ to the NCAA tournament,” Wolper said. “Our administrators are committed to doing whatever it takes to provide that opportunity to those student-athletes as soon as possible.”