Cardinals officially move up to D-I status

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One of Dr. Louis Agnese's earliest recollections of the University of Incarnate Word's athletic program was quite memorable — and not in a good way.

In 1985, his first year as president of the school, Agnese said he went to watch a basketball game at the university's Wellness Center. The game was canceled.

“It was stopped because of rain,” Agnese said, referring to water being on the basketball court.

Nearly three decades later, the school's athletic program has a much brighter appeal.

UIW officially joined NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference on Monday, celebrating the occasion with a campus ceremony that included coaches, athletes, cheerleaders, alumni and fans.

The Cardinals were one of four schools making the move to the conference, joining Abilene Christian, Houston Baptist and the University of New Orleans to make up a 14-team league.

With the cheerleaders looking on, UIW raises a flag to commemorate its move to NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference. With the cheerleaders looking on, UIW raises a flag to commemorate its move to NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference. Photo: Abbey Oldham / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Abbey Oldham / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Cardinals officially move up to D-I status 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

“We think this is a great partnership for the future of the Southland Conference,” SLC commissioner Tom Burnett said. “There are great days ahead for this university. We are as excited as can be.”

So, too, is UIW. As Agnese, Burnett and UIW athletic director Mark Papich raised a SLC flag, it symbolized the school's steady growth from the NAIA, to Division II, to Division I membership.

And just that quickly, the biggest moment in UIW's athletic history was cemented. It didn't occur before an overflow crowd at a stadium or gymnasium. It had nothing to do with a goal-line stand, scoring a game-winning basket or executing the perfect dive.

“This is all a part of the pieces to the puzzle to build UIW's brand,” Agnese said. “The athletic program raises the profile of the whole school.”

Football is expected to play an integral role in that. While the rest of the school's athletic programs will play a SLC schedule this fall, football won't until 2014.

The school also won't be eligible for conference championships or postseason play in any sport until 2017 after a four-year transition period.

“It's a huge day,” UIW football coach Larry Kennan said. “We're really excited as a football program, and as a whole university.”