St. Andrews to Add the American Tradition of Football

LAURINBURG, N.C. – St. Andrews announces plans to add football to its athletic program in the 2017-18 academic year. With the number of colleges and universities now offering football on the rise, St. Andrews recognizes that the addition of football can play an important role in growing enrollment, enhancing extra-curricular programs and creating new opportunities to connect the campus community with the Laurinburg-Scotland County community.

The roots of football run deep in Scotland County. St. Andrews' predecessor, Presbyterian Junior College (PJC), had outstanding football teams from the 1930's through the 1950's. Some of those teams were coached by legendary Robert Renfrow (Peanut) Doak who went on from PJC to put his mark on collegiate athletics as the first coach of the North Carolina State Women's Basketball team.

"Our football teams in the past were known for producing young men who were passionate about the sport and dedicated to earning their degrees," said Athletic Director, Glenn Batten. "Our players went on to become doctors, lawyers, businessmen and leaders in their communities and churches. Like all of our other sports, we will use football to shape the character of our players and prepare them for life beyond athletics."

St. Andrews is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The new team will compete in the Mid-South Conference.

For the first time in over 50 years, recruiting has begun for the university's first class of football players. Batten said, "This will be a great opportunity for the young men who accept scholarship offers to join our new squad. They will help us set the tone and establish the foundation needed for a competitive program."

"As St. Andrews continues to grow its enrollment, said campus President Paul Baldasare, "the addition of football, as well as other new co-curricular programs, will create more on-campus activities for our diverse student body; offer more opportunities for the local community to get to know our students, faculty and staff; and provide new ways to connect with our alumni."

The new team will begin playing in August of 2017. To find out more information about the St. Andrews athletic programs, visit www.sauknights.com

About St. Andrews University

St. Andrews University is a branch of Webber International University located at 1201 N. Scenic Highway, Babson Park, Florida, telephone 1-800-741-1844. Webber International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees at the associate, bachelor and master's levels. St. Andrews is a student and teaching-focused University which offers a broad range of undergraduate majors in a curriculum that is global in scope and practical in its application. The quality of the St. Andrews educational experience has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and GI Jobs among others. In addition to its academic programs, the University has an acclaimed university press, men's and women's athletic teams, a nationally competitive equestrian program, and an award-winning pipe band. Further information may be obtained by visiting the University's website http://www.sa.edu, calling 800-763-0198/910-277-5670, or sending an e-mail to communications@sa.edu.