Thiel Opts Out of Spring Football Season, Focusing on Fall

GREENVILLE, Pa. — Thiel College has opted out of the spring 2021 football season, the school announced Wednesday, and will instead return to play this autumn.

“We believe this is the best decision for the long-term growth of the program,” said Thiel head football coach Mike Winslow in a statement. 

The Thiel Tomcats football team last played Nov. 16, 2019. They finished that season 0-10.

“Our priority is program development, both on and off the field this spring as we prepare for the fall 2021 season,” Winslow said, adding that the fall schedule is yet to be finalized.

Thiel is the only member of its conference, the NCAA Division III-level President’s Athletic Conference, to suspend its football season. The remaining nine teams, which include Westminster College and Grove City College, will play a conference-only schedule. 

The Tomcats’ spring 2021 schedule was slated to begin March 19, hosting Grove City College at Alumni Stadium in Greenville, Pa. Thiel had games scheduled for March 26 at Westminster College, April 9 hosting Geneva College and April 16 at Case Western Reserve University. There was a home game scheduled for April 23 at Alumni Stadium, but that opponent was yet to be determined.

The PAC postponed its 2020 fall athletics until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thiel director of athletics Amy Schafer said this decision only impacts the Tomcats football program. The school’s other fall sports begin later this month or in March, as well as the school’s spring sports schedule. Winter athletic sports are currently being played.

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