Program Overview

History & Tradition

     Football at the University of St. Thomas began in the late 1890's and the first official varsity intercollegiate games were played in 1904.  The Tommies rank as one of the top 25 NCAA Division III football programs in all-time winning percentage.  In 2006, UST joined the University of Minnesota and St. John's University as the only Minnesota institutions to reach 500 victories.

     UST joined the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) as a charter member in 1920.  The Tommie's established themselves as a top-tier program early in the conference's history.  One of the most notable teams in UST football lore is the famed 1948 team which played in the Cigar Bowl in Tampa, Florida.  This is the only Minnesota team besides the Gophers to play in a New Years Day bowl game.

     UST played a notable 1918 home game vs. Minnesota -- becoming the lone MIAC team ever to host the Gophers.  The Tommies also have competed against many other non-MIAC Minnesota institutions (Minnesota-Duluth, Mankato State, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State and Concordia-St. Paul) over the past three decades.

     The Tommies have won 14 MIAC championships in one of the nation's top Division III conferences.  Non-conference games versus teams from other top Midwestern conferences compliment UST's challenging conference schedule.  The schedule also includes a special rivalry game with St. John’s University.  The Tommie-Johnnie football rivalry began in 1901 and regularly attracts more than 10,000 spectators. 

Notable Football Alumni

     The UST football program has produced many exceptional student-athletes, including lineman Walt Kiesling, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; running back Vince Lombardi Jr., son of the legendary Green Bay Packers coach; ex-Minnesota Viking receiver Jim Gustafson; ex-Viking and New York Giant defensive back Neal Guggemos; and ex-NFL tight end Ryan Collins.

     Thirty Tommies have been drafted or signed free-agent contracts with NFL teams.  The most recent pro was Collins, who finished his college career as a two-time All-American tight end. He played for seven different pro teams before an injury ended his career in 2003.

     The Tommies have had either an All-American or Academic All-American in 26 of the last 35 seasons -- including 2008 AFCA First-Team All-American Josh Ostrue.  Ostrue was also awarded the 2008 Rimington Trophy as the top Division III center.  UST had a conference-leading 12 All-MIAC players in 2008.

The New Era

     UST entered a new era in January 2008 when Glenn Caruso was named head coach.  Coach Caruso looks to use his experiences at North Dakota State, the University of South Dakota and other colleges to build upon the Tommie football traditions and to make UST a consistent championship contender.

     Coach Caruso led the Tommies to a 7-3 record in his first season and a record-setting 11-2 record, including a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals, in 2009.  Prior to Coach Caruso's arrival, UST finished 2-8 in 2007.  The two-year turnaround ranked as the biggest turnaround in Division III football over that time period.  UST will field a talented group of returners and newcomers in 2010 who should again help the Tommies challenge for a championship and another NCAA tournament berth.

Facilities

     The Tommies play in 5,000-seat O’Shaughnessy Stadium, where a new FieldTurf surface was installed on Palmer Field in 2004.  New seating was installed in 2007 and a state-of-the-art sound system was added in 2008.  UST is currently constructing new athletic and recreational facilities on the east side of the football field that will open August 1, 2010.  The new facilities include a 4,500 sq. ft. football-only locker room with open-face oak lockers, a 10,000 sq. ft. weight room, 6,000 sq. ft. plyo/fitness area, an indoor practice facility (field house) and priority stadium seating on the exterior of the new building.