University presidents look to climb higher

By: Matt Foust

Posted: 8/20/07

This May the Mid-Continent Conference Presidents Council announced that the conference would be formally changing its name to the Summit League. The name change is part of an initiative called The Summit Plan. The goal of The Summit Plan is to improve the overall athletic image of the conference and bring a more intense focus on the welfare of each student-athlete.

Along with the new name will be a new logo. The logo symbolizes and represents in an outward fashion the overall aim of The Summit Plan.

"The Summit League provides a mental image to reach for the top, both academically and athletically," Commissioner Tom Douple said in a May press release. "The new name [and logo] fits in perfectly with the Presidents Council's vision for the continued improvement and growth of the league."

University of Missouri-Kansas City Athletic Director Tim Hall shared Douple's sentiments.

"Summit means to strive for excellence," Hall said. "It's a branding effort by mid-major conferences … an image of reaching for the top."

The following schools will make up The Summit League: Centenary College of Louisiana (CC), Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), North Dakota State University (NDSU), Oakland University (OU), Oral Roberts University (ORU), South Dakota State University (SDSU), Southern Utah University (SUU) and Western Illinois University (WIU).

Valparaiso University transferred its affiliation from the Mid-Continent Conference to the Horizon League at the conclusion of the 2006-07 academic year.

mfoust@unews.com