Coach Glenn Caruso told Sports Headliners his St. Thomas football team will travel to Winnipeg in late May to play a game against a club team made up of men about 18 to 30 years old.
Division III rules allow teams to play a foreign game every three years. All MIAC teams are permitted seven spring practices but the foreign game policy allows additional practices.
Three years ago Caruso took the Tommies to Winnipeg for a game against another club team. Asked about the score, Caruso didn’t recall but said St. Thomas won by a “pretty good chunk.”
A few extra practices are useful and winning big is better than the alternative but Caruso raved about something else when discussing plans to head across the border. “We’ll play everyone on the squad,” he said. “The benefit (to the trip) is building camaraderie.”
In four seasons under Caruso the Tommies have become a national Division III power. St. Thomas was 13-0 last fall before losing in the semifinal NCAA Division III playoffs to UW-Whitewater.
Next season the Tommies will open at UW-Eau Claire, playing a program that defeated St. John’s last year. The second nonconference game is at home against UW-RiverFalls. “It certainly gets us ready for our conference (schedule),” Caruso said.
The Tommies games will again be broadcast on WCCO Radio. Caruso said he’s heard from various sources including recruits that the broadcasts are making an impact.