Almost from the moment he arrived as president of Mississippi University for Women in 2011, Jim Borsig set his sights on returning intercollegiate sports to the university, which had disbanded its athletics programs in 2003.
“I believe, done right, it adds to the overall intercollegiate experience, strengthens academics and is good for the entire student body,” Borsig said in April 2012 as he announced an exploratory committee to consider a return of sports.
In 2017, two years after Borsig retired, MUW resumed athletics, thanks in no small part to the leadership he provided and the continuing support and advocacy of his successor as president, Nora Miller.
By then, MUW officials had put together the pieces required to field sports teams, but whether or not the university could sustain remained a legitimate question.
To a great degree, the “done right” part of the equation was answered Wednesday when Miller was notified in a letter from the NCAA that MUW had met the requirements to obtain full active membership status in the NCAA Division III, a goal the university had set almost from the moment it began fielding sports teams.
For the past six years, MUW athletics have led something of a vagabond existence, piecing together schedules where opponents came and went almost seasonally, preventing any hopes of creating the rivalries that are always at the heart of collegiate sports. Postseason appearances were gained not on measurable achievements, but sometimes little more than being willing to make the trek to far-away venues.
That all changed in the blink of an eye on Wednesday. As a newly minted NCAA Division III program, The W will become members of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, composed of 10 schools from Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. It’s not an ideal geographical fit, but the conference affiliation does provide the consistency that is crucial to building schedules and creating a pathway to NCAA Division III championships, which MUW will be able to participate in during the 2022-23 season. Postseason appearances now will be earned on the field or court, as it should be.
Because the schedule of all athletic teams include non-conference opponents, MUW’s Division III status should open the door to competition with fellow Mississippi Division III schools Millsaps and Belhaven, as well as Birmingham Southern.
All these logistics will make life far easier for MUW athletics, but the most important aspect of attaining NCAA status is the credibility that status brings to the program. MUW was required to meet an arduous three-year qualification process, one implemented to ensure the school’s programs were well-established and sustainable. MUW couldn’t simply say it was in sports for the long haul. It had to prove it.
Wednesday’s letter from the NCAA was proof that MUW had effectively made that argument.
While 2017 will be remembered as the year sports returned to MUW, June 28, 2023 should be remembered as the day that MUW sports returned for good.
We congratulate Borsig, Miller, the MUW administration and staff, coaches, players and the larger MUW community on reaching this important milestone.
Go Owls!
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.