Missouri State to eliminate five sports in effort to save money

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri State University announced plans Friday to cut five of its 21 intercollegiate sports at the end of the current school year.<br/><br/>The move is needed to control costs

Friday, December 16th 2005, 12:56 pm

By: News On 6

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri State University announced plans Friday to cut five of its 21 intercollegiate sports at the end of the current school year.

The move is needed to control costs as the school faces likely state budget cuts, officials said.

Missouri State's board of governors unanimously approved the proposal by school President Michael Nietzel to cut men's indoor and outdoor track, men's cross country and men's and women's tennis.

"This board has to deal with the reality handed to us by this state's Legislature and this governor," Chairman Michael Franks said.

The decision leaves Missouri State with six men's sports -- the minimum for NCAA Division I membership -- and 10 women's sports.