St. Thomas football team arrives in Division I with a ‘different juice in the locker room’

St. Thomas offensive lineman Jason Laliberte told reporters at the start of practice earlier this month that the Tommies coaching staff doesn’t want the team looking ahead.

“Our coaches are really heavy on being in the moment and not focusing too far into the future,” said Laliberte, a senior from Maple Grove. “But it’s all in the back of our minds. We’re definitely excited to get the opportunity [in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs] this year.”

The Tommies, who have been a provisional member of NCAA Division I since leaving the MIAC and Division III in 2021, were officially confirmed as a Division I member in June. They are fully eligible to compete in postseason play in all sports starting this fall after the NCAA Division I Board of Directors voted in June to approve a rule change that shortened the transition period for schools reclassifying from five years to four years. Before that vote, the Tommies wouldn’t have been eligible for the playoffs until next season.

Tommies linebacker Ryan Sever, a senior from Benilde-St. Margaret’s, said the team welcomed the news.

“It’s a different juice in the locker room,” he noted. “A different level.”

The Tommies, who open the season Thursday night at home against Lindenwood, are 31-13 overall and 26-6 in conference games since joining the Pioneer League in 2021.

The Tommies, who have not finished lower than third place in the 11-team non-scholarship league in their four seasons in the league, were picked to finish third in this season’s preseason poll. San Diego, which finished second in the league last season, was the favorite. Defending champion Drake was picked No. 2.

“We have the gift of time,” Tommies coach Glenn Caruso told reporters at the start of practice. “I can’t pick right now. I’m not in a rush to make the right decision.

Powell, a senior, has appeared in 12 games over the past three seasons, and Caruso said Powell “has lifted his game to a whole different level. He’s coming into his own.”

Jackson is a redshirt freshman, and Rostberg is a junior who played in seven games last season. Peters, one of seven transfers on the Tommies roster, spent the past three seasons at the College of Idaho, an NAIA school. Peters, who walked on at Boise State in 2020, threw for 7,782 yards over the past three seasons.

Caruso, who has been Tommies coach since 2008, credited new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jay MacIntyre for his work with the four QBs.

“I would say I’ve been borderline enamored with what he’s done to build the relationship and trust in that quarterback room,” Caruso said.

Lindenwood, the Tommies’ opponent in the season opener, defeated the Tommies 64-0 last year in St. Charles, Mo. Lindenwood also recently moved up to Division I. The Lions completed their transition to Division I in 2023.