Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville's Board of Trustees has approved a move for the school to apply for reclassification to NCAA Division I for all sports in the SIUE program.

SIU-E currently participates at the NCAA Division II level but for many years was a D1 power in men's soccer. The Cougars won the 1979 NCAA Division I under legendary Bob Guelker. Among the players who went through the SIU-E system were future U.S. internationals Greg Makowski, Greg Villa and Tim Twellman, father of Taylor Twellman.

Don Ebert, Villa and Makowski were starters on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team which qualified for the Moscow Games but did not participate because of the American boycott. Their derby with Saint Louis in the 1970s annually drew huge crowds at the old Busch Stadium.

"I have no doubt that we can be competitive at the 'mid-major' DI level," said Athletics Director Brad Hewitt.