Budget woes force N. Iowa College to punt away its football program.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) -- The sagging economy has forced Northern Iowa Area Community College to eliminate its football program.

Officials for the Mason City-based school say they must cut its budget by $800,000. The move to eliminate football will save the school $171,000.

Northern Iowa Area Community College has fielded a football team since the 1940s. Its alumni include lineman Marshall Yanda, who later starred at the University of Iowa and now plays for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

"I've been in athletics for 26 years and this is right up there with one of the saddest days for me personally," athletic director Dan Mason said.

Twenty-one recruits signed national letters of intent in February to play for the Trojans, who finished 3-6 last season. Instead of preparing for their Aug. 29 opener, they must now scramble to find another place to play.

Coaches broke the news to players as they arrived for what they thought was a routine team meeting,

"We had no clue, honestly," said freshman David Asche. "It's a big surprise."

The school announced further cuts, laying-off 14 employees along with a plan to reduce travel. Officials also said they planned to leave six vacant positions unfilled.

School president Debra Derr said the school is considering a tuition increase, although that will not be decided until later in the spring.

"It's in a much bigger picture than just the elimination of football," she said.

"We have a huge problem that the college is going to have to address in relationship to budget shortfall."