University officials are still uncertain about a potential movefrom the Western Athletic Conference to Conference USA for Mustangathletics. C-USA school presidents authorized commissioner BrittonBanowsky to issue invitations to possible members Tuesday.
As of Wednesday, no invitations had been extended, and SMUremained in the WAC … for now.
“No member has formally withdrawn, and no new members havebeen added,” Banowsky said in a press release Tuesday.”It remains inappropriate to speculate on particular membersthat might be leaving or joining the conference.
“We did, however, have an open and active conversationabout what is both possible and desirable. We are genuinely excitedabout the opportunities this change represents and are wellprepared.”
The possibility for a conference change comes after the AtlanticCoast Conference formally extended an invitation for Boston Collegeto jump off the Big East ship, which BC accepted. Boston Collegewill be joining current Big East members Miami (Fla.) and VirginiaTech in the move to the ACC.
The Big East, in turn, is expected to raid C-USA for membersCincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida,leaving C-USA with few options but to take schools from otherconferences in a similar fashion.
Change is not something that SMU would shy away from. PresidentR. Gerald Turner and Athletic Director Jim Copeland are waiting tomeet with Banowsky.
“Everything is based on the Big East taking members ofC-USA. They are not supposed to meet until Nov. 4 to make anydecisions,” Turner said. “It’s going to takeawhile for this dance to play out. As for now, no offer made, noneaccepted, but we are definitely interested in them as they are inus, and we will continue our talks with C-USA.”
“Today, President Turner and I met with [Mr. Banowsky].Enough mutual interest was expressed that we are proceeding to thenext step. We will meet with the Trustee Athletics Committee andthe University Athletics Council to seek their approval of a moveif we get invited to C-USA,” Copeland said.
Joining a more regionalized conference remains the main focus ofa conference move for SMU, whose athletic teams currently competeacross six time zones, spanning from Waikiki, Hawaii to Ruston,La.
If the expected move occurs, Mustang athletes would probablyplay in the Western Division of C-USA, which would include currentmembers such as Houston, SMU rival TCU and New Orleans-basedTulane.
WAC members Rice and Tulsa, who are expected to make the movewith SMU if offered invitations, would round out the division. TheEast Division would consist of Alabama-Birmingham, Central Florida(who would join from the Mid-American Conference), East Carolina,Marshall (who would also join from MAC), Memphis and SouthernMississippi.
If SMU is extended an invitation, the Mustangs would continuecompeting in the WAC through 2004-05 academic year.
