SMU will be joining other WAC members Rice and Tulsa in a moveto Conference USA, ESPN reported Friday.
SMU Media Relations released a statement Friday as well.
A press release on Friday from SMU Media Relations stated,”We anticipate having a formal announcement with ConferenceUSA regarding its membership realignment in the nearfuture.”
Rice President Malcolm Gillis and Tulsa President Bob Lawlessboth released statements confirming rumors that the three schoolswould join C-USA members TCU, Houston and Tulane in forming asix-team western division of a realigned C-USA.
The move comes after confirmed allegations that the Big Eastwould take Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette and DePaul fromC-USA.
It also covers SMU’s hope to compete in a conference thatis centered around regional match-ups, which would aid in curbingtravel costs and time lost in class for student athletes.
“We especially welcome the opportunity to renew oldSouthwest Conference rivalries,” Gillis said in hisstatement.
SMU will not officially leave the WAC until July 1, 2005.
Marshall University also expects to receive an officialinvitation to join the East division of C-USA, replacing Army, whoannounced earlier this year that it would leave the conference tobecome independent.
The WAC will, in turn, look to raid the Sun Belt Conference formembership. WAC commissioner Karl Benson confirmed that eightschools, including New Mexico State, North Texas,Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State, Utah State,Idaho and Middle Tennessee State, would all be acceptablesubstitutes for the loss of SMU, Tulsa and Rice. Arkansas State hasbeen the first one of these schools to respond to the WAC’sinitial interest.