Hampton University moving from MEAC to Big South Conference
John O'Connor|14 minutes ago
Hampton University announced Thursday that it's leaving the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference after 22 years and joining the Big South Conference, effective July 1, 2018.
The move gives the Big South four Virginia schools. Liberty, Longwood and Radford are the other three. Though Liberty's football program is reclassifying to the FBS as an independent starting next season, 17 Flames' teams will remain in the Big South.
Hampton's president, Dr. William R. Harvey, said in a school release that affiliation with the Big South will reduce Pirates' travel expenses and missed class time. Big South members are located in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, though Kennesaw State in Georgia, Monmouth University in New Jersey and North Alabama are football members.
The MEAC includes Bethune-Cookman, located in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Florida A&M, as well as Savannah State in Georgia. Hampton's withdrawal from the MEAC eliminates the Pirates' league rivalry with Norfolk State, though Harvey said HU hopes to continue competition against some MEAC schools.
Another important consideration in Hampton's shift is the large number of HU alumni located in the Big South footprint, according to Harvey. The Big South, founded in 1983, is comprised of Charleston Southern, Presbyterian, USC Upstate, Winthrop, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, High Point, and UNC Asheville, in addition to the four Virginia schools.
The conference will begin exploring modified scheduling models and championship formats for the 2018-19 school year.
John O'Connor|14 minutes ago
Hampton University announced Thursday that it's leaving the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference after 22 years and joining the Big South Conference, effective July 1, 2018.
The move gives the Big South four Virginia schools. Liberty, Longwood and Radford are the other three. Though Liberty's football program is reclassifying to the FBS as an independent starting next season, 17 Flames' teams will remain in the Big South.
Hampton's president, Dr. William R. Harvey, said in a school release that affiliation with the Big South will reduce Pirates' travel expenses and missed class time. Big South members are located in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, though Kennesaw State in Georgia, Monmouth University in New Jersey and North Alabama are football members.
The MEAC includes Bethune-Cookman, located in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Florida A&M, as well as Savannah State in Georgia. Hampton's withdrawal from the MEAC eliminates the Pirates' league rivalry with Norfolk State, though Harvey said HU hopes to continue competition against some MEAC schools.
Another important consideration in Hampton's shift is the large number of HU alumni located in the Big South footprint, according to Harvey. The Big South, founded in 1983, is comprised of Charleston Southern, Presbyterian, USC Upstate, Winthrop, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, High Point, and UNC Asheville, in addition to the four Virginia schools.
The conference will begin exploring modified scheduling models and championship formats for the 2018-19 school year.
