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Herd AD anticipates call from C-USA
From Bonesville.net Staff and Associated Press Reports
Conference USA may be poised to shore up its gridiron future by luring the
flagship football program of the Mid-American Conference into the fold.
Marshall is expecting an invitation to join C-USA in the near future.
Thundering Herd athletic director Bob Marcum said he received a telephone
call Wednesday from one of C-USA's consultants, who said a league official
would contact him within the next several days.
"I think (an impending invitation) is certainly the reason for the call,"
Marcum said. "There's a lot of things that you have to look into. It's
really nice for Conference USA to consider Marshall. I think it speaks well
of our university."
The Tampa Tribune reported Wednesday that Marshall and four other schools —
Southern Methodist, Rice and Tulsa of the Western Athletic Conference and
MAC football member Central Florida — would be invited to join Conference
USA.
The conference is forming contingency plans for the expected departure of
Louisville, Cincinnati, DePaul and Marquette to the Big East. Army is
leaving Conference USA after the 2004 season.
With Boston College's recent announcement that it would follow in the
footsteps of Miami and Virginia Tech and defect from the Big East to the
ACC, more tremors may be pending. Widespread reports have speculated that
the Big East may pluck South Florida from C-USA to plug the gap created by
the Eagles' sudden departure.
"It remains inappropriate to speculate on particular members that might be
leaving or joining the conference," C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said
in a statement. "We are genuinely excited about the opportunities this
change represents and are well prepared."
Two years ago, Marshall turned down consideration from C-USA to become a
football-only member because the Herd couldn't find a suitable league for
its other sports.
Marcum declined to say if Marshall would accept an invitation, saying other
university officials would make that decision with his input.
Marshall has won five of six Mid-American Conference football championships
and has played in each of the league's six championship games. Since
beginning MAC play in 1997, the Thundering Herd are 48-8 in conference
games.
02.23.07 10:48 AM
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