Post by elonfirefighter on Mar 15, 2007 13:14:58 GMT -5
Got this off furmans board
...From Birmingham Times
Samford likely to leave Ohio Valley - sooner than later
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Samford University will know sooner rather than later whether the Southern Conference wants the Bulldogs to join the fold.
And, if they do, Samford will become a member of the fifth-oldest Division I conference sooner rather than later.
Southern Conference school presidents, probably on Thursday, will discuss whether to ask Samford to leave the Ohio Valley Conference. They will hear a report via conference call and get a recommendation on expansion from the league's executive committee.
If the presidents do offer Samford, the Bulldogs will play just one more year in the OVC and then pay a $100,000 penalty to leave the league in 2008.
SoCon Commissioner John Iamarino said, "Clearly, Samford is at the top of our list as we look at a 12th member.
"An invitation is possible," he said, "because it would take place in advance of our meeting of the board of directors in April. This topic is high on our list of priorities."
Samford officials explained an exit scenario to OVC presidents and athletics directors at meetings in Nashville before the basketball tournaments this month. If the Southern Conference invitation comes and is accepted, they said the school would opt to move after one year rather than stay for two more, which according to OVC bylaws would allow them to leave without financial penalty.
Neither Samford President Andrew Westmoreland nor AD Bob Roller would comment on the likelihood of a move.
Samford Board of Trustees Chairman William J. Stevens said so far Westmoreland has not officially made any recommendation to the trustees and the next board meeting is not until May. However, Stevens said he was impressed with the SoCon visitors who visited the campus in January.
"I think athletics is a key part of our mission," Stevens said, "it's not the sole purpose of our university - or any university. We do want good conference affiliations.
"I'm fine either way. I support the school and the athletic programs. I'm leaning to our athletic people and what they would like to do."
Playing in the Southern Conference, which stretches from Statesboro, Ga., to Elon, N.C., will be more expensive. If Samford plans to challenge for SoCon championships, particularly in football, baseball and basketball, budgets will have to expand substantially to be ranked in the middle of the league.
"I've not seen the specifics of a budget," said Stevens, a former Samford basketball player, "but there has been some general discussion that there will be some expenditures. It would be premature to say what that would be.
"Obviously a change of this nature would not take place immediately, so some expenditures would be further out than others."
Money won't translate into victories on the field and while Samford isn't conceding anything against the Furmans and two-time defending football national champion Appalachian States, jumping to the SoCon is a long-term decision. The Bulldogs may take some lumps starting in 2008, but they expect to reap benefits from a move further down the road.
...From Birmingham Times
Samford likely to leave Ohio Valley - sooner than later
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Samford University will know sooner rather than later whether the Southern Conference wants the Bulldogs to join the fold.
And, if they do, Samford will become a member of the fifth-oldest Division I conference sooner rather than later.
Southern Conference school presidents, probably on Thursday, will discuss whether to ask Samford to leave the Ohio Valley Conference. They will hear a report via conference call and get a recommendation on expansion from the league's executive committee.
If the presidents do offer Samford, the Bulldogs will play just one more year in the OVC and then pay a $100,000 penalty to leave the league in 2008.
SoCon Commissioner John Iamarino said, "Clearly, Samford is at the top of our list as we look at a 12th member.
"An invitation is possible," he said, "because it would take place in advance of our meeting of the board of directors in April. This topic is high on our list of priorities."
Samford officials explained an exit scenario to OVC presidents and athletics directors at meetings in Nashville before the basketball tournaments this month. If the Southern Conference invitation comes and is accepted, they said the school would opt to move after one year rather than stay for two more, which according to OVC bylaws would allow them to leave without financial penalty.
Neither Samford President Andrew Westmoreland nor AD Bob Roller would comment on the likelihood of a move.
Samford Board of Trustees Chairman William J. Stevens said so far Westmoreland has not officially made any recommendation to the trustees and the next board meeting is not until May. However, Stevens said he was impressed with the SoCon visitors who visited the campus in January.
"I think athletics is a key part of our mission," Stevens said, "it's not the sole purpose of our university - or any university. We do want good conference affiliations.
"I'm fine either way. I support the school and the athletic programs. I'm leaning to our athletic people and what they would like to do."
Playing in the Southern Conference, which stretches from Statesboro, Ga., to Elon, N.C., will be more expensive. If Samford plans to challenge for SoCon championships, particularly in football, baseball and basketball, budgets will have to expand substantially to be ranked in the middle of the league.
"I've not seen the specifics of a budget," said Stevens, a former Samford basketball player, "but there has been some general discussion that there will be some expenditures. It would be premature to say what that would be.
"Obviously a change of this nature would not take place immediately, so some expenditures would be further out than others."
Money won't translate into victories on the field and while Samford isn't conceding anything against the Furmans and two-time defending football national champion Appalachian States, jumping to the SoCon is a long-term decision. The Bulldogs may take some lumps starting in 2008, but they expect to reap benefits from a move further down the road.