It may not involve one of the major conferences but the realignment shuffle that has overtaken college athletics continues. Old Dominion University announced Thursday that they would leave the Colonial Athletic Association and join Conference USA effective July 1, 2013.
The move is seen as a chance to boost the school's football team, which was restarted just three years ago. The move will allow ODU's football team to play in the Bowl Subdivision instead of the Championship Subdivision, which the CAA participates in. However, ODU athletic director Wood Selig told ESPN.com that the change will benefit the majority of the school's athletic teams.
"We saw this as a game changer for us relative to football reclassification and also a way to enhance the majority of all of our 16 intercollegiate athletic programs," Selig said. "Sometimes conference moves are all about assisting one sport, perhaps two, this was a move that greatly enhanced our national visibility and opportunities across the majority of our programs relative to competing at the highest level possible."
The loss of ODU is another blow to CAA. Virginia Commonwealth University announced Tuesday that they will be joining the Atlantic 10 in July. That's two schools the conference has lost this week. Georgia State is leaving in 2013 to join the Sun Belt. In addition, UNC Wilmington and Towson face the possibility of being banned from the postseason in men's basketball next year as a result of not meeting the NCAA's academic requirements.
According to ESPN, CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager has stated that ODU will have to pay an exit fare of $250,000 and will also forfeit $400,000 this season from revenue distribution. But boosters from the school have pledged $3 million to cover expenses.
According to CAA rules, a school that is departing the conference cannot participate in any sport's postseason. ODU hopes that this law is repealed. "I would hope they would revisit that," head men's basketball coach Blaine Taylor said. "We've been in this league a long time."
"There are several in the league, even some who are not looking to move, who believe the rule is too restrictive and punitive for student athletes," Selig added. "We will work with those similar in thought,"
In 2013, ODU will compete in a new-look Conference USA consisting of Charlotte, Texas-San Antonio, North Texas, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Rice, UTEP, East Carolina, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, Marshall and Alabama-Birmingham.
The CAA will be left with just nine schools: Drexel, George Mason, Delaware, Northeastern, James Madison, UNC Wilmington, William and Mary, Hofstra and Towson. They are expected to pursue Charleston and Davidson and possibly Boston University and Stony Brook.
