TU Athletics facing major changes

[Harry]

This has been a critical time for University of Tulsa athletics.

Conference USA has been fractured by recent realignment. Steadman Upham, a school president who understands the value of athletics, will retire on June 30. Athletic director Bubba Cunningham left TU for a similar position at North Carolina in October, leaving no permanent department leader present.

Despite everything, Upham proclaimed confidence about TU's future in a 30-minute interview with the Tulsa World.

Upham promises he won't sit still during his final months as Tulsa's president, just like he has been over the past year in bracing for the changing landscape in college athletics.

During the interview, he admits frustration, embarrassment and disillusionment by recent events regarding conference realignment.

Despite the changes, Upham says the university remains in a fine place.

Tulsa has won more championships than any other C-USA school since 2005's realignment. Competitively, the Golden Hurricane should be OK no matter its future, Upham said.

It appears that a planned football-only merger between C-USA and the Mountain West could advance to an all-sports merger with eight schools in the western United States.

But Upham - like many - has plenty of questions.

"What is the experience going to be for our student-athletes?" Upham asked. "What's the experience going to be for our fans? Are we going to be able to rekindle rivalries where there will be some fan interest?

"I have questions about all of those things."

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