Official C-USA Release from North Texas

[Harry]

May 4, 2012

North Texas Accepts Invitation for Membership to Conference USA

Mean Green and Four Other Schools to Begin New Affiliation in 2013

DENTON, Texas -- Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky today announced that the University of North Texas has been

extended and accepted an invitation for Conference USA membership, effective July 1, 2013. North Texas is one of five schools that

will be joining Conference USA, along with the University of Texas-San Antonio, Louisiana Tech University, Florida International

University and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

“This is validation that the progress we have made in our athletic programs in conjunction with our university’s academic reputation

has made us a suitable fit for the high standards of Conference USA,” Director of Athletics Rick Villarreal said. “Conference USA

provides a great partnership with several schools in our geographic proximity and will help all of us create outstanding regional rivalries.

It is a tremendous opportunity for North Texas athletics.”

Each new member will join the league in all sports for 2013, Charlotte will begin conference participation in football in 2015. The

metro area population of these schools is nearly 18 million. Existing members are East Carolina University, Marshall University, Rice

University, University of Southern Mississippi, Tulane University, The University of Tulsa, University of Alabama at Birmingham

(UAB) and University of Texas El Paso (UTEP). Divisions will be set in the near future.

The 13 members will also allow the Conference to continue to host its annual Football Championship game pitting champions from

the East and West Divisions.

“The presidents and chancellors of Conference USA universities are pleased to welcome these five distinguished institutions to CUSA,”

said Dr. Scott Cowen, Tulane University president and Chair of Conference USA’s Board of Directors. “Conference USA has

always operated in a way that reflects the values of higher education and works very hard to balance the athletics and academic interests

of its student-athletes at the highest level. These institutions clearly share those values.”

North Texas will be joining Conference USA after competing as a member of the Sun Belt Conference since 2001. In 11 years as a

Sun Belt member, North Texas won 20 conference championships in 10 different sports. The Mean Green represented the Sun Belt in

four bowl games and two NCAA men’s basketball tournament appearances.

The new conference affiliation means North Texas will be in a league with three other schools in the state of Texas and three more

schools in bordering states. In all, seven members of the new Conference USA will be within 650 miles of Denton. Only three of the

football-playing members in the Sun Belt Conference are within 650 miles of Denton.

“The welfare of our student-athletes was definitely a key consideration for us in making this decision,” Villarreal said. “With so many

schools in relative close proximity to our campus we will minimize the amount of missed class time and minimize the amount of time

spent traveling to and from competition.”

Conference USA will be the eighth conference that North Texas has been a member of since the inception of its athletics program in

1913.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

May 4, 2012

North Texas Accepts Invitation for Membership to Conference USA

Mean Green and Four Other Schools to Begin New Affiliation in 2013

DENTON, Texas -- Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky today announced that the University of North Texas has been

extended and accepted an invitation for Conference USA membership, effective July 1, 2013. North Texas is one of five schools that

will be joining Conference USA, along with the University of Texas-San Antonio, Louisiana Tech University, Florida International

University and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

“This is validation that the progress we have made in our athletic programs in conjunction with our university’s academic reputation

has made us a suitable fit for the high standards of Conference USA,” Director of Athletics Rick Villarreal said. “Conference USA

provides a great partnership with several schools in our geographic proximity and will help all of us create outstanding regional rivalries.

It is a tremendous opportunity for North Texas athletics.”

Each new member will join the league in all sports for 2013, Charlotte will begin conference participation in football in 2015. The

metro area population of these schools is nearly 18 million. Existing members are East Carolina University, Marshall University, Rice

University, University of Southern Mississippi, Tulane University, The University of Tulsa, University of Alabama at Birmingham

(UAB) and University of Texas El Paso (UTEP). Divisions will be set in the near future.

The 13 members will also allow the Conference to continue to host its annual Football Championship game pitting champions from

the East and West Divisions.

“The presidents and chancellors of Conference USA universities are pleased to welcome these five distinguished institutions to CUSA,”

said Dr. Scott Cowen, Tulane University president and Chair of Conference USA’s Board of Directors. “Conference USA has

always operated in a way that reflects the values of higher education and works very hard to balance the athletics and academic interests

of its student-athletes at the highest level. These institutions clearly share those values.”

North Texas will be joining Conference USA after competing as a member of the Sun Belt Conference since 2001. In 11 years as a

Sun Belt member, North Texas won 20 conference championships in 10 different sports. The Mean Green represented the Sun Belt in

four bowl games and two NCAA men’s basketball tournament appearances.

The new conference affiliation means North Texas will be in a league with three other schools in the state of Texas and three more

schools in bordering states. In all, seven members of the new Conference USA will be within 650 miles of Denton. Only three of the

football-playing members in the Sun Belt Conference are within 650 miles of Denton.

“The welfare of our student-athletes was definitely a key consideration for us in making this decision,” Villarreal said. “With so many

schools in relative close proximity to our campus we will minimize the amount of missed class time and minimize the amount of time

spent traveling to and from competition.”

Conference USA will be the eighth conference that North Texas has been a member of since the inception of its athletics program in

1913.

bump

[gksmith]

So we do get a "Farewell Tour" of the Sunbelt this season.

I just thought that was strange. I was expecting to start in C-USA immediately.

[Mean Green 93-98]

So we do get a "Farewell Tour" of the Sunbelt this season.

I just thought that was strange. I was expecting to start in C-USA immediately.

That's pretty typical. The logistics of switching conferences requires a little time.

Besides, SMU, Houston, Memphis, and UCF will be joining the Big East in 2013. We and the other new schools are taking their places. There won't be any places to take until 2013.

[gksmith]

So everyone gets a farewell tour.

[cwb]

One of the most important aspects of this move is that I now don't have to flip all the way to the back of the preseason mags to get to our preview.

TWO PONDS BABEEEE!!!