ODU eyes JMU for potential future Conference USA invite

Harry · April 11, 2013

NORFOLK

Old Dominion athletic director Wood Selig says he's been encouraging Conference USA officials to invite James Madison to join the league, a possibility that seems more plausible now than even a few weeks ago.

C-USA commissioner Britt Banowsky told CBS Sports on Monday the league is considering expanding by two to 16 schools in 2014.

"We've modeled it at 16, and it does kind of create some divisions that are a little more geographically connected," Banowsky said. "I think, personally, a larger conference is better because you get some efficiencies."

Media reports have indicated that Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette from the Sun Belt Conference are the most likely C-USA expansion candidates. However, Selig said he supports expansion only if it results in at least one more member from the Southeast. JMU is the only likely candidate from this region.

JMU officials also appear more open to leaving the Colonial Athletic Association and moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

JMU officials said they were committed to the CAA last year when ODU and Georgia State announced they were leaving to move up to FBS and Virginia Commonwealth exited for the Atlantic 10.

But after the recent announcement that George Mason was also leaving for the A-10, JMU officials announced they had hired a consultant to assist in creating a "comprehensive strategic plan" for JMU's athletic future.

The consultant's report isn't expected to be finished until this summer.

"I'm not going to pretend that I know what's best for JMU," Selig said. "This is an issue for JMU's leadership to decide. But from the outside looking in, they appear to have everything that an institution needs to be successful in FBS.

"When I've been asked by other athletic directors within Conference USA about James Madison, I have been very supportive of JMU. They've been casual conversations. A lot of people in Conference USA don't know a lot about JMU. As we continue to try and add a presence in the southeast in Conference USA, JMU seems like a natural."

Read more: http://hamptonroads.com/2013/04/odu-eyes-jmu-potential-future-conference-usa-invite