Conference USA taking shape

[Harry]

To hear league commissioner Britton Banowsky tell it, Conference USA finally has reached stability for the first time in several years.

The past couple seasons have seen the exits of several longtime conference members. Gone are Memphis, SMU and Central Florida. Joining the exodus are Houston, Tulane, Tulsa and East Carolina.

In their stead, last year Conference USA added Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Texas-San Antonio, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Louisiana Tech to the football mix. This season, the league welcomes two more additions to the fold — Old Dominion and Western Kentucky. Charlotte, although technically a member of

Conference USA, won't officially join the league's football lineup until 2015.

By and large, members — both old and new — believe Conference USA is set up for long-term stability and success.

Read more: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/sports/special-edition/2014/08/21/conference-usa-taking-shape/14374959/