C-USA narrows want list including smu, rice, tulsa,marshall and central florida

[jayC]

C-USA narrows want list
By Damien Pierce
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

With the growing possibility that a handful of members will bolt for other leagues, Conference USA has received interest from several institutions in joining the league and could invite as many as four teams to join the conference in 2005.

According to a source, C-USA schools Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville and Marquette are likely heading to the Big East, while UNC-Charlotte and Saint Louis are candidates to move to the Atlantic 10. If those departures occur, C-USA would likely offer invitations to four schools, but the league has a variety of options.

There is a high level of interest in Mid-American Conference schools Central Florida and Marshall, and Western Athletic Conference schools SMU, Tulsa and Rice, the source said. C-USA could invite four out of the five schools, depending upon what changes occur with the Big East.

C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky would not talk about specific schools but is confident the league is prepared for a possible conference shakeup.

"We've had a lot of discussions over the past week and 10 days," Banowsky said. "We have no agreements in place, but we've developed a wide variety of contingency plans. There are several schools interested in this conference."

If six schools left the league, C-USA would likely be left with East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, Southern Miss, TCU, Tulane and Alabama-Birmingham. The league is already losing Army, which wants to regain its independent status.

Because the defections could affect the stability of the league, Conference USA has been proactive in planning a response to possible departures and would likely add four teams to bring the league total up to 12.

There aren't any deals in place, but the conference has narrowed its search to a short list of possible replacements.

"I think there are as many at 10 to 11 schools that are very interested," the source said. "But I think the conference has a higher level of interest" in Central Florida, Marshall, SMU, Tulsa and Rice.

Such a move could be financially beneficial for either the MAC or WAC teams.

C-USA has larger television markets and five bowl tie-ins. The WAC has three bowl tie-ins, and the MAC has two.

The loss of SMU, Rice or Tulsa could hurt the stability of the WAC, but WAC commissioner Karl Benson has also been proactive in preparing for future changes.

"We share the same geography of Conference USA, so it makes sense for both leagues to be interested in some of the same schools," Benson said. "We certainly have confidence in this league. The WAC has demonstrated it's an incredible and viable league, and we certainly think we have plenty to offer."

Benson also believes the looming conference realignment is getting closer.

"I think in the next 30 to 60 days something could happen," Benson said. "But again, nothing will happen until the Big East makes its move."


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ONLINE: www.conferenceusa.com
Damien Pierce, (817) 390-7760 dpierce@star-telegram.com