MOBILE, Ala. — Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson said Monday that the league remains “very well positioned for the future” after Middle Tennessee State University and Florida Atlantic University decided to leave the conference.
The departures leave the Sun Belt, which includes South Alabama, with 10 continuing members.
Benson’s Statement
“While I am disappointed that Middle Tennessee State University and Florida Atlantic University have elected to depart the Sun Belt Conference, the SBC is still very well positioned for the future and I remain very optimistic that the momentum that has been created in the past six months will continue to grow,” Benson said.
“The continuing 10 members of the SBC are committed to excellence and I am confident that the SBC will take advantage of these latest changes in the landscape. As I have stated many times in the past six months, the SBC will be a major player in the future, especially within its geographic footprint.”
Looking for New Members
Benson said several universities have expressed interest in joining the Sun Belt, and that the conference has researched those schools over the past six months.
“We will now focus on identifying the ones that will be the best ‘fit’ for the conference and the ones that will contribute immediately in achieving our goal of being the best of the FBS conferences that currently do not receive automatic qualification into the BCS,” he said.
“The future is still very bright for the SBC and I look forward to working with the leadership of the SBC in the coming days, weeks and months to continue the growth and development of this outstanding athletic conference,” Benson said.
South Alabama’s Place in the League
South Alabama is among the conference’s continuing members. The Jaguars completed their first season of Sun Belt football competition this fall under head coach Joey Jones, as the program moves toward full membership in the Football Bowl Subdivision. South Alabama’s football team plays its home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, and its basketball teams play at the Mitchell Center.
Benson took over as Sun Belt commissioner earlier this year.
