BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The much anticipated partnership between the Gulf South Conference and the University of New Orleans came one step closer to reality today.
The ball was finally in the GSC's court Thursday night when Commissioner Nate Salant publicly extended an official invitation to UNO to join its ranks at the university's Athletics Open House event.
The GSC is in the midst of a transition in membership which will result in a decrease to eight member institutions for 2011-12. Commissioner Salant has been persistently pursuing additional members and he considers UNO to be a very important piece to the league's future prosperity.
"We are delighted that the University of New Orleans has chosen the Division II path and believe it has a great future there. The Gulf South Conference began recruiting UNO more than a year ago, and was delighted to provide information and assistance during that process. We hope we were helpful, and now we are officially inviting UNO to apply for membership in the GSC.”
"UNO is very much like the majority of our members, a medium-sized public institution seeking to balance the desire for a strong athletic program with realistic regional and national aspirations on one hand with the financial realities of today's economy on the other. It is also committed to the Division II philosophy of 'Life in the Balance,' whereby the student-athletes' collective focuses are on graduation, a diverse college experience and community engagement.”
"Another very helpful aspect of this is that the UNO Athletic Director, Amy Champion, played basketball at Delta State and has experienced the D-II Regional and National Championship environment first-hand. When she says that UNO is a D-II school, she's in a better position than anyone to truly know it."
"Assuming UNO makes application to the GSC, I expect a favorable response from our Board of Directors at the June 21 meeting. We have already penciled UNO's volleyball, baseball and tennis teams into our 2011-12 schedules, even though they will not be eligible for NCAA post-season play next year because there is a one-year transition period. UNO will be completely integrated into the league schedule in 2012-13."
"This is truly exciting, and will be the first of several upcoming announcements about new members headed our way as we move efficiently towards re-growing the league. GSC fans rest assured: you are in for pleasant surprises and an even better league in the near future."
For University of New Orleans Athletic Director Amy Champion, the Gulf South Conference provided a perfect fit for the future of the Privateer athletic program.
"Acquiring a conference home has always been critical in the transition process for our University and the GSC provides a very strong regional fit for our institution. Each member institution is within an eight hour drive and with travel partners in place, limits the missed class time faced by our students.”
“Playing within a league gives our student-athletes the opportunity to have ample access to NCAA post-season play while allowing them to be eligible for academic and athletic recognition that would be hard to come by without a conference affiliation."
“We are moving forward with our plans to sponsor football and women's soccer by 2015. The GSC and its member institutions have excelled nationally in both sports and will provide our University a wealth of knowledge that will allow us to jump-start these additions.”
Originally known as the Mid-South Conference, the GSC was formed by six universities in the 1970. In addition to the anticipated arrival of UNO, the league features eight member institutions including Alabama-Huntsville, Christian Brothers, Delta State, North Alabama, Valdosta State, West Alabama, West Florida and West Georgia.
