Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 15, 1995 TAG: 9507110105
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: TOLDEO, OHIO LENGTH: Medium
Following a national trend toward fewer and larger conferences, the Mid- American Conference has added Marshall, Northern Illinois and the State University of New York at Buffalo.
The MAC swelled to 13 members Tuesday night when the conference's presidents voted to add two former league members - Marshall and Northern Illinois - along with Buffalo.
``We're at the top of the heap in [NCAA Division] I-AA by a mile. We believe the program is ready to move up to a new level,'' said Marshall president J. Wade Gilley in accepting the MAC's invitation Wednesday.
Marshall, which will begin play in the MAC in 1997, has been a member of the Southern Conference since 1976. The Thundering Herd was in the MAC from 1952 to 1969.
``I don't think anybody in the Southern was surprised by the move,'' said Davis Babb, athletic director at VMI, which competes in the Southern. ``Certainly, Marshall has been a very positive member of our league. Marshall brought our league a lot of visibility on the Division I-AA national level with their football program, their facilities and by hosting the national championship.''
Babb said he doesn't foresee the Southern Conference rushing to find a replacement.
``We'll explore what options we have,'' Babb said. ``I don't think we'll add a school just for the sake of adding. Several schools, including Liberty [University], have been mentioned in the past as possible conference members.''
Youngstown State, which was evaluated by MAC commissioner Jerry Ippoliti and several other league officials last month, failed to receive the necessary nine votes from the 10-person council of presidents.
Ippoliti said Northern Illinois and Marshall will begin conference play in the fall of 1997, with Buffalo coming aboard a year or two later.
Current MAC members include Toledo, Bowling Green, Ohio U., Kent, Akron and Miami in Ohio, Ball State in Indiana and Eastern, Western and Central Michigan.
by CNB