After a 25-year relationship with the Southern Conference ETSU learned Tuesday that its sports teams will receive an extended withdrawal from the Southern Conference lasting until June 2005.
The announcement opened many questions for the future of Buccaneer athletics, but those questions were answered when the university announced its intent to continue its intercollegiate athletics with the Atlantic Sun Conference after the extended withdrawal ends.
“We had an extended conference call with the CEOs of institutions around the Southern Conference, and we’ve been granted an extended withdrawal period,” said University President Dr. Paul Stanton.
“We will compete for another year in all of our sports, except football, in the Southern Conference.”
“During the last several months, with a sense that we would not receive a waiver to stay in the Southern Conference long-term, we have had numerous informal conversations with other conference around our region,” he said.
“And at this time, we are convinced after much study and research, the conference we will be now having formal sessions with will be the Atlantic Sun Conference.”
According to Stanton, the Bucs arrived at this decision after conversing with five other conferences.
“On behalf of the Atlantic Sun Conference, I have had discussions with East Tennessee State University, specifically with President Dr. Paul Stanton and Athletics Director Dave Mullins, regarding ETSU’s interest in joining the Atlantic Sun,” said Conference Commissioner Bill Bibb.
“I had the opportunity to visit the campus recently, and I am very impressed with Dr. Stanton’s commitment to maintaining what is an outstanding and competitive athletic program,” he said.
“The facilities are very attractive, and the Johnson City community support makes East Tennessee State a desirable program.”
The Atlantic Sun Conference has participated in Division 1 athletics since 1978, with this year being its 25th anniversary. The A-Sun has placed an emphasis on academics, like ETSU, which made the decision easy.
“As we reach our 25th anniversary this year, the Atlantic Sun Conference is only interested in expansion if the additional member school can help us continue our overall growth and commitment to the student-athlete,” Bibb added.
“With the academic and athletic programs in place at ETSU, we see an institution that fits very well with our conference makeup, and we are eager to proceed with the necessary steps towards official membership,” he said.
The Atlantic Sun Conference will place East Tennessee State among a much larger regional media market with its current programs, and the University will be the conference’s northernmost school.
Media coverage was a big part of the decision, as the team will receive more regional and national recognition.
In the Atlantic Sun Conference, ETSU will compete against University of Central Florida in Orlando, Stetson in Daytona, Fla., Florida Atlantic near Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Gardner-Webb near Charlotte, N.C., Georgia State in Atlanta, Ga., Troy State in Montgomery, Ala., Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Fla., Mercer in Macon, Ga., Campbell near Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Belmont and David Lipscomb, both in Nashville.
“We will begin the formal process of joining the Atlantic Sun Conference immediately,” said ETSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dave Mullins.
“We hope to complete the process by the middle of October. The extended withdrawal will help us make transitions smoothly.”
“The last six months have been very important for ETSU and the future direction of our athletic department,” he said.
“Several very significant decisions have been made, and it’s the time for us to move forward and plan a very positive future.”
The A-Sun will be a great academic fit as well as athletic fit for the university.
It set a new conference record in 2002-2003 with 1,274 student-athletes earning All-Academic honors.
The conference also had three schools in the top 25 in the U.S. News and World Report College Report.
Athletically, the conference’s major strength is in baseball, as it is the only I-AAA conference in the country to have sent three teams to the NCAA Baseball Championship in each of the past four years.
“I think we’re all excited about it after a little bit of uncertainty over the last six months,” said ETSU head baseball coach Tony Skole. “I know, speaking for most of the coaches, that we’re all excited to join the Atlantic Sun.”
The move will also provide tourist destinations for many Buccaneer fans and provide a larger recruiting opportunity for the school.

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