C-USA-Mountain West merger gains steam - SportingNews.com
The likelihood of an eventual Conference USA-Mountain West Conference merger is appearing more realistic.
Officials from both leagues met in Dallas this week to discuss a potential alliance. They released a combined statement on Wednesday that clearly indicated a desire to work together.
"Athletics directors and administrators at Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference enjoyed a productive exchange of ideas this week. In today's dynamic intercollegiate athletics environment, we feel it is important to be proactive creative. Our intention is to move forward together with this discussion and analysis at a focused pace."
Britton Banowsky, commissioner of C-USA, told the Orlando Sentinel that the two conferences have been entertaining the idea of a merger for more than a year. It would not got into effect until 2013 at the earliest.
A merger would require a balanced, 24-team league. The conferences would compete independent of one another, but would share operations. There would a championship game pitting the winners of each of the divisions. Banowsky told the Sentinel that there would also be the option of a few cross-divisional games.
"It's an idea that's been being discussed for well over a year a now, and I think it's a good idea," Banowsky told the Sentinel. "It involves us putting together all of the football assets from both conferences into one new football conference that would span five time zones and involve 24 teams.
"And we will try and utilize that platform to increase the visibility of our programs, drive more market interest in all of the programs and pursue better postseason opportunities."
29 Sep, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNH74HJUxCQ3wg-6-was_PQM3VkbUQ&url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-09-28/c-usa-mountain-west-merger-gains-steam
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