05-16-2012, 07:42 AM
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Atlantic 10 Conference has scored a second major achievement in two weeks by adding Virginia Commonwealth University to its fold.
Unlike the other recent addition â Butler â the Rams will compete in the A-10 next school year. VCUâs membership is effective July 1, allowing its 16 sports to be A-10 contenders in 2012-13.
⢠Shannon Russell's Xavier blog
The quick transition increases next yearâs conference membership to 15, a tally that will return to 14 in 2013-14 with the departures of Temple and Charlotte and the addition of Butler.
VCU president Dr. Michael Rao said in a Tuesday press conference that the Rams didnât want to risk Colonial Athletic Association tournament ineligibility by making a lengthy departure from the league.
âIn our judgment it was better to move ahead and move ahead swiftlyâ¦and give student-athletes a chance to compete in these (A-10) conference championships early on,â Rao said.
VCU will pay a $700,000 A-10 entry fee and a $250,000 CAA exit fee. The CAA departure ensures the Ramsâ forfeiture of a potential $5 million in shares over the next six years for NCAA tournament wins.
Rao said it was important to look at long-term university goals as VCU takes âa very significant next stepâ to join âone of Americaâs premier conferences.â
âThe expected returns are far greater that the short-term losses,â Rao said.
VCUâs impact on A-10 schedules next year has not been determined, commissioner Bernadette McGlade said. Schedules will be addressed at the A-10 athletic directorsâ spring meetings starting Monday in Florida.
VCU will now compete in a league thatâs home to its rival, Richmond, and solidify an already-impressive menâs basketball field.
The Shaka Smart-led Rams have been an NCAA tournament darling the last two seasons. They went from the First Four to the Final Four in 2011 and advanced to last yearâs third round as a 12-seed.
VCUâs success in other sports, including tennis and soccer, puts the A-10 in âa terrific spot,â Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski said.
âIn todayâs world and life in general, youâre getting better or worse. Youâre rarely standing still. I think our league, in light of the circumstances it was presented with, has been getting better. Weâve added two high-quality opponents instead of stepping back,â Bobinski said. âThe A-10 is in a better position than I think it ever has been, and Iâm looking forward to (VCU) joining this fall.â
McGlade was asked whether the A-10 was done expanding for now.
Said McGlade: âAll I know right now is that we are extremely happy, and we feel extremely good about our current membership and the opportunities weâve been able to take advantage of.âhttp://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120...ext|Sports
Unlike the other recent addition â Butler â the Rams will compete in the A-10 next school year. VCUâs membership is effective July 1, allowing its 16 sports to be A-10 contenders in 2012-13.
⢠Shannon Russell's Xavier blog
The quick transition increases next yearâs conference membership to 15, a tally that will return to 14 in 2013-14 with the departures of Temple and Charlotte and the addition of Butler.
VCU president Dr. Michael Rao said in a Tuesday press conference that the Rams didnât want to risk Colonial Athletic Association tournament ineligibility by making a lengthy departure from the league.
âIn our judgment it was better to move ahead and move ahead swiftlyâ¦and give student-athletes a chance to compete in these (A-10) conference championships early on,â Rao said.
VCU will pay a $700,000 A-10 entry fee and a $250,000 CAA exit fee. The CAA departure ensures the Ramsâ forfeiture of a potential $5 million in shares over the next six years for NCAA tournament wins.
Rao said it was important to look at long-term university goals as VCU takes âa very significant next stepâ to join âone of Americaâs premier conferences.â
âThe expected returns are far greater that the short-term losses,â Rao said.
VCUâs impact on A-10 schedules next year has not been determined, commissioner Bernadette McGlade said. Schedules will be addressed at the A-10 athletic directorsâ spring meetings starting Monday in Florida.
VCU will now compete in a league thatâs home to its rival, Richmond, and solidify an already-impressive menâs basketball field.
The Shaka Smart-led Rams have been an NCAA tournament darling the last two seasons. They went from the First Four to the Final Four in 2011 and advanced to last yearâs third round as a 12-seed.
VCUâs success in other sports, including tennis and soccer, puts the A-10 in âa terrific spot,â Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski said.
âIn todayâs world and life in general, youâre getting better or worse. Youâre rarely standing still. I think our league, in light of the circumstances it was presented with, has been getting better. Weâve added two high-quality opponents instead of stepping back,â Bobinski said. âThe A-10 is in a better position than I think it ever has been, and Iâm looking forward to (VCU) joining this fall.â
McGlade was asked whether the A-10 was done expanding for now.
Said McGlade: âAll I know right now is that we are extremely happy, and we feel extremely good about our current membership and the opportunities weâve been able to take advantage of.âhttp://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120...ext|Sports