Big South Announces Decision on Liberty's Membership Status
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – The Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Liberty University have agreed to transition the school from full member to associate member beginning with the 2019-20 academic year. The move was necessitated by Liberty’s reclassification to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as an independent effective in 2018.
Liberty, which will withdraw from the conference as a full member effective June 30, 2019, will begin its associate membership July 1 of that year as the Flames will keep 17 of their athletics teams in the Big South. Those 17 programs will continue to be eligible for team and individual Conference championships as well as represent the Big South as the league’s automatic qualifier in NCAA championships.
“Liberty University is a long-standing member of the Big South that has contributed to the success of the Conference in many ways,” commented Mary Grant, Big South Conference President and UNC Asheville Chancellor. “We believe we reached a good outcome that provides continued opportunities for Liberty’s student-athletes while adhering to the by-laws that govern our conference.”
“Our desire is to compete in FBS football as an independent and maintain the rest of our sports in the Big South with the exception of field hockey and swimming, which reside in the Big East and CCSA, respectively,” added Liberty Director of Athletics Ian McCaw. “We are grateful to extend our membership in the Big South Conference and continue to partner with the other nine Universities and their athletics programs.”