USF Officially Becomes a Member of the BIG EAST

[Brad]

From the USF SID Office

USF MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, June 30, 2005

USF ATHLETICS

USF Officially Becomes a Member of the BIG EAST

          TAMPA (June 30, 2005) – USF Director of Athletics Doug Woolard and USF President Judy Genshaft will be on hand to signify the University of South Florida’s official entrance into the BIG EAST Conference with a flag-raising ceremony, tomorrow, July 1 at 10:00 a.m. at the USF Administration Building. The Bulls are one of five new members (along with the University of Cincinnati, DePaul University, the University of Louisville and Marquette University) that comprise the new 16-team league, becoming the largest Division I conference in the nation.

“This is one of the most exciting days in USF Athletics history,” Woolard said. “The BIG EAST will not only provide an outstanding partnership for our student-athletes but also for the entire Tampa Bay community. This move is another indication of the commitment of our university to compete at the highest level.”

"This is a defining moment for USF athletics and will advance our standing as a premier research university,” added President Genshaft. “I look forward to being in the same conference with academic and athletic powerhouses like Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse."

“This is a landmark day for the BIG EAST Conference,” said Commissioner Michael Tranghese. “We have been working closely with our new members since they accepted membership and we are extremely excited to move forward together.  Our new schools have already added an enthusiastic spirit to the BIG EAST.  We know they are bringing outstanding levels of athletic competition and academic excellence.”

BIG EAST institutions reside in seven of the nation’s top 30 largest media markets, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., Tampa, Pittsburgh and Hartford.  With the incoming members, the BIG EAST markets will contain almost one fourth of all television households in the U.S.

Since opening its doors in 1979, the league has won 25 national championships in six different sports and 123 student-athletes have won individual national titles.

The BIG EAST has always been able to boast that some of its best students are also some of its best athletes.  More than 300 student-athletes have earned Academic All-America honors.

More than 500 BIG EAST athletes have earned All-America recognition and dozens have won individual NCAA national championships.  The BIG EAST has been well represented in U.S. or foreign national and Olympic teams.  Several athletes earned gold medals in each of the last five summer Olympiads.

The BIG EAST has its headquarters in Providence, R.I. where the conference administers to more than 5,500 athletes in 23 sports.

[aragingbull]

It's a big day for USF!!  (Independent, Sun Belt, Metro, Conference USA) and now the Big Time!! Fastest growth by any program in the country by far...Congratulations South Florida!!

[CoolBull1]

The only school in the BCS with less than 50-60 years of football, I'm sure.  Probably the only school founded after 1900.  Somebody let me know the facts.

[Warped]

FSU has only had football since 1947.  Factor in that it was an all-women's school until after WWII, and they're right there with USF.

[bullwark]

I think UConn's football program is relatively young.

[TripleB]

I think UConn's football program is relatively young.

1896 ...  

http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigeast/connecticut/index.php

[bullwark]

Relatively young in D-1.

[BullDoug]

FSU has only had football since 1947.  Factor in that it was an all-women's school until after WWII, and they're right there with USF.

Shut up.  :

[TripleB]

FSU has only had football since 1947.  Factor in that it was an all-women's school until after WWII, and they're right there with USF.

2005-1947=58 years of football ....

[Jim Johnson]

The only school in the BCS with less than 50-60 years of football, I'm sure.  Probably the only school founded after 1900.  Somebody let me know the facts.

Big East:

Rutgers - Started Football 1869 / Division I-A 1946

Syracuse - Started Football 1870 / Division I-A 1937

Cincinnati - Started Football 1885 / Divsion I-A 1946

Pittsburgh - Started Football 1890 / Division I-A 1937

West Virginia - Started Football 1891 / Division I-A 1939

Louisville - Started Football 1912 / Division I-A 1962

U Conn - Started Football 1896 / Divsion I-A 2000

USF - Started Football 1997 / Division I-A 2001

NOTE: Division I-A history

"University Division" 1937 - 1972

"Division I" 1972 - 1977

"Division I-A" 1978 - current

BCS Teams that Started Football in the 20th Century

(Year University Founded if after 1900):

Oklahoma State - 1901

Florida - 1906

UCLA - 1919  (1919)

Texas Tech - 1925  (1923)

Miami - 1927  (1925)

Florida State - 1947

USF - 1997  (1956)

Other Division I-A Teams that Started Football in the 20th Century

(Year University Founded if after 1900):

Lousiana Tech - 1901

Louisiana-Lafayette - 1902

Western Michigan - 1905  (1903)

Hawaii - 1909  (1907)

Troy - 1909

Arkansas State - 1911  (1909)

Middle Tennesee State - 1911  (1911)

Memphis - 1912  (1912)

Rice - 1912

Southern Mississippi - 1912  (1910)

North Texas - 1913

UTEP - 1914  (1913)

Southern Methodist - 1915  (1911)

Toledo - 1917

Bowling Green - 1919  (1910)

Kent State - 1920  (1910)

Fresno State  - 1921  (1911)

San Diego State - 1921

BYU - 1922

Ball State - 1924  (1918)

East Carolina - 1932  (1907)

Houston - 1946  (1927)

Louisiana-Monroe - 1951 (1931)

Air Force - 1956  (1954)

Boise State - 1968  (1932)

UNLV - 1968  (1957)

Central Florida - 1979  (1963)

Alabama-Birmingham - 1991  (1969)

Florida Atlantic - 2001  (1961)

Florida International - 2002  (1965)

NOTE: The Big Ten Atheltic Conference started in 1900

Source: http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia_team_index.php

Modified to correct typos and add founding years.