Posted: 10:02 AM Jun 18, 2012
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff

WHEELING, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The football playing members of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) say they're leaving to form a new all-sports league.

The schools announced the move Monday. They expect to begin competing in the new league during the 2013-2014 academic year. Schedules for the 2012-2013 academic year won't be affected.

The schools are the University of Charleston, Concord, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Seton Hill, Shepherd, West Liberty, West Virginia State and West Virginia Wesleyan.

The new conference's operations and name haven't been determined. The schools say they plan to seek membership in NCAA Division II and ultimately expand the conference to 12 teams.

Reid Amos, Vice President of Broadcasting at West Liberty University and spokesman for the new conference, tells MetroNews that the move was fueled by the desire to create a conference of like-minded football playing schools.

"There's been a growing divide between the institutions that play football and the majority of the others that do not," said Amos. "This is not a new discussion," Amos said. "There have been rumors going back for more than a decade that this league could split."

The move will leave the WVIAC with six members: Alderson-Broaddus College, Bluefield State College, Davis & Elkins College, Ohio Valley University, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and Wheeling Jesuit University.

Required documentation for the new league will be submitted to the NCAA before Dec. 1.

WSAZ Mobile Home

Gray Television, Inc - Copyright 2002-2012 - Powered by Gray Interactive Media

Full Site