Marshall contemplating switch to Conference USA

(U-WIRE) HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — It all started with Miami and Virginia Tech leaving the Big… (U-WIRE) HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — It all started with Miami and Virginia Tech leaving the Big East Conference for the Atlantic Coast Conference and the domino effect continues to be felt.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Teams are packing up and switching conferences for more money. With Louisville and Cincinnati drawing serious interest in the Big East, Conference USA finds itself searching for replacement teams.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ On Oct. 22, the Tampa Tribune reported that Marshall and four other schools — Southern Methodist, Rice, Tulsa and Central Florida — would be invited to join Conference USA.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ If Marshall joins Conference USA, there will be many changes the Herd will face in all sports. Marshall will leave behind old opponents Toledo, Miami of Ohio and Akron, and begin new rivalries with teams like Texas Christian, Southern Miss, East Carolina and Memphis.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ While Marshall fans have opinions on what the Herd should do, most of Marshall’s head coaches are keeping quiet about a conference change.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I think the MAC has better, stronger teams, but I think in order to get more respect and publicity, Conference USA is the right move,’ said Matt Hutchison, a sophomore physical therapy major.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Head football coach Bob Pruett and Athletic Director Bob Marcum are referring all questions to Marshall University President Dan Angel.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Head basketball coach Ron Jirsa seems to be the only one talking about the potential move to Conference USA.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I feel we’re up to the challenge no matter where we land, and Conference USA is certainly a challenge,’ Jirsa said to The Associated Press.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Conference USA is looking to have a 12-team conference that participates in all sports, but will have to wait for the Big East to make the first move. Current Conference USA schools such as Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette and DePaul could be headed to the Big East.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ If these teams do leave then the focus will switch to mid-major schools like Marshall, Central Florida and South Florida. No one knows the exact effects that are to come if the Herd decide to join Conference USA, but students and fans alike already seemed excited about the possibilities.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I think moving to Conference USA will give us better competition with better teams that we would be playing,’ said Tyrone Saunders, a junior marketing major. ‘There would also be better bowl games we would go to and it would bring more money to MarshallUniversity.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Marshall’s campus is full of talk about conference jumping and what the Herd should do. For now, the university and all involved must wait for a final decision that should be announced soon.