Metro Conference
Encyclopedia : M : ME : MET : Metro Conference
The Metro Conference was an NCAA Division I athletics conference, so named because all of its charter members were situated in urban metropolitan areas in, or at least on the fringes of, the Southern United States. The conference never sponsored football, although most of its members throughout its history had Division I-A football programs. In 1995 it merged with the Great Midwest Conference to form Conference USA. The merger was driven mainly by football, as several Metro Conference members had been successfully lured to larger conferences that sponsored the sport.
First, Georgia Tech left the Metro for the ACC in 1978. In 1991, Florida State joined the ACC, and then South Carolina joined the SEC (however, South Carolina rejoined the Metro for 1993 and 1994 men's soccer seasons in the sport only, because the SEC does not offer the sport for men). Charter members Cincinnati and Memphis State also left the conference in 1991 to become charter members of the Great Midwest. Shortly afterwards, the Metro and Great Midwest conferences began merger talks that led to the creation of C-USA. The Virginia schools, however, were not amused at the merger idea. In 1995 Virginia Tech joined the Big East until its 2004 defection to the ACC, and VCU went to the CAA where it continues to be a member.
Members over the years
Charter Members
- Cincinnati (1975-91)
- Georgia Tech (1975-78)
- Louisville (1975-95)
- Memphis State (1975-91)
- * After the breakup in 1991, the school's name was changed in 1994, to the University of Memphis, and upon the merger of the conferences in 1995 became a C-USA member. This school remains in C-USA for all sports.
- Saint Louis (1975-82)
- Tulane (1975-95)
- * From 1984 through 1989, Tulane dropped its men's basketball program after a point shaving scandal but remained a member of the conference in all other sports. This school remains in C-USA for all sports.
Later Joined
- Florida State (1976-91)
- Virginia Tech (1979-95)
- Southern Miss (1982-95)
- * This school remains in C-USA for all sports.
- South Carolina (1983-91, 1993-94 men's soccer only)
- * In 2005, South Carolina rejoined C-USA for men's soccer only, as the SEC does not sponsor men's soccer. Kentucky, the other SEC school with the sport, also joined the conference in 2005.
- Charlotte (1991-95)
- South Florida (1991-95)
- Virginia Commonwealth (1991-95)
External links
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