Birmingham-Southern admitted to SCAC

Birmingham-Southern has been unanimously confirmed as a new member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The school is expected to participate in the SCAC basketball schedule in 2008-09.

The membership is contingent upon a favorable decision by the NCAA later this month in regards to Birmingham-Southern's request for reclassification from Division I to Division III. A member of the Division I Big South Conference for the last seven years, Birmingham-Southern will begin the transition into the SCAC in the 2007-08 academic year.

"The addition ... signals a message from our presidents that we are committed to providing an athletics environment for student-athletes that reflects two important aspects – a first-class liberal arts education and the opportunity to compete with similar colleges and universities at the Division III level,” said SCAC commissioner Steve Argo.

Birmingham-Southern will be the 12th member of the league and the ninth to play football. Colorado College was recently admitted to the league and should be playing SCAC basketball in 2007-08. Austin joins the SCAC for all sports starting this fall.

“We believe this is a natural fit for Birmingham-Southern College,” said BSC president David Pollick. “This is a group of institutions among which we belong in terms of our academic mission and our intercollegiate athletics program. Our scholar-athletes can compete on the playing fields and courts while at the same time preparing for extraordinary careers.”