Campbell officials have decided to leave the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2010 to join the Big South Conference. The Fighting Camels were a founding member of the Big South but joined the Atlantic Sun less than a decade later. However, the Camels must spend a lot of money to travel to Atlantic Sun opponents spread throughout the Southeast while current Big South members all reside in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The school announced the move in a press release and offered an in-depth explanation for switching conferences.
A charter member of the Big South, which formed in 1983 and began play one year later, Campbell joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 1994 and will remain in the league for two more seasons.
In a meeting last month, the University’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a motion for Campbell to affiliate with the Big South Conference. As a full Big South member, Campbell will be immediately eligible for all championships beginning in the fall of 2011.
Current Big South Conference membership includes five private institutions and five state schools, all of which are located in Virginia (3), North Carolina (3) and South Carolina (4). Round trip travel to all Big South schools is 4122 miles, a difference of 5038 fewer miles than travel to and from current Atlantic Sun Conference institutions.
Campbell’s longest trip as a Big South member (VMI) will be just slightly more than its shortest to an A-Sun member (USC Upstate, Spartanburg, S.C.).
