Officials: ODU will join Conference USA

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - So long CAA, hello C-USA.

Old Dominion University will join Conference USA effective July 1, 2013, according to an announcement by ODU President John R. Broderick.

The formal announcement was made May 17 at a 2:30 p.m. press conference at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

"It becomes a game changer for all our coaches, student athletes, fans and donors," said Athletic Director Wood Selig at the press conference announcing ODU's move to Conference USA.

In a letter announcing the conference change, Broderick writes: "While the university was not actively seeking a change, recent events necessitated an earlier consideration of our future, and in particular, for our football program. C-USA’s invitation provided the right opportunity at the right time to reclassify our football program and broaden the national footprint of our athletic program."

Broderick says he still hopes to schedule competitions with CAA teams for non-conference teams.

"While the university was not actively seeking a change, recent events necessitated an earlier consideration of our future, and in particular, for our football program," Broderick says. "C-USA’s invitation provided the right opportunity at the right time to reclassify our football program and broaden the national footprint of our athletic program."

Other teams in the C-USA include East Carolina, Rice, Tulane Tulsa, Marshall, Florida International, North Texas and Louisiana Tech universities and the universities of North Carolina Charlotte, Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Alabama at Birmingham, Texas at El Paso, and Texas at San Antonio.