On Wednesday, the FAMU Board of Trustees will consider a plan to move the university’s athletic programs from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The conference change is one of several items the BOT will be voting on.
If Trustees approve the move, FAMU will provide the MEAC one-year notice and move to the SWAC in July 2021.
FAMU has been a member of the MEAC for nearly 40 years, joining the conference originally in 1979 and again in 1986 after leaving the conference for two seasons from 1984 to 1986.
The Rattlers football program also left the MEAC in the early 2000's, as it attempted to transition to the FBS level, but returned after just one year.
One of the benefits of the conference move is reduced travel expenses by 30% which could produce an annual savings of up to $400,000 a year according to the proposal, and an "alignment with stronger athletic brands".
According to the proposal, FAMU would benefit from more enticing matchups as a member of the SWAC: FAMU says last year's game against Southern generated $250,000. Compared to the highest revenue-generated MEAC game of last year, which was $75,000.
The MEAC is already set to lose North Carolina A&T after the 2020 season; the Aggies will join the Big South Conference.
The MEAC is already set to lose North Carolina A&T after the 2020 season; the Aggies will join the Big South Conference.
FAMU’s membership in the SWAC has already received unanimous approval from the SWAC Council of Presidents, according to the proposal.