The FAMU Board of Trustee’s Special Committee on Athletics today gave its approval of a plan to move the University’s athletic programs from the MEAC to the SWAC by July 2021. If approved by the full Board tomorrow, FAMU will provide the MEAC with one year notice, by July, of its intent to leave the Conference.
The Rattlers potential conference realignment was first reported by HBCU Gameday.
Athletic Director Kortne Gosha, sited the close proximity of SWAC schools and reduced travel cost which are expected to save the university an estimated $400,000 annually and increased revenue potential from the ability to structure its own branding deals as the main selling points for the move.
FAMU would have to pay the MEAC a $250,000 exit fee if it notifies the conference by July 2020, that fee would increase to $500,000 if it doesn’t provide less than one year notice.
The exit fee was a point of contention for Trustees, given the athletic programs current cash strapped state. Trustees asked how the department intended to pay the fee. Another asked if the exit fee could be paid in installments.
Gosha said, “FAMU intends to have the fee deducted from its share of conference revenue next year.”
If approved by the full Board, FAMU’s exit could be the final nail in the coffin for the MEAC which will have seen five teams --- Winston Salem State (2010), Hampton (2017), Savannah State (2019), NC A&T (2020) and FAMU--- leave in the past decade.
The full FAMU Board will take up the proposal tomorrow.