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UTEP To Conference USA?
Miners Expected To Accept Invitation
Wednesday, April 28, 2004 -- Thirty-seven years of membership is about to end.
No more Hawaii. No more Fresno St.
Say hello to Houston and Memphis.
UTEP is expected to receive and accept an invitation to join Conference USA on Friday.
The USA Board of Directors will meet and first determine if the league should add a school to make an even dozen. If that vote is "yes" then the Board will vote on what school will be added. UTEP is expected to be that school.
"Unless you are telling me Britton Banowsky (Comissioner) has announced UTEP is joining the league then this is all speculation," said WAC Comissioner Karl Benson. "I can understand why they are interested in UTEP but right now everything is just speculation."
Banowsky toured the UTEP Campus on Thursday April 22 and met with University President Dr. Diana Natalicio.
UTEP would become the 12th league member creating the possibility of a League Championship Football Game following the regular season.
The Miners are expected to pay a two million dollar fee to join the league in time for the 2005 season.
Proposed Conference USA
East West
East Carolina Houston
Marshall SMU
Central Florida Rice
Alabama Birmingham Tulane
Memphis Tulsa
Southern Mississippi UTEP