Originally Posted by
Jack Mayhoffer
My memory's a bit sketchy, but does anyone remember our old league being this gracious when we left?
From the News-Star:
Southland says thanks, and good luck
As many of your readers know, the University of Louisiana at Monroe will end its near quarter-century relationship with the Southland Conference in the coming weeks, when at the same time, it assumes full membership in the Sun Belt Conference.
It's no secret that ULM athletics has been a large part of the successful history of the Southland Conference since the university joined the league in 1982. At the same time, the Southland Conference has reciprocated by providing the institution with many of the finest athletic moments in school history.
On behalf of the Southland Conference and its membership, I would like to thank everyone who's ever been involved with ULM athletics during its league tenure. That begins at the top with the previous leadership of Presidents Dwight Vines and Lawson Swearingen, and now, under the dynamic management of President Jim Cofer. There can be little athletic success without the proper direction and support of effective presidential control.
There are many, many others to salute and thank for their contributions to the Southland Conference, and we offer our sincere appreciation. Great friends, administrators, coaches and student-athletes such as Benny Hollis, Bruce Hanks, Lou St. Amant, Mona Martin, Pat Collins, Linda Harper, Frank Hoffman, Chuck Finley, Ben Sheets, Lauri (Young) Mondschein, Lisa Ingram, Arthur Hayes, Terry Martin, Wojciech Myrda and Breaux Greer have all provided our league with great accomplishments and memorable moments.
And, of course, ULM legends Mike Vining, Bob Groseclose, Bob "The Dean" Anderson, and E.J. (Lee) Ok, are all appropriately enshrined in the Southland Conference Hall of Honor.
We again thank ULM athletics for the great memories, and we wish the absolute best to everyone within the ULM community as the institution transitions into the Sun Belt Conference.
Tom Burnett is commissioner of the Southland Conference.