Whereas the Large South-Ohio Valley Convention (OVC) aren’t generally known as HBCU conferences, they’re conferences which have had HBCUs in them in recent times. Tennessee State College of the OVC is the one HBCU left within the group as Hampton and North Carolina A&T each left the Large South to turn out to be members of the Coastal Athletic Affiliation. Final 12 months, the Large South and the OVC joined collectively after shedding colleges to different conferences to create the nine-team Large South-Ohio Valley Convention Soccer Affiliation. Under is a press launch saying an extension of that partnership. See how the brand new settlement will have an effect on the conferences solely HBCU.
Courtesy of Large South-OVC
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. and CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After a profitable first season of competitors for the Large South-Ohio Valley Convention (OVC) Soccer Affiliation, the Board of Presidents and Chancellors of the 9 regionally-aligned member establishments have solidified their dedication to one another with a brand new enhanced settlement that may present a possibility to increase the unique partnership by 2030 and past.
This settlement, which strengthens the construction between the FCS-committed establishments, is meant to supply all members entry to the automated bid to the NCAA Division I Soccer Championship Playoffs, long-term stability, and a aggressive league schedule. All groups will play eight Affiliation video games this season, renewing established rivalries and sparking new ones.
The unique settlement, signed in February 2022, offered for Affiliation play from 2023 by 2026. The brand new settlement, permitted unanimously by all collaborating presidents and chancellors, now provides a “look-in” provision following the preliminary four-year time period, which was to finish after the 2026 season, for an extra 4 years, to supply establishments added membership certainty and stability.
The framework additionally permits for the potential introduction of further member establishments to the Affiliation.
“After the primary profitable season of our establishments taking part in collectively, it turned evident we had developed a particular and sustaining soccer mannequin with a grouping of regionally-aligned establishments that share the same dedication to the Soccer Championship Subdivision and that needed to develop collectively,” stated OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “We’re delighted that our enhanced settlement will enable us to function as one cohesive unit, present long-term stability for our soccer packages, and plan for an thrilling way forward for aggressive success.”
“Now greater than ever, revolutionary and significant partnerships are crucial,” added Large South Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery. “The Affiliation’s first season of competitors displayed simply that in making a extremely aggressive soccer mannequin. This enhanced partnership demonstrates our united dedication to proceed the expansion and development of the FCS. I’m assured the reaffirmation of this settlement will proceed to raise soccer scholar–athlete experiences whereas strengthening model publicity and recognition each regionally and nationally.”
The Large South-Ohio Valley Convention Soccer Affiliation at present consists of 9 colleges: Charleston Southern College (Charleston, SC), Jap Illinois College (Charleston, IL), Gardner-Webb College (Boiling Springs, NC), Lindenwood College (St. Charles, MO), Southeast Missouri State College (Cape Girardeau, MO), Tennessee State College (Nashville, TN), Tennessee Technological College (Cookeville, TN), College of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN) and Western Illinois College (Macomb, IL).
The settlement confirms that the OVC workplace will handle day-to-day soccer operations in session with Large South Convention management.
With a strengthened settlement in place, the Affiliation portion of the 2024 season will kick off on Saturday, September 7 with 2023 co-champion UT Martin visiting Southeast Missouri. On September 28, co-champion Gardner-Webb will host Tennessee Tech in a matchup involving two new head coaches (GWU’s Cris Reisert and TTU’s Bobby Wilder).
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