Blue Hen athletes to compete in Colonial Conference in '03

The University of Delaware announced Wednesday, Dec. 13, that the Blue Hen athletics program will leave the America East conference and join the Colonial Athletic Association, effective July 1, 2003.

Colonial Athletic Association commissioner Thomas E. Yeager announced in a televised press conference at the MCI Center that four current America East conference members–UD, Drexel University, Hofstra University and Towson University–will join the conference. The four schools will remain members of America East until joining the CAA.

"Today marks the beginning of the new CAA, spreading from New York City to eastern North Carolina," Yeager said. "Our four incoming members boast programs that are highly regarded on a national level in terms of both academic and athletic excellence. These schools will mesh well with the existing membership of the Colonial Athletic Association and enhance our reputation as we move forward."

Delaware and the other three will join George Mason, James Madiso n, Old Dominion and Virginia Commonwealth universities, the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and the College of William & Mary to form a 10-team conference that will conduct championships in 20 sports. With their arrival, women's softball and men's lacrosse championships will be established with the possibility of other championships being added in the future.

"The reputation of the CAA is greatly enhanced today," said Dr. Alan Merten, president of George Mason University and chair of the CAA President's Council, said. "The ties we share with these four schools have been strengthened. They are four highly regarded institutions and they are a perfect fit. This adds to the already proud history of the CAA."

The move affects 21 of the 23 Blue Hen athletic programs. Football will remain a member of the Atlantic 10 Football Conference and women's rowing will remain an NCAA Division I independent. CAA currently does not sponsor a men's or women's indoor track and field championship, but it is anticipated that one will be offered by the time the four new teams join the league.

"We look forward to this opportunity for our teams and student-athletes to compete in the Colonial Athletic Association," UD Director of Athletics Edgar N. Johnson said. "We have a profound respect for the CAA and look forward to the challenges presented by the move. This is a great thing for our athletics program, our coaches and, above all, our student-athletes.

"The new CAA is the place for Delaware. Our future lies with the CAA, and we are most pleased to be a part of this great new venture."

CAA institutions have produced 15 national team champions in four different sports, 33 national champions, 10 national coaches of the year, nine national players of the year, 11 Honda Sports Award winners, 10 NCAA post-graduate scholars and five Rhodes Scholars.