Then there was one: BSC only school left in WVIAC

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August 23, 2012

Then there was one: BSC only school left in WVIAC

By BRIAN WOODSON Bluefield Daily Telegraph The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Thu Aug 23, 2012, 12:08 AM EDT

BLUEFIELD — Effective as of now, Bluefield State will be the only institution remaining in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) in the fall of 2013.

Bluefield State continues to explore its options on what to do next, according to Jim Nelson, Assistant to the President and Director of Media Relations.

According to Nelson, Bluefield State athletic director Terry Brown has been working on a solution since the original announcement was made earlier this summer by nine schools that they were leaving the WVIAC to create their own league.

“Terry, in the past month or two since the issue was first raised, has been exploring options for a conference and is looking to make a recommendation for athletics that makes sense and envisions its role in the institution,” Nelson said. “They are several different options that the college is actively exploring.”

That includes, according to Nelson, the possibility of joining a new conference or going the independent route, among others.

“He is looking at options that allow us to keep athletics in a role that is consistent with our mission,” Nelson said.

The nine schools — including Concord — that left the WVIAC announced the name of its new league — the 12-school Mountain East Conference — on Monday. Two other schools, Pitt-Johnstown and Seton Hill, were expected to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

That left three schools, until Ohio Valley and Davis & Elkins announced on Tuesday their intentions to join the Great Midwest Conference, joining WVIAC member Alderson-Broaddus, which had already made a similar move.

That left one school, that being in Bluefield State.

Nelson said that Bluefield State is looking at numerous options, all of which must fit the mission of the college.

“One of the things we want to make sure is wherever we go that it fits with the overall mission of the college and the role that athletics should play in that mission,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the school wanted to make a thorough study on what step to take, adding that news Bluefield State president Marsha Krotseng will be arriving at the school soon and should be involved in the decision.

“Just to join a conference for a landing spot is not the best strategy if not ultimately a good fit,” Nelson said.

“This would be something that certainly the new president should be able to have a voice in.

“We want to be prompt, but not hasty. It’s certainly not an issue flowing below our radar.”

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com

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Then there was one: BSC only school left in WVIAC

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