(03-01-2014 10:12 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(03-01-2014 09:39 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(02-28-2014 03:45 PM)bullet Wrote:  Now if someone could do the CUSA/SB/MAC additions the FBS timeline would be complete.

The creation of C-USA was announced by Commissioner Mike Slive at a press conference in Chicago on April 24, 1995.

The 11 charter members were:
Cincinnati
DePaul
Louisville
Marquette
Memphis
Saint Louis
South Florida
Southern Miss
Tulane
UAB
UNCC

The league went into business for Olympic sports starting with the 1995-96 season. Football had to wait until 1996, because only five of those 11 had I-A football programs:
Cincinnati
Louisville
Memphis
Southern Miss
Tulane

Everybody knew that Houston was joining the following year, although I just don't remember if that had been publicly announced or not. UAB was transitioning from I-AA to I-AA but did not become an official football member until 1998. South Florida had not yet begun its football program at any level, but immediately did so with the creation of C-USA. They started as a I-AA Independent in 1997 and eventually joined C-USA for football in 2003 -- just in time to switch to the Big East in 2005.

9/22/94 There was an agreement in principle to form a new all sports conference with Houston, Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, So. Miss and Tulane.

The various basketball schools were added later.

I don't see a mention of the Liberty Bowl Alliance which led to ECU being part of that and then a Football CUSA Member in 1997 I believe, after winning the Alliance in 1995 and 1996. I believe in 2000(or 2001?) we became a FULL CUSA Member. I believe TCU came in the year after we did as a full member but they ended up bolting within two years.