CHARLOTTE, N.C. -(From the League Office) The Big South Conference has added Presbyterian College as a member of the League effective with the 2007-08 academic year, it was announced today by the Conference's administrators, in conjunction with Presbyterian College's announcement of its transition to Division I status. Presbyterian will become the Big South's 10th member institution.
"On behalf of the entire membership of the Big South Conference -- student/athletes, coaches and presidents, we are pleased and very excited to welcome the entire community of Presbyterian College to the Conference," said Dr. G. David Pollick, Birmingham-Southern College President and President of the Big South Conference. "Both the quality of the Big South Conference and Presbyterian College truly make this a pleasure. It is always satisfying when high quality organizations which share a common value system find one another, making each just that much stronger. Such is the case with this marriage. The Big South's commitment to the preparation of young leaders by combining high scholarly expectations with healthy athletic competition is wonderfully characterized in the addition of our newest member -- Presbyterian College."
"The Big South is an excellent conference for Presbyterian College to join as we begin play in NCAA Division I," said Presbyterian College President John Griffith. "The competitive opportunities for Blue Hose athletics and the opportunity to be associated with such fine institutions are important factors for us. Over the past decade, we have played several conference members and now look forward to a permanent relationship with these institutions and to establishing new relationships as a member of the Big South."
Presbyterian sponsors 16 athletic programs: football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's lacrosse, baseball, softball, men's and women's golf and volleyball. Athletic highlights this past year include the Blue Hose football team finishing 10-2 overall, hosting a second round Division II playoff game and ranking 10th nationally by the AFCA. The women's volleyball squad posted a 32-5 overall record (14-0 League mark) and was ranked No. 6 regionally. The Blue Hose men's basketball program recorded a 25-10 mark and second round NCAA Tournament appearance this past season. Both tennis programs were regionally ranked in 2005 and advanced to the NCAA Championship as well.
During its transition to Division I, Presbyterian will play a Conference schedule beginning with the 2008-09 seasons, but will not count in the League standings nor be eligible for League Championships until receiving active Division I status. Presbyterian will become eligible for Conference and NCAA championships in the fall of 2011.
"On behalf of the Big South Membership Committee, I am pleased to welcome Presbyterian College into the Big South Conference," added Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio, chairman of the Conference's Membership Committee and President of Winthrop University. "As its newest member, Presbyterian College brings to the Conference a strong history of excellence in its intercollegiate athletics program. The institution is also a very good fit for the Big South in terms of its geographical location, its facilities and its dedication to the ideals of academic excellence and the true spirit of athletic competition. Everyone throughout the Big South Conference joins me in saying we look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Presbyterian."
"Presbyterian College will be an outstanding member of the Big South Conference," commented Big South Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander. "Its thoughtful and extensive deliberation of its move to Division I and the Big South portends a successful transition. There is no question that Presbyterian will compete successfully for Conference championships immediately upon achieving eligibility."
ABOUT PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
Presbyterian College is a fully-accredited college of liberal arts and sciences for approximately 1,200 men and women. Founded in 1880 as Clinton College by local Presbyterians, the name was soon changed as first the Synod of South Carolina and then the Synod of Georgia joined in full support. Today, the church is supported by the Synod of South Atlantic, which is made up of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. PC is located in Clinton, S.C., a city of 10,000 in the Upstate region. The college's location offers convenient access to the Appalachian ski slopes and the beaches of the Atlantic. Presbyterian College is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a national liberal arts institution with selective admission. It is ranked among the top 100 national liberal arts institutions by U.S. News and World Report. PC boasts an outstanding faculty with three of the past four CASE/Carnegie Foundation South Carolina Professors of the Year and six total since 1991 - more than twice the number of any other college or university in the state. Through strong classroom instruction and personal engagement, PC provides a foundation for lifelong learning. The Presbyterian College campus covers 240 acres and includes 29 major buildings, several of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and an effort has been made to blend new structures with the Georgian-style architecture which dominates the campus.
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