BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) officially welcomed Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University as full members of the league on Thursday.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University as official members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference,” said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland.
“The additions of these two historic institutions of higher learning undoubtedly make all of our institutions stronger,” added McClelland. “A significant number of SWAC member institutions have enjoyed long-standing history of competition against both universities in several sports; most notably football.”
“We feel the new rivalries that will be forged significantly enhances our conference’s brand in all phases and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome all of Wildcat Nation and Rattler Nation to the Southwestern Athletic Conference.”
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The Wildcats sponsor 17 varsity sports at the Division I level, with all 17 of those sports sponsored by the SWAC: football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track & field, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, women’s volleyball and women’s bowling.
The Rattlers sponsor 14 varsity sports at the Division I level, with all 14 of those sports sponsored by the SWAC: football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track & field, baseball, softball, men’s golf, women’s volleyball and women’s bowling.
With the additions of Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, the Southwestern Athletic Conference now has three members based in Mississippi (Alcorn State, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State), two in Alabama (Alabama A&M, Alabama State), two in Louisiana (Grambling State, Southern), two in Texas (Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern), one in Arkansas (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), and two in Florida (Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M).
Courtesy: SWAC
