Three schools leaving LSC

RICHARDSON -- East Central University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University have all informed the Lone Star Conference that they are withdrawing from the league, effective June 30, 2012.

The presidents of the three universities in Oklahoma and six in Arkansas released a prepared statement saying they met in Russellville, Ark., last Friday to discuss possibly defecting from their current leagues to form a new conference.

"The presidents, chancellors and directors of athletics from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Arkansas Tech University, East Central University, Harding University, Henderson State University, Ouchita Baptist University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southern Arkansas and Southwestern Oklahoma State University held a meeting to discuss the possibility of forming a new NCAA Division II conference," the statement from all nine presidents said.

"Our ongoing discussion is producing positive results as we analyze the feasibility of creating a new conference that would reduce the amount of missed class time by our student-athletes and reduce our operating costs," the statement says. "We found during the course of our meeting that we have similar concerns and that we are like-minded in our approach to intercollegiate athletics."

The three Oklahoma schools are each members of the LSC North Division, while the six Arkansas schools are all members of the Gulf South Conference. Aside from those three Oklahoma schools, Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State University are exploring leaving the LSC for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and Eastern New Mexico president Steven Gamble told the Portales News-Tribune that ENMU must look at its options.

One of Gamble's biggest concerns is the escalating LSC membership fee, which is reportedly moving to $50,000 per school per year. Gamble said in the report that one option ENMU could study is joining the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, which includes other state schools such as New Mexico Highlands and Western New Mexico.

LSC Commissioner Stan Wagnon issued a statement on the defection of the three Oklahoma schools late Monday afternoon, saying:

"The Lone Star Conference has been notified that East Central University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University plan to withdraw from the league. Per LSC membership policy, the withdrawal shall become effective June 30, 2012," the statement reads.

"Withdrawing members are obligated to play all approved LSC athletic competitions with other members up to the effective withdrawal date. In the event of inability or refusal to meet those obligations, the withdrawing member(s) shall pay a financial penalty unless such competitions are waived or modified by written consent of the parties affected," the statement continues. "I continue to work with administrators at those institutions that are committed to LSC membership and we remain confident in the future success of the league."

If those five Oklahoma schools and ENMU leave the LSC, the conference would be left with Abilene Christian, Angelo State, Cameron, Incarnate Word, Midwestern State, Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Texas Woman's and West Texas A&M. All of those schools except Cameron and Texas Woman's offer football.

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Three schools leaving LSC

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