Charter Schools: Maryland Attracted More to Big Money Than Tradition
November 19th, 2012 - 20:37
Nothing lasts forever. No university ever has discarded such a longstanding affiliation with a conference as Maryland did when the Terrapins chose to divorce the ACC for wealthier Big Ten in 2014-15. The Terps will jettison 61 years of history when they align with the Big Ten, which is the only alliance other than the Ivy League never to have a member leave to join another major conference.
Fordham, fleeing the Metro Atlantic and Patriot League the first half of the 1990s, is the only institution to twice be in this charter-school departure category. Following is a list from longest to shortest tenures of the first schools to leave an intact league for another conference after being a founding member:
| Founding Member (Years) | Original League | Tenure | Next League | 1st Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland (61) | Atlantic Coast | 1954-2014 | Big Ten | 2015 |
| Boston College (26) | Big East | 1980-2005 | Atlantic Coast | 2006 |
| St. Joseph's and Temple (24) | East Coast | 1959-82 | Atlantic 10 | 1983 |
| Arkansas State (19) | Southland | 1969-87 | American South | 1988 |
| San Jose State (17) | West Coast Athletic | 1953-69 | PCAA | 1970 |
| Arizona and Arizona State (16) | Western Athletic | 1963-78 | Pacific-10 | 1979 |
| Gonzaga (16) | Big Sky | 1964-79 | West Coast Athletic | 1980 |
| Missouri and Texas A&M (16) | Big 12 | 1997-2012 | Southeastern | 2013 |
| Brigham Young and Utah (12) | Mountain West | 2000-11 | West Coast and Pac-12 | 2012 |
| San Diego State (9) | Big West | 1970-78 | Western Athletic | 1979 |
| Army and Fordham (9) | Metro Atlantic | 1982-90 | Patriot League | 1991 |
| Navy (9) | ECAC South/Colonial Athletic | 1983-91 | Patriot League | 1992 |
| Campbell (9) | Big South | 1986-94 | Trans America Athletic | 1995 |
| SW Missouri State (8) | Mid-Continent | 1983-90 | Missouri Valley | 1991 |
| Pittsburgh (6) | Eastern 8 | 1977-82 | Big East | 1983 |
| Fordham (5) | Patriot League | 1991-95 | Atlantic 10 | 1996 |
| Marshall (4) | Ohio Valley | 1949-52 | Mid-American | 1954 |
| Georgia Tech (3) | Metro | 1976-78 | Atlantic Coast | 1980 |
| Northeast Louisiana (3) | Trans America Athletic | 1980-82 | Southland | 1983 |
| Rhode Island (1) | ECAC North | 1980 | Eastern 8 | 1981 |
| Towson State (1) | Northeast | 1982 | East Coast | 1983 |
NOTES: Cincinnati (member of Mid-American from 1947-53), Georgia Tech (SEC from 1933-64), New Orleans (Sun Belt from 1977-80), Oral Roberts (Midwestern City from 1980-87), Penn State (ECBL/Eastern 8 from 1977-79), Rutgers (Middle Atlantic from 1959-62) and South Carolina (ACC from 1954-71) joined the independent ranks the next season. . . . Seven C-USA charter members joined other leagues following their 10th year in the league in 2004-05. . . . Campbell rejoined the Big South in 2011-12.