UNO Quietly Withdraws From Sun Belt

((HT: WWL-TV))

In what a lot of people thought was an unfortunate inevitability, the University of New Orleans has asked for and was granted a withdrawal from the Division I Sun Belt Conference. It's part of their process to drop from Division I to Division III for the remaining six sports on campus.

"It is unfortunate that UNO finds itself in financial constraints that have necessitated such drastic measures, but there is a time when tough decisions must be made. While we are proud of our past membership in the Sun Belt Conference, the University has to make changes that will allow NCAA sanctioned athletics to continue at the Division III level," said University of New Orleans Chancellor Tim Ryan.

A combination of dwindling student body numbers, the resulting lack of student activity funds available from the 50-percent drop, budget cuts, and the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina forced the decision.

Back in November, the school got serious about investigating the drop and this is the end game. The conference Executive Committee, wisely, dropped the $500,000 early withdrawal fee and let the school go into the sunset on their own.

"The last several years have been unquestionably difficult on the University and the athletics department," said Sun Belt Commissioner Wright Waters. "The University's assessment that has led to its withdrawal from the Sun Belt Conference has assuredly also been another difficult chapter for UNO. UNO is our third longest tenured member and they will be sorely missed. The hard work put in by Chancellor Ryan and numerous other administrators on campus over the last several years of uncertainty is to be commended."

The University originally suspended nine of its 15 sports, and has been operating under a waiver of the NCAA requirement that Division I institutions that do not play football sponsor a minimum of 14 sports. The University is currently sponsoring nine sports.

And that number is pretty generous... it's really six with eight squads- baseball, basketball ((men's and women's)), golf, swimming and diving, tennis ((men's and women's)), and volleyball.

Here's how our friends at WWL-TV looked at the initial idea of dropping to D3.
Bigad Shaban caught up with some folks who were understandably disappointed...


The HQ still doesn't know how the Privateers are going to add three sports to get to the D3 mandated 9. The plan is to elevate the football, softball, and soccer club teams. But the school gets four years to figure out the financing.

WWL's Scott Cody took a look at football on campus during the season past...


The HQ sends its support to UNO, but we're still thinking the long-term prospects are pretty bleak. Support UNO athletes here at their Athletic Foundation website...

They need it...