17 Flames athletics teams to stay in Big South Conference

Liberty University and the Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) have agreed to transition the Flames’ Athletics program from full member to associate member status, beginning with the 2019-20 academic year. The move was necessitated by Liberty’s football team’s reclassification to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as an independent effective in 2018.

The Flames will keep 17 of their NCAA Division I athletics teams in the Big South — all but football, field hockey (which plays in the Big East Conference), and women’s swimming & diving (which competes in the CCSA).

Those 17 programs will continue to be eligible for team and individual Big South Conference (BSC) championships as well as a chance to represent the Big South as the league’s automatic qualifier in NCAA championships.

“We are grateful to extend our membership in the Big South Conference and continue to partner with the other nine universities and their athletics programs,” Liberty Director of Athletics Ian McCaw said.

Since joining the BSC on July 1, 1991, Liberty Athletics has claimed 146 Big South titles and captured the Big South Sasser Cup 13 times, the Women’s All-Sports Award eight times, and the Men’s All-Sports Award seven times.

• Read the full story on Liberty’s Athletics website.