GEORGIA STATE TO JOIN CAA

Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner Thomas E. Yeager Monday announced that Georgia State University will join the CAA effective July 1, 2006.

"Today is an exciting day for the CAA," said Yeager. "In the ever changing landscape of college athletics, we are thrilled to add Georgia State University to what we think is already an impressive roster of academic institutions. Our geographic footprint will stretch from the shadow of the Statue of Liberty to Atlanta, Ga., resulting in increased exposure for the CAA in one of the nation's top media markets. Georgia State's broad based program fits nicely with those of our existing members and the university will help enhance our branding initiative as we stretch further south into one of the nation's most vibrant metropolitan areas."

Currently a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, Georgia State fields teams in 15 sports in which the CAA conducts championships. The Panthers will become the CAA's 11th member and join the University of Delaware, Drexel University, George Mason University, Hofstra University, James Madison University, UNC Wilmington, Old Dominion University, Towson University, Virginia Commonwealth University and the College of William & Mary. The CAA conducts championships in 21 sports with NCAA automatic qualifiers in 15 of those sports.

Georgia State anticipates participating in CAA athletic events beginning in fall 2006, Patton said. The Atlantic Sun requires a two-year notification from institutions intending to leave its conference.

Prior to adding Georgia State, the conference last expanded in 2001 when Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra and Towson joined the CAA. The conference, which is headquartered in Richmond, Va., regularly showcases student-athletes, coaches and administrators who stand out not only on the playing field but also in the classroom. CAA member schools boast 15 national team champions in four different sports, 33 individual national champions, 11 national coaches of the year, 11 national players of the year, 12 Honda Award winners, 16 NCAA post-graduate scholars, five Rhodes Scholars as well as a pair of Nobel Prize winning faculty.