GSC Statement Regarding UNO's NCAA Announcement
Birmingham, Ala. — On Thursday afternoon, the University of New Orleans (UNO) announced its intentions to return its athletic programs to the NCAA Division I level.
In June 2011, the Gulf South Conference overwhelmingly approved UNO for official membership starting in the 2012-13 season.
Below is an official statement from GSC Commissioner Nate Salant regarding today’s announcement by the UNO leadership:
"We are surprised and disappointed by this announcement. UNO made a full commitment to us when we granted its request for membership in the Gulf South Conference this past June. Based on that commitment, and the fact that it paid its non-refundable initiation fee, UNO is in all of our GSC schedules for 2012-13 and 2013-14.
We are aware that the independent consultant hired by the President of the U of L System unequivocally recommended in his January report that UNO should continue on the path to Division II and the Gulf South Conference. We believe this was based at least in part on the challenges UNO faces if it stays D-I: competitive budgets, scheduling as an independent, minimum numbers of athletic grants-in-aid, APR deficiencies and minimum sport sponsorship requirements.
With that in mind, we are closing no doors because we are convinced that UNO is a great fit in D-II and the GSC. We think the D-I road will be a lot more difficult than some people currently believe and we want the opportunity to revisit this in the future.
Dr. Fos has stated that UNO will honor its commitments to the GSC, including the 2012-13 schedule, and we fully expect them to do so."