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Florida A&M University Joins SWAC

Florida A&M quarterback Rasean McKay (17) looks for a receiver during an NCAA football game against Central Florida on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Gary McCullough
/
AP Photo
Florida A&M quarterback Rasean McKay (17) looks for a receiver during an NCAA football game against Central Florida on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

After nearly 40 years in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference or MEAC, Florida A&M University is leaving. The school is planning to move its sports teams to the SWAC—the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The move will be effective next summer. The full Board of Trustees approved the change Thursday. It got an endorsement from FAMU alumni association president Greg Clark.

“After talking to the commissioner of the SWAC and understanding the vision of where he’s trying to take his conference. I feel comfortable in endorsing the move to the Southwestern Athletic Conference today," said Greg Clark. "I think this is a big move, big things are happening at Florida A&M University. This is a big decision that our alumni and our constituents want and will wholeheartedly endorse.”

A study on the move shows FAMU’s athletic travel expenses would drastically decrease with the move to the SWAC. FAMU currently leads the MEAC in distance traveled for games.

Blaise Gainey is a State Government Reporter for WFSU News. Blaise hails from Windermere, Florida. He graduated from The School of Journalism at the Florida A&M University. He formerly worked for The Florida Channel, WTXL-TV, and before graduating interned with WFSU News. He is excited to return to the newsroom. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, Netflix, outdoor activities and anything involving his daughter.