Central Florida could join MAC in other sports

THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Mid-American Conference officials have started addressing future membership issues, including the possibility of offering Central Florida an all-sports invitation. It's an idea with which the Golden Knights are enamored.
UCF athletics director Steve Orsini participated in part of a specially called meeting of MAC athletic directors last week, a gathering with one agenda item: conference realignment.
Orsini said he gave a presentation in Chicago about UCF's 16 other sports to athletic directors, Commissioner Rick Chryst, a president, a faculty representative and a senior women's administrator. He sat in on 21/2 hours of the six-hour meeting and left with an uplifted heart.
"I had a positive feeling," Orsini said. "I am hopeful that it will develop into an invitation for our other sports. That would accomplish one of our major goals."
UCF officials have not dismissed the idea of adding to their football-only MAC membership but have not hidden their excitement about rumored interest from the Big East. The Knights would not make a decision about MAC membership until their status with the Big East is apparent.
UCF's rowing team is independent, and the school's other 15 sports compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
MAC athletic directors gathered in Detroit last month for their annual summer meetings but had a full agenda. Chryst called for another meeting so they could exchange ideas about a changing national landscape in the wake of moves by Miami and Virginia Tech from the Big East to the Atlantic Coast Conference, effective next year.