SWAC Likely to Move Back to Nine-Game Conference Schedule

Three summers ago, the athletic directors of all 10 Southwestern Athletic Conference schools agreed to move to a seven-game conference football schedule, rather than the nine-game schedule that had previously been used. The thinking was the creation of more nonconference openings would allow SWAC schools, which compete in the Football Championship Subdivision, to schedule games with schools from the Football Bowl Subdivision, games which usually come with a sizable payout.

But as the annual SWAC meetings wrapped up Friday in Birmingham, Ala., conference athletic directors have decided the experiment is over, and think the possibility of the paid games have been more trouble than they’re worth. “(Schools) wanted the opportunity to make more money” said UAPB athletic director Skip Perkins by phone from Birmingham. “Grambling (State), Southern and Jackson State were getting those games anyway, everyone else was having problems.”

The change back to the nine-game schedule, which was used up until last season, was approved by athletic directors and now only needs to be approved by the SWAC’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors Friday night before becoming official, the results of which were not known as of press time. If approved, the nine-game conference schedule would be reinstated for the 2010 season.

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