Florida Atlantic to join Sun Belt Conference

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- In just its third season of football, Florida Atlantic on Thursday accepted an invitation of full membership into the Sun Belt Conference.

Florida Atlantic's football team will begin competing in the Sun Belt Conference in 2004. The Owls, coached by Howard Schnellenberger, visit Northern Arizona in the quarterfinals of the Division I-AA playoffs Saturday.

"The inclusion of the FAU community in the Sun Belt family will bring stability to the league and serve as a great partner for current member Florida International," said Sun Belt Conference president Norval Pohl.

Florida Atlantic currently competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference in other sports, including baseball and men's and women's basketball.

The Sun Belt Conference gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in men's basketball and has sent at least three teams to the NCAA Tournament in baseball in five straight seasons.

The champion of the Sun Belt Conference gets an automatic bid to the New Orleans Bowl. Current members New Mexico State and Utah State are leaving in 2005. Florida Atlantic opened the season with a 20-19 win over Sun Belt member Middle Tennessee State.

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