University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Conference USA Awards 2009 Baseball Championship to Southern Miss
6/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 3, 2008
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Southern Mississippi was awarded the 2009 Conference USA Baseball Championship at the annual meeting of the C-USA Board of Directors meeting which concluded Tuesday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.
"We're excited for our baseball team to have the opportunity to host this event and it is a tribute to Corky Palmer and his staff as we will showcase our tremendous facility to go along with an already outstanding home schedule in 2009," said Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini.
The tournament will run May 20-24 at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field and feature eight of the league's nine-playing institutions.
""I am very excited for not only our team but our fans and the community to be able to host next season's C-USA Tournament," said Southern Miss baseball coach Corky Palmer. "I feel that we have top notch facilities with the addition of the suites and new press box this season. We have not hosted a tournament since 2005 and I know our staff and athletic department will work very hard and do a tremendous job."
Southern Miss also will host the 2010 women's golf championship.
The Board discussed a variety of topics over the two-day session. A strengthened set of conference policies in regards to sportsmanship and game management were approved. It was also noted that the Conference has received an NCAA grant for efforts to increase attendance in women's basketball. A package to enhance the sport, which includes additional television broadcasts and scheduling and performance incentives, was also approved.
R. Gerald Turner, President at Southern Methodist University and chairman of the board of directors, said, "We had another productive meeting regarding the achievements and opportunities available to Conference USA. The challenges facing intercollegiate athletics are real, but we have a great group of Presidents and Chancellors who are committed to facing them together."
NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand was in attendance and led a discussion of prominent national issues including academics and finances.
The Board also reviewed men's basketball scheduling policies and confirmed the current 16-game conference format would not change. Additionally, a number of other championship bids were reviewed and approved Tulsa was approved as the site for the 2010 Men's Basketball Championship, which will be hosted by the Tulsa Sports Commission. Memphis was already approved as the 2009 men's basketball championship site.
Tulane will serve as host of the 2009 Women's Basketball Championship. Five team championship sites for the 2009-10 season were also approved: Memphis (men's soccer), SMU (women's soccer), Rice (volleyball), Houston (softball and baseball).
The Board will meet again on October 10, 2008 in Dallas.
