Conference Adds Maryville College

May 20, 2004 - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced that Maryville College will join the Conference as an associate member for football-only competition.  The addition of the school, located in Maryville, TN, brings the number of football-playing USA South institutions to eight.  "The USA South Athletic Conference is pleased to welcome Maryville College into the Conference," stated Commissioner Rita Wiggs.  "Maryville College presents the academic reputation and the athletic tradition that we value in our members.  We look forward to our association with their administrators, coaches and student-athletes.  The Maryville College Fighting Scots will enhance the growth of football in our Conference."

Starting with the 2005 season, Maryville football will compete with Averett, Christopher Newport, Ferrum, Greensboro, Methodist, North Carolina Wesleyan and Shenandoah for the USA South title.  "This is a great move for our football program.  We gladly accept the invitation into the USA South and look forward to developing our relationship with all of the conference members.  We will try to uphold the integrity and quality of competition that has been a trademark of this outstanding conference," said Maryville Athletic Director Randy Lambert. 

Maryville offers six men's (cross country, football, soccer, basketball, baseball and tennis) and six women's (cross country, volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball and tennis) sports.  All Fighting Scot teams except football compete for championships in the Great South Athletic Conference,  of which MC has been a member since 2000. 

Maryville was founded in 1819 as a private, four-year liberal arts college.  Football was initiated at the school in 1892.  Since 1946, Maryville has produced 35 All-Americans from the gridiron.  The decade of the 90's saw great success for Maryville football, as the team posted a .500 or better winning percentage in seven of the 10 seasons.  They look to continue that winning tradition under the direction of second-year head coach Tony Ierulli, a Scot alum.  The school has been a member of NCAA Division III since 1965. 

"We at Maryville College are very pleased to become a member of the USA South Athletic Conference," stated Dr. Gerald Gibson, President of Maryville.  "Our football program is greatly enhanced by this association with peer colleges with whom we have so much in common.  We look forward both to the association and the athletic competition."