Samford to leave OVC after next year

Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., will leave the Ohio Valley Conference at the conclusion of the 2007-08 school year and join the Southern Conference.

The Southern Conference announced the move on its Web site.

Samford will become the conference's 12th member and eighth football school. The league had dropped to 11 teams when East Tennessee State left following the 2004-05 school year.

The Ohio Valley Conference now will have 11 members, 10 of which will play football this year with Austin Peay joining. After Samford's departure, the league will drop back to nine football members.

Samford is in its fourth year as a member of the OVC.

"I am disappointed that Samford University has made this decision," OVC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said. "I am resolute in my belief that Samford could achieve any of its goals -- athletically or institutionally -- as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.

"The departure of Samford does not threathen the stability of our league, nor weaken the league."

Steinbrecher said there is no urgency to replace Samford with another school.

Information from The Associated Press in South Carolina and the OVC Web site contributed to this report.