Big West Conference athletic directors have unanimously endorsed adding four independent schools as associate members to strengthen the league's foundering football program.
The addition of Southwestern Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Northern Illinois and Arkansas State was approved 6-0 in a conference call on Wednesday and will be acted on formally at the league's meetings May 11-15 in Las Vegas.If they are voted in, they would begin conference football play in 1993.
"This definitely will strengthen the league," Nevada athletic director Chris Ault said. "It's going to happen. We'll definitely finalize it in Las Vegas. It's just a matter of ironing out a few items."
Nevada has left the Big Sky Conference to launch its first season of I-A football play in the Big West this fall.
Other teams in the league are San Jose State, Utah State, UNLV, Pacific Stockton, New Mexico State, Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton. Long Beach State dropped its football program last fall and Fullerton may join it this year.
Nevada joined the league after Fresno State bolted to the Western Athletic Conference.
The consortium was proposed by Big West Commissioner Jim Haney, who said he hoped to add two more Eastern schools.
"This is a major step for the stability of our conference," Haney said. "It's a good arrangement for everyone involved. But we're not going to stand still."
Haney would not name potential additions, but the Reno Gazette-Journal said on Thursday that possibilities suggested by athletic directors include Tulsa, Tulane, Memphis State, Louisville, Cincinnati, Boise State and Northeast Louisiana.
Under the arrangement approved on Wednesday, each school would play six league games, with the six current Big West members playing two Eastern teams each, one at home and one away.
If the league is further expanded to 12 football schools, Haney hopes to form two six-team divisions.