After watching rival Florida International and North Texas announce they were leaving the Sun Belt Conference earlier in the week, FAU President Mary Jane Saunders said the Owls were not in a position to also make the jump.

“It really wasn't our decision to make,” Saunders said on Sunday. “Conferences operate on a lot of different metrics to make their decisions.”

Louisiana Tech, Charlotte and Texas-San Antonio also announced moves to C-USA. Old Dominion was expected to make the move to C-USA, but there have been reports in recent days that ODU may be wavering on its decision.

That news report prompted those in charge at Middle Tennessee to make one last ditch plea for inclusion in C-USA.

Even if the Monarchs decide to stay put in the Colonial Athletic Association, Saunders said FAU isn't in a position to fill that C-USA void.

“It's not on the table for us this year,” Saunders said. “Hopefully, we will be positioned in a short period of time to get bids from other conferences. I'm more disappointed that FIU left because we could lose our rivalry.”

What will it take for FAU to get in the proper position? Saunders echoed some of the sentiments articulated by football coach Carl Pelini last week.

“I think we have to win,” Saunders said. “It's pretty tough to go 1-11 in football - and have a lot of sports that didn't (win) more than 50 percent - then say that you are competitive enough to move up to another conference. You can talk about the TV markets, there's all sorts of things, but there's also the strength of your teams.”

A few moments later she returned to this point.

“If opportunities come up to get into a better conference – a more highly ranked conference – yeah, that's great. We need to do well in the Sun Belt first,” she said.

As stands right now, baseball, women's basketball and the two tennis teams are the only teams that will finish their seasons with winning records. (To be fair to sports like swimming and track which compete against multiple schools at the same time, their records don't always indicate level of competitiveness).

Saunders wouldn't say it, but the futility on the field certainly contributed to her decision to fire Athletic Director Craig Angelos a couple months ago.

One of the qualities Saunders hopes to find in the new athletic director is the vision to get FAU into a new conference.

“I think that's part of what we are looking for in an AD,” Saunders said. “As I said before, it's a very complicated job. There's lots of parts to that job. Continuing to strengthen the programs is important. Continuing to look at opportunities for TV market revenue is important. Looking for the best opponents we can get. There's a lot to that job.”

Saunders has heard some of the criticisms and disappointment from Owl fans.

She understands that seeing FIU get invited to a new conference while FAU remains stagnant makes fans feel like the school to the south has surpassed the Owls.

“I think for the fans it's more about FIU getting it than us not getting it,” Saunders said. “I think that's what hurt – and that's about the Miami TV market.”

Owl Access Links

FAU Baseball: Owls sloppy in loss to Western Kentucky

FAU Football: Alfred Morris signs with Redskins

Other links...

WKU salvages series finale in 6-1 win (College Heights Herald)

Sun Belt Baseball Scoreboard

 STANDINGS (as of May 07, 2012)

Sunday's Results
Western Kentucky 6, FAU 1
Arkansas State 2, South Alabama 1
Louisiana-Monroe 7, UALR 4
MTSU 13, FIU 3 (7 innings, 10 run rule)
Troy 10, Louisiana-Lafayette 8

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May 06, 2012