The presidents of eight universities in West Virginia and one in Pennsylvania announced on Monday that they will create a new all-sports athletic conference and seek membership in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).  These nine schools are currently affiliated with the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). 

Two HBCUs are affected by this decision.  West Virginia State University plans to leave while Bluefield State College will be one of six teams remaining.

“It is a devastating blow,” said WVIAC commissioner Barry Blizzard, who has been in charge of the league for 26 of its 88 years.

“We strongly believe that a twelve-member all sports conference creates a solid foundation for its membership,” stated the presidents from the nine institutions in a joint statement.  ”The investment required for an all-sports league will level the playing field for all of its member institutions while positioning its members for growth.”

The nine initial member institutions plan to submit required documentation to the NCAA before December 1, 2012.

Reid Amos, Vice President of Broadcasting at West Liberty University and spokesman for the new conference, said the move was fueled by the desire to create a conference of like-minded football playing schools.

"There's been a growing divide between the institutions that play football and the majority of the others that do not,"  said Amos.   "This is not a new discussion," Amos said.  "There have been rumors going back for more than a decade that this league could split."