After 50 years of Pirate athletics, the Armstrong State University/Georgia Southern University Athletics Operational Working Group will recommend to the Consolidation Implementation Committee (CIC) that "intercollegiate competition end at Armstrong State University following the current 2016-17 athletic year," a working group spokesperson reports.
Student-athletes electing to transfer at the end of the Spring 2017 semester can apply the dropped sport exception, which allows them to compete immediately, without sitting a year in residency.
Armstrong State University has earned a reputation as one of the premier NCAA Division II departments in the nation. Over the past five decades, Pirate athletics teams have earned 13 national championships, 96 Peach Belt Conference championships, 139 NCAA Championships appearances and 296 All-Americans.
Women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country and men's and women's basketball have completed their championship segments and will not participate in further intercollegiate competition. Baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's golf are currently in season and will each finish their 2017 spring semester of competition.
As decided by the Consolidation Implementation Committee on March 3, all athletics-related scholarships for affected student athletes will be honored, provided students are making satisfactory academic progress. This plan will allow student-athletes who are affected by the consolidation to continue their education without bearing an additional financial burden.
The Athletics Operational Working Group is working on the recommended structure of the new Georgia Southern University Athletic Department. Armstrong coaches and administrators will continue to have roles through December 2017.
"Some of these coaches built these programs from scratch. That's who I really feel for," Aldridge said.