The Colonial Athletic Association Council of Presidents has voted that Georgia State University and Old Dominion University are ineligible in 2012-13 for CAA team championships in which the conference receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. This includes football.

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The Colonial Athletic Association Football (CAA Football) Council of Presidents has determined that as a withdrawing institution, Old Dominion University will not be eligible for the 2012 CAA Football conference championship and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

Georgia State previously announced its intentions to reclassify to the Football Bowl Subdivision April 9, 2012, which by NCAA rule renders it ineligible for the CAA Football Championship, the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship as well as at-large consideration for the NCAA Playoffs.

“CAA Football bylaws require consideration and discussion of any action restricting the rights and privileges of membership afforded a withdrawing institution,” CAA Football Commissioner Tom Yeager said. “The CAA Football Presidents strongly believe the interests of the conference are best served when a continuing member institution is designated as the conference champion.”

Georgia State and Old Dominion made a formal request they remain eligible to compete for all conference championships during the 2012-13 season and that their set effective date of withdrawal be set as June 30, 2013. After thorough discussion, the presidents unanimously decided to set July 1, 2012 as the date at which both institutions would become ineligible.

“The conferences Bylaws were well understood and evaluated when the institutions made their decision to withdraw from the conference,” CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager said. “While we respect an institution’s decision to withdraw, it is not without consequences that the institution must accept. As a conference, we desire to have those institutions that are fully invested in the continued prosperity of the conference represent the conference as its champion.”

This same ruling applied to American University, East Carolina University and the University of Richmond following their withdrawal from the CAA during the 2000-01 academic year.

While not participating for the CAA Football Championship, Old Dominion will still be eligible for selection to the NCAA Championship as an at-large selection. [Georgia State is ineligible for the NCAA Playoffs due to NCAA rules regarding its reclassification]. Both institutions will remain eligible for inclusion in the conference television package and its student-athletes and coaches are eligible for all conference awards.

Decisions on extending associate membership opportunities will be evaluated when conference realignment is complete.

By CAA Football Media Relations