CAA presidents to decide on ODU's eligibility for CAA title

Jun 8, 2012 - 2:35 PM Norfolk, VA (Sports Network) - The Colonial Athletic Association's university presidents are scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether Old Dominion football will be eligible for the conference title this season.

This will be ODU's final season in the CAA after the Monarchs athletic program accepted an invitation last month to join Conference USA in the summer of 2013.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Thursday that the CAA's athletic directors are recommending ODU be eligible for the title, which carries an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The university presidents are expected to make their decision at CAA meetings Tuesday in Washington.

CAA Football runs under a separate set of bylaws from the conference's other sports. ODU's other sports are considered less likely to be eligible for CAA titles.

ODU football has been wildly successful in its first three seasons under head coach Bobby Wilder, posting a 27-8 record. The Monarchs tied for second place in the CAA and reached the second round of the FCS playoffs last year.

Rhode Island, which will leave CAA Football after this season for the Northeast Conference, also was recommended by the ADs for title eligibility, while first- year member Georgia State, which has already begun its transition to the FBS and the Sun Belt Conference, will not be eligible, the Virginian-Pilot reported.