Syracuse University and MEAC sign alliance agreement

Contracts have already been signed between Syracuse and Morgan State in football (scheduled for 2029) and between Syracuse and Morgan State in women’s basketball (November 17, 2021).

Syracuse University and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced today that they have signed a one-of-a-kind agreement, creating an alliance designed to connect institutions, student-athletes, staff and alumni.

The 10-year partnership, which is already underway, creates multiple opportunities for collaboration between Syracuse and MEAC member institutions.

One of the key elements of the alliance is an athletics programming agreement that has a target of up to 50 competitions between Syracuse and MEAC institutions over the next 10 years. Contracts have already been signed between Syracuse and Morgan State in football (scheduled for 2029) and between Syracuse and Morgan State in women’s basketball (November 17, 2021). In the spring of 2022, Syracuse softball will play the Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State.

“On behalf of Syracuse Athletics, I would like to thank Commissioner Thomas for his enthusiastic support of this unprecedented deal,” said John Wildhack, Director of Athletics for Syracuse. “My thanks go to the staff at MEAC and the staff at Syracuse Athletics and the University who worked diligently to make this idea a reality. We are excited about the opportunities this alliance will create for MEAC institutions, Syracuse University, thousands of student-athletes, coaches and staff at MEAC institutions and Syracuse University.

“First of all, I would like to thank John Wildhack, director of athletics at Syracuse University, for his vision and progressive leadership on this alliance,” said Dennis Thomas, MEAC commissioner. “Our member institutions look forward to working with Syracuse to implement our shared vision of cooperation to improve and provide opportunities for our student-athletes, both athletically and academically. Our members, along with Syracuse, look forward to helping our constituents lead this collaboration through athletic competition and academic engagement. “

Additional elements of the alliance include:

• Internship exchange in the athletics department: The 10-week internship in Syracuse will be open to a student from a MEAC institution and to a student from Syracuse in one of the MEAC institutions or at the conference office.
• Seminar on compliance issues: A series of rule-making workshops involving the Syracuse and MEAC institutions.
• Student-athlete development seminars: The Syracuse Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will partner with MEAC member SAAC organizations to organize virtual workshops.
• Track and Field Income Generation Conference: A seminar, focusing on revenue generation strategies for increased funding for athletics, will be held with Syracuse, the MEAC and institutional staff from the MEAC.
• Conference on Women’s Leadership in Athletics: MEAC will invite Syracuse to join the league’s Women in Athletics Conference, which is held every two years. The workshop is designed to raise awareness of the opportunities available to women administrators in sport and to assist them in their professional development.
• Visiting professors / Speakers: A Syracuse faculty member will be invited to visit a MEAC institution to conduct a week-long lecture series in an academic department. A faculty member from a mutually agreed MEAC university will be invited to come to Syracuse to hold a week-long lecture series at an academic department.

The Middle East Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 51st year of intercollegiate competition with the 2021-22 school year. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions on the Atlantic coast: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and State University of South Carolina.

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge in all disciplines to foster breakthrough discoveries and cutting-edge leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors bridges the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we are a powerful community that takes ideas, people and impact beyond what is possible. Syracuse University sports teams, known as Orange, participate in 20 varsity sports.