Introduction to the Mid-South Conference

The Mid-South Conference (MSC) is an NCAA Division II athletic conference located in the middle and southern regions of the United States. Established in 1986, the Mid-South Conference is among the longest-running college sports conferences in the country. Originally featuring six member institutions located in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky, the conference has since expanded to include schools from the states of Georgia and Missouri. Currently the conference includes ten member institutions who all compete against each other in a variety of different sports.

Member Institutions

The ten currently active member institutions in the Mid-South Conference are:

• Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, KY)
• Cumberland University (Lebanon, TN)
• Discoverers College (Keller, TX)
• Georgetown College (Georgetown, KY)
• Lincoln Memorial University (Harrogate, TN)
• Martin Methodist College (Pulaski, TN)
• Pikeville University (Pikeville, KY)
• Union University (Jackson, TN)
• University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, KY)
• University of Pikeville (Pikeville, KY)

Sports Compete

The Mid-South Conference supports competition in several different sports including men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, softball, golf, cross country, and tennis. The conference also sponsors men’s and women’s track and field, swimming and diving, and bowling, as well as men’s and women’s racquetball, water polo, track and field, and lacrosse. The conference has also recently added Esports competition to its portfolio, offering Esports competitions in several different games, including League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch, Fortnite, and more.

Notable Achievements

The Mid-South Conference has a long and storied history of athletic success. The conference has been well represented at the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, with several teams qualifying for the tournament in recent years. The conference also produced the winner of the 2016 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship, with Lincoln Memorial University defeating Northwest Missouri State by a score of 92-87.

In terms of individual achievements, the conference has seen several members named conference Player of the Year and earned numerous All-American selections across multiple sports. Several former Mid-South Conference athletes have gone on to have successful professional careers in the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB.

Rivalries

Due to the geographic proximity of the many Mid-South Conference member institutions, strong rivalries have formed between many of the schools. The Union-Pikeville rivalry is one of the most storied in all of college sports, with the two schools competing in heated contests in multiple sports. Campbellsville-Georgetown, Cumberland-Martin Methodist, and Cumberland-Cumberlands University are also highly contested rivalries that bring intense passion and enthusiasm to MSC athletic contests.

Governance & Scheduling

The Mid-South Conference is governed by the MSC Council of Presidents, an organization made up of the presidents from each of the conference’s member institutions. This body oversees all of the conference’s operations, including sports scheduling and championship events. In addition, the council works to ensure that all conference regulations and policies are being upheld.

The conference operates on a round-robin scheduling system, with each team playing home-and-home series against all the other teams in the conference. The regular season is generally contested over a period of 8-10 weeks, with all games being held on Saturdays. All teams play a minimum of 18 regular-season games and also compete in at least one tournament. At the end of the regular season, a champion is crowned based on overall conference record.

Championship Events

At the end of the regular season, the Mid-South Conference host a championship tournament for each sport that is part of the conference. All member institutions are eligible for the tournaments, with the top four teams at the end of the regular season earning a spot in the tournament. The tournament is a single-elimination event, with the winner of the tournament earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II national championship.

Role & Impact on Sports Scene

The Mid-South Conference has established itself as one of the premier college sports conferences in the country. The conference’s success has had a positive impact on local economies throughout the region and national sports scene as a whole. The conference has been credited with helping boost attendance of college sporting events and increased interest in collegiate sports in the southern United States.

Additionally, the Mid-South Conference has helped produce some of the top college level athletes in the country. Several former conference players have gone on to success in professional leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. The success of the conference and its member institutions is a testament to the strength and quality of Mid-South Conference athletics.

Future Prospects

The future looks bright for the Mid-South Conference and its member institutions. The conference has maintained a steady pace of growth, with several new members added in recent years. With new members comes greater opportunities for competition and new rivalries, which should continue to help the conference move forward. Additionally, the expansion of the conference into new sports, such as Esports, shows a commitment to bringing in new and exciting opportunities for its athletic programs.

The conference is also committed to promoting positive messages and values for its member institutions, and is constantly looking to foster good sportsmanship and respect among its players and coaches. With all these factors combined, the future of the Mid-South Conference looks to be a bright one.