Frostburg State University President Dr. Jonathan Gibralter, Capital Athletic Conference President Sean Sullivan and CAC Commissioner Tom Byrnes announced today that the Frostburg Bobcats will join the CAC as a full member for the 2010-11 academic year.

"The Capital Athletic Conference Board of Directors is thrilled to offer CAC membership to Frostburg State University; an institution that not only fits our philosophical make up but also offers a highly competitive array of intercollegiate athletic teams," Sullivan said. "The Bobcats joining CAC competition is a winning situation. The CAC further enhances its level of play on the field with yet another successful program, and FSU is able to join a like minded athletic conference which frequently makes waves at the national level. It's a fantastic match!"

Frostburg State, currently a member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, will join the eight other members of the CAC, including fellow Maryland state institutions Salisbury University and St. Mary's College, as well as Hood College and Stevenson University in Maryland, York College in Pennsylvania, Marymount University and University of Mary Washington in Virginia and Wesley College in Delaware.

"Entry into the CAC represents a new era for Frostburg State Athletics that will improve our competitiveness and expand our range of sports," Dr. Gibralter said. "In addition, the schools that represent the CAC are in our recruitment area, making it easier for FSU to attract student-athletes and for their families to watch their sons and daughters participate in intercollegiate athletics. We will miss the AMCC. It is an outstanding, competitive conference, but this is best for our students."

Another CAC institution, Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., has announced its withdrawl from the CAC following the 2009-10 academic year. The Bison will continue to play as full members of the conference in 2009-10, and Frostburg State will keep the CAC at nine teams when the Bobcats begin competing for conference championships in 2010-11.

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"While it's disappointing that Gallaudet University, a charter member of the conference, has chosen to withdraw, it is exciting to add another high-quality academic institution with an equally-strong athletic program," Byrnes said.  "Spirited competition has always been a hallmark of the CAC, and Frostburg State's programs will be an excellent addition to our conference.  Under the leadership of President Gibralter and Director of Athletics Troy Dell, we look forward to the Bobcats' program being a challenger in the already strong Capital Athletic Conference."

The Bobcats will compete in 18 of 19 sports in the CAC. Three Frostburg teams - field hockey, women's lacrosse and its renewed men's lacrosse team - that will find a conference home for the first time after having to compete as independent programs. Frostburg fields 21 NCAA Division III varsity sports teams.

The Capital Athletic Conference, which is entering its 20th championship season in 2009-10, is a coalition of four-year, co-educational institutions promotes intercollegiate athletic competition among schools located in close geographic proximity that have similar educational and athletic philosophies.

The CAC strives to develop a harmony of good feeling and a spirit of competitive sportsmanship, fellowship, and uniformity of practice among member institutions. Conference members are required to operate their intercollegiate athletic programs under the highest ethical standards and to maintain a program consistent with the overall educational philosophy of the member institutions.

Frostburg State University, situated in the mountains of Allegany County, is one of the 13 institutions of the University System of Maryland. FSU is a comprehensive, residential regional university and serves as an educational and cultural center for Western Maryland.