- In the latest tale of "As Conference USA turns," the league will say goodbye to the school with the most meteorologically challenged nickname and replace it with one of America's most bizarre but lovable mascots.

In the process, Marshall fans will gain their closest league rival in the Thundering Herd's time in C-USA.

Several outlets have reported - and the Gazette has confirmed - that the University of Tulsa is leaving C-USA for the Big East Conference, which is about to split off with the defection by the basketball-only "Catholic 7" schools. The latter will take the Big East name, leaving the others to find a new moniker.

The Golden Hurricane's move reportedly takes place July 1, 2014. At that point, Western Kentucky is to jump from the Sun Belt Conference to C-USA.

Based in Bowling Green, WKU would become the fifth school to make that jump, and the ninth new school in the rebuilt C-USA.

http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/201303270297