Title: The Birth of a New Athletic Conference Opening shot of a conference room filled with representatives from Armstrong State, Augusta Campbell Baptist (Charleston Southern), Coastal Carolina, Radford, and Winthrop. They are all dressed in business attire and are sitting around a large table. A banner behind them reads "New Athletic Conference of the Southeast." Narrator: It was the year 1983 and the landscape of college athletics was changing. A group of universities in the Southeastern United States had come together with an ambitious plan - to create a new athletic conference that would promote competition, excellence, and sportsmanship. Cut to a shot of each university's representative at the table. They introduce themselves and briefly state their reasons for joining the new conference. Representative from Armstrong State: Our university has a strong athletic tradition and we believe that this new conference will help us take our programs to the next level. Representative from Augusta Campbell Baptist: We see this as an important opportunity for our student-athletes to compete with the best and to showcase their talents on a bigger stage. Representative from Coastal Carolina: Our university is committed to excellence in sports and academics, and we believe that this new conference aligns well with our goals and values. Representative from Radford: We are excited to join this new conference and be a part of an innovative and dynamic group of universities. Representative from Winthrop: This new conference represents an opportunity for us to compete against high-quality opponents and to build stronger ties within the college sports community. Narrator: The initial discussions were focused on the logistics of creating the new conference - the scheduling of competitions, the distribution of revenue, and the establishment of rules and regulations. But the representatives also made it a priority to ensure that the conference would promote sportsmanship and fair play, and that all members would be treated with respect and dignity. Cut to a shot of the representatives shaking hands and congratulating each other on the successful creation of the new conference. Narrator: And so, with enthusiasm and optimism, the representatives of Armstrong State, Augusta Campbell Baptist, Coastal Carolina, Radford, and Winthrop formed a new athletic conference - one that would thrive for years to come and become a model for student-athlete excellence and sportsmanship.