Maryville (Tenn.), LaGrange, Piedmont and Stillman are joining forces to form the Great South Conference, which will begin play in the fall of 2000.

"Obviously, our most important need right now is to find one or two other schools that will make a commitment," said Bill Seymour, Maryville vice president for student development. "It's a done deal for four colleges, but we've heard that several others are seriously considering joining the Great South Conference."

Driven primarily by officials at LaGrange and Maryville, the Great South will sponsor all major sports except football. Of the four colleges committed to the Great South, only Maryville and Stillman have football teams. At least six NCAA-eligible schools need to commit to a conference before the NCAA will officially recognize it, but Fisk is already a likely fifth member.