Though perhaps not considered Mid-American by most, the University of Central Florida may be the Mid-American Conference’s newest addition next season.

UCF, in its second season of participation in the MAC for football, received a a full conference invitation on Oct. 4. UCF was independent for 23 years before joining the MAC. The Golden Knights play their other sports in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

“We’ve always had a goal here at the University of Central Florida to have all of our sports be a full playing member in a conference that competes on a national level,” UCF athletic director Steve Orsini said. “This offer from the Mid-American Conference allows us to reach that goal.”

The MAC’s offer will become effective should the Big East expand this fall, without adding any institutions from the MAC. If UCF joins the MAC, competition will begin with the 2004-2005 academic year.

UCF is one of the schools being mentioned for possible admittance into the Big East, Orsini said.

The Golden Knights finished second in the MAC East Division for football last year. They had a 6-2 record and finished behind eventual MAC champion Marshall. Central Florida is fourth in the MAC East this year with a 2-3 overall record.

“We’ve realized a great benefit of being a football-playing member of the Mid-American Conference,” Orsini said. “By joining the MAC for all sports, we feel we’d realize that same kind of benefit for all those other sports.”

The prospect of national league play is a step forward for UCF athletics, Orsini said.

“It sure helps to be playing for a championship,” Orsini said. “When you’re an independent, unless you’re a Notre Dame playing for the national championship, you really have no target for your team.

“Our goal is, and always will be, to win the MAC Championship, and that means a lot to a student athlete. It gives us a chance to play for a championship and a possible bowl game.”

For several years, UCF had been pushing to join the MAC for football, Orsini said. NIU football coach Joe Novak said the move benefited the conference, not only because of added competition, but for recruitment and recognition.

“Having a presence down there and having a school in our league down there makes those people well-aware of the MAC, which certainly helps our recruiting,” Novak said. ”They’re certainly a very competitive football program, so I think from all those aspects, it’s been a real plus.”