COLUMBIA, S.C. — Southern Conference official believe they have secured the league's future — and hopefully reversed a troubling trend — by adding East Tennessee, Mercer and VMI as new members. The conference announced Thursday that East Tennessee and Mercer accepted invitations while VMI's addition must be ratified Friday by the school's Board of Visitors, something considered a formality. The SoCon had been one of the most plundered leagues recently with five of its 12 members choosing to leave since November.